How did Heathrow used to look ?
 

I was wondering if anyone had old plans of Heathrow (or even old pictures).

I was wondering how many runways were active when Heathrow first opened and how long each runway was (I know that the main two runways have been extended).

When was the tunnel made (For car access) ?

What was present before T5 ?

Unfortunately Wikipedia doesn't cover much early history of Heathrow.

Thanks in advance.

RD

Original runway layout was a "Star of David" with parallel runways e/w, ne/sw and nw/se. There was originally a plan to add an additional runway north of the Bath Road, just about where BAA would currently like to build one!

Someone (Chevvron?) included an excellent link to a site plan from about 1945 a while back.

The T5 site was originally the Perry Oaks Sewage Farm. My company was part of the civil engineering team for T5 and my geotechnical colleagues helped prepare the site ready for construction, including remediation of the land! One of them does a good presentation on the subject.

Also, look back a few weeks to the Varsity thread - there was a cracking aerial shot of Heathrow in the 50s taken by one of our fellow forumites from a Varsity!

Nah wasn't me, but I remember the tunnel was put in about '54 or '55. My parents used to take me to 'London Airport' by bus from our home in South Bucks during school holidays (Greenline [713?]from Chesham to Uxbridge then red LT bus, returning by green LT bus to Slough then the 353 back to Chesham). In the early days before the tunnel we got off the bus on the Bath Road and would walk across a taxiway to get to the public enclosure; later we walked though the tunnel (it was allowed in the early days but not now).
The tunnel was I believe constructed using the 'cut and cover' method rather than by boring; I think there was an airborne illustration in the 'Eagle Book of Aircraft' c1956.

Wasn't there a "pedestrian" tunnel parallel to the northern tunnel? I'm sure I rode me pushbike through it twenty something years ago! Has it been closed?

This from an immediately pre-war map (sorry for the poor quality)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d43/TheSSK/LHRmap.jpg

The original plan was the 6 star-shaped runways on the present site, and another three proposed north of the A4, which of course were never built. The 6 runways was not completed for some years, followed shortly afterwards by starting to close them off for central area buildings, so the full set didn't last long.

The tunnels opened in 1955 along with T2 (then the Queens Building) and were originally the current dual carriageway, plus the two small tunnels either side now used for cars (provided you don't have a big roofrack), but one was originally for pedestrians and the other for bicycles. T3 (then the Oceanic Building) opened in 1962. Until these openings the relevant flights (European and Intercontinental respectively) operated from the north side, strung out along the A4.

The attached shows work on "London Airport" in 1949.
YouTube - London Airport (1949)

Like Chevvron I remember taking a similar route to Heathrow, but from Amersham, not Chesham. This was in about 1963 - 1964. I used to go with my father as my mother and sister were not interested in aircraft. I used to use a "Coronet 4/4" camera using 120 black and white film to take photographs. It was a very simple camera that I had had since I was seven years old (Christmas present). All the photographs were destroyed in some floods at my sister's house about ten years ago.:(

Queens Building was the original central area terminal, but I don't think it was ever called Terminal 2; T1 was built to the north of it then T2 to the south, then QB became airline offices, crew reporting and flight clearance/AIS etc. There is a film occasionally shown on TV called 'Out of the Clouds' (starring the formidable James Robertson Justice as the captain of a BOAC Stratocruiser) which I believe depicts the interior of QB.
The original pedestrian tunnel which we used to walk through was the one now used for cars/taxis to the east of the 'main' tunnels.
S'land, you appear to be about the same age as me; I went to Chesham Tech from '60 to '67.

A very nice aerial photo taken in June 1956, from the recent Varsity thread:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/aviatio...ml#post4213152

I've just noticed on The SSK's map, that pubs are listed very prominently :ok:

I noticed so much, it took me a while to realise that there was no airport, just a piddly little grass airfield... :}

Weren't there seven runways ?
2 x 09/27, 2 x 05/23 and 3 x 14/32.

Modelled on BOAC Captain O. P. Jones I believe.

When I started with BOAC in 67 there were two terminals, Europa which became T2 and Oceanic which became T3 departures. The Queens Building was the BEA ops centre, also the entrance to the roof gardens which stretched across T2 and to the 'corner' where you could get a view of the nearer T3 stands but not the further ones. The next central area buildings were I guess the BOAC cargocentre just to the west of the tunnel entrance - I was working there by late 68 - then T1 which probably opened in 69 (at which point the other 2 were renamed/numbered) and also the T3 arrivals building, around the same time.

