Buffer-powered hydraulic lifts at St Pancras?

[Old Bill]

The story is that the hydraulic lifts at St Pancras were powered by water raised up from the buffers.

I've heard this story a few times, and indeed it was mentioned here once - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=309742 and at RMWeb here : http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10864

I've read a few books about St Pancras, and they've not mentioned it. I *think* the only mention I've seen somewhere was that it was the goods lifts from underneath the platforms that used this power, but I can't be sure about that.
Indeed the only times I have definitely heard it have been from the mouth of Maxwell Hutchinson on BBC local radio in London, who says it was the residents' lifts in the hotel and embellishes it somewhat by stating rather fancifully that the trains actually sped up as they approached the buffers to give them enough energy, startling passengers in the process.

Has anyone seen any real evidence for this? Or could it just be that someone has seen "hydraulic buffers" and "hydraulic lifts" and put 2 and 2 together...?

 

[DownSouth]

Or could it just be that someone has seen "hydraulic buffers" and "hydraulic lifts" and put 2 and 2 together...?

Sounds about right.

 

[theageofthetra]

Maxwell Hutchinson has a habit of getting most non architectual facts wrong on Robert Elms Radio London show.

 

[Chris999999]

I would like to see the drivers achieving maximum compression on the buffers when they arrive, but without causing any damage to the buffers or the trains.

It would be an interesting experience for the passengers as well!

 

[route:oxford]

The story is that the hydraulic lifts at St Pancras were powered by water raised up from the buffers.

They were powered by hydraulics, it is true.

According to the tour guide, who took us around St Pancras Chambers prior to its conversion to a hotel, the hydraulic power came from the London Hydraulic Power Company's network of pipes beneath the city of London

You can read about it here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Hydraulic_Power_Company

http://engwonders.byethost9.com/e047.html

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/h/hydraulic_power_in_london/index1.shtml

 

[Old Bill]

Thanks routexford - I don't doubt that they were hydraulic lifts! Nothing unusual in that.

It was using the buffers to raise the water that I curious about.

OB.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I would like to see the drivers achieving maximum compression on the buffers when they arrive, but without causing any damage to the buffers or the trains.

It would be an interesting experience for the passengers as well!

Hehe - I'd pay extra for that! Well, to watch that And any such driver should get paid more!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Maxwell Hutchinson has a habit of getting most non architectual facts wrong on Robert Elms Radio London show.

Indeed - apart from what hat to wear when!

 

[AndyNLondon]

the hydraulic power came from the London Hydraulic Power Company's network of pipes beneath the city of London

Incidentally, they had an accumulator tower at Limehouse, which can be seen from the DLR between Limehouse & Westferry and has been open for visits on Open House weekend in previous years (this year's listings aren't out yet.) At least to me, it's both fascinating & a bit sad that infrastructure that would once have been very important for the city's businesses is now relegated to an almost-forgotten historical curiosity.

 

[edwin_m]

I think the Majestic Wine at Blackwall was also an accumulator tower. And don't dismiss it as old-tech - there appear to be some accumulators in constant use in the base of the Eiffel Tower!