Yes but not all at once.
According to my Ian Allen London's Airports which was published about 1959
The RAF built 3 runways, an inverted triangle. A second triangle was imposed on top of this and during this work the original 32L was decommissioned and a new 32L built. The original 32L passed through what is now the T2 car park. By 1959 32R was not in use leaving 5 runways.
At this time the only passenger building in the central area was called the Short Haul Building, or the Nbr 2 passenger building (now T2). The new long haul building was under construction and was to be called the Long haul building or the Nbr 3 passenger building.
The Queens Building was never a Terminal, although there were two jetties leading to four gates on its airside, pax walked there from T2. There were three more jetties leading to six ground level gates on T2.

I used to cycle to LAP in 1963, cycling through the tunnel to the Central Area. Cycling was later banned, and a special bus was put on which carried bikes in racks at the back from the Northside area.

Chevvron;
I lived in Holmer Green from 1963 until uni took me away. I used to bike around the Chesham, LEY Hill, Latimer area a lot.

I liked the old map of the Heathrow area. I grew up in Stanwell 1957-1973 and lived 100yds from the prominantly featured Wheatsheaf PH. Not sure why thats highlighted as there were several pubs in Stanwell and Wheatsheaf was the smallest.

Used to ride bke from there to Cains Lane Bedfont which is shown on the map on the Heathrow side of the A 30 but at that time only the section east of the a30 survived. A great spotting spot and a popular one. If on Easterlies a much nicer place to watch the world go by was in Stanwell between the longford river and the duke of northumberlands canal which were diverted from the courses shown on the map to run parallel to the southern perimeter road which ran throw open countryside that was the SW corner of LHR down by the 10R as it was hold and 'block 79' where 10L originally started before the extension .
Happy days really quite a rural area in those days pre cargo village.

Oddly enough hardly ever went to the central area- a long long way round ona bike or a really poor bus service to Hounslow and thena connection to the north side and then another connection to the central area.

As to the runways 23R was often used for take offs witha strong SW wind -not uncommon and the flight path was just to the west of my house-some fantastic views as it was not ovr long and the big props didnt climb too quickly- exhausts flaming in the evening sky looked very dramatic. 08L also used quite a bit for landings and also great views .
Can remember 08r being used for take offs- smultaneous with 10R .

The SE -NW runways however seemed to hardly ever be used and were the first to disappear. I do remeber seeing a few landings on the more easterly one -perhaps around 1961 but never saw any landings from the NW.

So from my recollection LHR may have had six runways but it very seldom used more than 4 ( the two 10/28s and the 05/23 pairing.

I later flew numerable times from LHR but only once used anthing other than the main pair and that was returning from my honeymoon in a freezing March 1977 where our Trident 3 landed on 05R.

Bit of a ramble but for me a very interesting thread and one to reflect on just how much that little part of England changed in my life-the Wheatsheaf is still there though!
PB

Ach, we're all of an age, I was at Windsor GS from 61 to 68; used to cycle or hitch to LAP, remember the tunnels, pretty sure both side tunnels had a cycle way and a raised fenced footpath to one side. My memory of the terminals agrees with SSK; when I started with BEA in late 68 shorthaul cargo was still in Hangars 7 & 8 near Hatton Cross. Cargocentre opened in what, 71?

Heathrow - 1950's

Reference has been made earlier to my 1956 photo of Heathrow which I have now copied here:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...Varsity-LA.jpg

This shows the layout in June 1956 taken from 10,000ft looking east. The newly completed Europa Building, later Terminal 2 is in the centre island, whilst alongside it the Oceanic Terminal; later Terminal 3 is under construction. In 1956 until at least 1960 transatlantic traffic departed from the North Terminal alongside the A4. (I saw a friend off who flew PanAm to Baltimore from the north terminal in early 1960).

The Bath Road (A4) shows up on the left as the dark strip running top to bottom parallel with the north main taxiway & runway. In 1956 the M4 was but a gleam in the planner’s eye - the London bit of the M4 westwards opened nine years later in 1965.
On the right the A30 (the lighter of the two darkish strips) wends its way through the (then) rural delights of Middlesex towards Hounslow and London. Straight ahead and beyond the airfield boundary, just beneath the cloud line the A312 can be seen running left to right.

The pre-war map in post # 5 shows the adjacent roads layout.

Three years earlier on 8th October 1953 I visited London Heathrow to watch the start of the London to Christchurch (New Zealand) air race and took the following photo which shows one of the competitors, the first licence-built Royal Australian Air Force Canberra serial number A84-201.
Interestingly the background shows the girders for the new ‘Europa Building’, which was actually the first true terminal building and was opened by the Queen two years later in 1955. The higher girders outline what I think is the ATC control tower under construction.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...eCanberra2.jpg

Well - Heathrow used to look like this (well sort of) :-

http://www.framearch.co.uk/projects/...ss_images.html

http://news.wessexarch.co.uk/2007/05...ow-terminal-5/

http://www.framearch.co.uk/t5/

The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map:

The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map: Heathrow's archaeology, including Stanwell Cursus is finally announced

This might be of interest - while reseaching RAF St Mawgan, I came across this which gives an indication of what the 'Very Heavy Transport Stations' control tower at Heathrow would have looked like...
RAF St Mawgan airfield

And from the 'What Aerodrome' thread (p169) what it actually did look like:


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...chAirfield.jpg

Talking of the tunnels, as a schoolkid I often went spotting at Heathrow around 1960 and I can confirm what Overfly said that both of the two smaller tunnels did have raised walkways next to a railed off cycle track. I also recall that looking north from the Central area, just to the left of the main tunnels there was a tunnel stub as if boring had started but abandoned. Anyone know what the original plan was?

There used to be tunnels from the terminals out to the outer stands before any piers were built. I remember busses going through these tunnels. They were each side of the main tunnels.

Thanks for that Steve.

Here's an oddball sidetrack for those who remember the somewhat strange looking custom-built road coaches that BEA used from Heathrow to Central London, a fleet of 65 in all. They were owned by BEA but operated for them under contract by London Transport. They came along in 1953 and lasted until 1966, so all through the period being discussed here, and I get the feeling that several will recall them. I do from the end of their time.

IAN'S BUS STOP: The LONDON TRANSPORT RFs

One of their features was they had on the front indications of destination, able to be wound round like any other bus, but the points listed were all the BEA destinations, as they were operated one bus per specific flight rather than a general purpose regular service. You checked in at the town terminal, and your baggage travelled with you in the very large underfloor compartment of your bus. So you would see buses to "Milan" or "Stockholm" headed down Cromwell Road in Kensington alongside the regular 74 to Putney ! As the passengers were seated very high up they could look down, appropriately haughtily no doubt, on the hoi polloi on the pavement below.

It was only when reading the article I realised they always had semaphore direction indicators (well, normal for road vehicles in 1953 I suppose) which must have been more than a bit anachronistic once the M4 opened !

Thanks The SSK for posting the map. I always wondered where London Air Park was.

The map answers a few questions I had.

I like the pictures that have also been posted.

It would appear from the old pictures (I could be wrong) but the north East - West runway was in use first with some sort of terminal to the north of the runway.

If I use a recent map (like flash earth) I can see various taxi ways running North of the runway up to the edge of the airfield now where northern perimeter road is, it would appear that a terminal existed there.
location :-

Flash Earth ...satellite and aerial imagery of the Earth in Flash

Comparing the previously posted pictures it would also become apprent of the extension to the runways as well (extended further west).

If I am wrong then please correct me.

RD

Diddy :

The area on the northern edge of the airfield you describe is that known as "Northside". This was the original terminal area from the day Heathrow opened, and they were still all in tents, then operators steadily moved over to the Central Area until the intercontinental operators were last to move out to the Oceanic Building (now T3) in 1961. Others can correct me but I believe most of the terminal buildings at Northside were wooden/temporary structures.

The area nowadays is occupied to a considerable extent by the large Pink Elephant car park. The original rough concrete surface of the ramp is still in use there for car parking, and if you walk around and look closely you can identify where aerodrome light fittings etc have been removed.

BUSES
 

FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER THE LUGGAGE WAS CARRIED IN TRAILERS TOWED BEHIND THE BUS CANNOT REMEMBER IF ANY WAS CARRIED UNDER THE BUS.:bored:

There was still some freight activity on the Northside ramp in the late 1960s, I recall the N-reg C46s that Lufthansa used to use and I think I recall a Lufthansa Connie over there.

The VIP suite was northside too until at least 1970; I was at the LATCC radar unit in 1970 when Nixon departed from this 'terminal'; his secret service helicopters must have caused havoc the way they were just circling around the north side.

Missed Pub
 

There used to be a pub in Hatton RD about where the road crossing the taxi way to TBJ is now as a 16/17 year old and the engineers who worked in hangers 2,3,4,[now freight sheds ]for B.O.A.C. sometimes went there for a small beer and eat our sandwiches at luch time [very cool we had an hour for lunch in those days]this was in 1947 long before "The Kremlin" TBA was built I think it was pulled down to make way the old 5and 6 Argonaut hangers.

I travelled on the BEA bus from Waterloo to LHR
in '56/57.
Flew in a BEA Dakota to Koln/Bonn airport, which then, was also RAF Wahn (where I was stationed). Most convenient. £11.00 return, Forces concession!

This is an interesting thread. Here's my memories of "LAP" in the 50's and 60's. My earliest recollection is on 30/09/58 when we flew in a KLM Viscount 803 from LAP northside to Amsterdam. I remember lots of aircraft parked very close together on northside, at around 0800 -0845. Looking at old photos of this area, it appears that in fact only a limited area was used for aircraft parking, out of the total area available between runway 28R/10L and the Bath Road, and aircraft were indeed parked very close, sometimes "double parked" one behind the other. Can someone explain if this was so, and why more stands were not provided. Also, why did KLM continue to use the northside area when the central terminal area was available from 1955 onwards?

Another question: Why was T3/Oceanic Terminal so long in being built, when the facilities at northside were obviously so antiquated and cramped. Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris Orly all had far more modern terminals for their long-haul passengers during the 1950's. The northside "terminal" (more like a temporary holiday camp structure) and aircraft parking must have been very cramped by 1961-62, when 707's and DC8's were regularly using northside before T3 was opened in 1962.

I too use to ride my bike through the tunnel in 1965 -1966. Setting out from our home in Hertfordshire, the ride would take about 3 hours, via St.Albans, Watford and Uxbridge, often with a bulky VHF radio in the saddlebag as well. We would arrive at LAP at around 0830, check out any ineresting freighters parked on northside (Capitol C46's, United Arab and Trans-Med. DC6's were common sights), watch some noisy departures if 28R was being used, then cycle through the tunnel for a day's aircraft spotting.

Regarding Runways 23/05, I can remember a British United cargo DC6A landing on 05L in 1965, and a Thai 747 landing on Rwy 23 as late as 1988.

Yes, night departures in piston-engined days could be spectacular. Super Connies and DC7's semed to provide the best pyrotechnics, probably due to the very high temperatures generated by the turbos in the Wright R3350 radials at take-off and METO power settings.

Happy days indeed.

Ah yes, Routemasters (standard length, front entrance, high-ratio diff....) with trailers. They followed on from the RF's.
Have a look at Ian's home page and click on "RMA". Ian's Bus Stop

Aviation History and Nostalgia is bad enough. Combine that with London Bus History and Nostalgia and I'm in for a few sleepless nights. Oh, Nurse.......

Just remembered I have an earlier photo of Heathrow as it looked in 1949/50.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...hrowc19502.jpg


It's all a bit of a jumble, but the photo appears to have been taken looking west with the Bath Road (A4) on the right together with the original North Terminal alongside. Runways appear very short and I assume this is as a result of foreshortening in the image.

Set off, as a 5-6 year old for Dar-es-Salaam from the northside in the early 50s. Aircraft was a BOAC HP81 Hermes named either Hestia or Heron. Anyone got a fleet list that matches names with registrations?

Arrived back a couple of years later on an Argonaut. Made further departures on a wonderful mix of more Argonauts/Stratocruisers and Britannia 102s. That was in the days when the BOAC Junior Jet Club had seniority numbers! :ok:

Can't actually recall if I made a departure from central area. Must dig out JJC logbook and check dates.

Would be nice to see some northside pics published.

FW

PS. I recall landing my Lockheed Trimoth on RW23 in a number of gales with a southerly component in them. Aaaaah the good old days!

Too easy for us lot :)

Heron = G-ALDO. New July 1950, sold to Airwork September 1957.
Hestia = G-ALDT. New September 1950, sold to Skyways February 1955.

WHBM

You are far too quick for me.

Many ta's!!:D

FW

Well this is what you'd see as you entered northside.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...throwc1950.jpg

BEA buses
 

The original BEA buses were as shown near the bottom
Google Image Result for http://www.countrybus.org.uk/rf/RF50/366zBEA.jpg

THe baggage was carried at the rear.

The later BEA buses were Routemasters with a special dispensation to have a trailer.

Airport Buses

The BEA buses ran from WLAT ( West London Air Terminal) in the Cromwell Road ( Now a Sainsbury's store) but the vehicle ramps are still there.
Check in was upstairs and boarding was down the stairs to the appropriate gate where the bus was boarded.

BOAC buses ran from The Victoria Air Terminal by Victoria railway station.

Early BEA buses. Town terminal to LHR.
 

An even older BEA bus ( assume it must be prior to 1953)

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/32772...5A1E4F32AD3138

More views of the intermediate bus 1953 -1966

BEA RFW on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Google Image Result for http://www.lbpt.org/vehicles/bea.jpg