Heathrow Terminal 1 Baggage System
 

Hi, I am trying to gather information together to write up a history of my working life (for family members only!) which spanned all sorts of different environments which I stumbled into!

One project that I got involved in was at Heathrow T1 during the (early?) 1980's (possibly even 1979?) which was a small Baggage Conveyor system.
What I can remember was that it consisted of four or five check in desks, transferring onto a simple takeaway conveyor leading to a spiral chute down to ground level.
At the bottom of the chute was a belt conveyor where baggage handlers removed the bags for loading.
It was called something like "Late Bag Drop" or words to that effect.
I also recall there was an adjacent coffee shop/cafe of some sorts which I spent some time in whilst nursing my baby into life!

The significance to me is that it was the first piece of software that I wrote and commissioned for a conveyor system.
It was early day stuff, storing software programmes on cassette tapes (oh the tears when it mangled up), burning eproms, UV erasing, 1K memory ....lonely and exciting in equal measures.

But I would be grateful if any T1 Old Codgers can help me out with dates of the installation or the actual name of the check in area.
Of course a photo would be fantastic but perhaps too much of a long shot!

Mike

"I'm so worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow......."

It’s long gone now of course and things have moved on over the decades thank goodness!

Might not be.

Last year, we only finished adding some new bits to T1 baggage system :ok:

Have you posted this to FlyerTalk? The BA forum in particular has a lot of posters who will likely be able to help you out

I'm so worried about what's happening today.
In the Middle East you know.

The "5 check-in desks" is somewhat reminiscent of the BA domestic check-in, which was separated, and at the back of the terminal next to the domestic departures security check (not only BA but all domestics) leading to the domestic pier. I can imagine that bags there, not that many on domestics, might have a special small-scale approach.

Plus it was next to a significant cafe in the terminal, the Apple Tree Buffet (was this the one that caught fire and closed the terminal down ?).

1K memory ? I wrote a payroll calculation program within 1K - actually it was 997 bytes :) . That took a bit of shoehorning. Did tax and NI calcs etc quite OK.

"1K memory? Luxury."

This is turning into a Monty Python benefit (which is appropriate for the era).

Wasn't that a Burger King?

Was that in the same location, that just changed brands ? And something tells me there may have been two fires, significant enough to disrupt airside operations, at different times.

Hey thanks WHBM, "Domestic check-in" does ring a bell and after finding an old layout of T1, it was in the far left corner viewed from the entrances.

Yes, that's what I was thinking of. Apple Tree Buffet (later Burger King) to it's right, entrance to the security for the domestic pier to the left.

There's an account here of my arriving at the Heathrow T123 Underground station at 12.48, and making a 13.00 to Edinburgh which pushed back on time ... my speed through that area that of light. It was the 1980s. https://www.pprune.org/aviation-hist...ml#post8744834

Nobody expects 'the Apple Tree Buffet'.
Made me smile tonight chaps and chapesses, sorry I cannot help with T1, I spent most of the 80's in the sand pit

PPruner Rog747 is ex-BMA T1, and may be able to help.

Ah T1 Domestic.... around mid '80' s during shuttle days would arr on the underground and up the long escalator to Domestic far top left, through the 5 desks, no queue always fully manned and from the window the long line of Trident and Vanguard tails with BMA various types, and sometimes the SAA 747 on the right with occasional VC10's parked up out the way. Through security, briefcase only and down the pier. Exotic destinations, Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen and into the Inverness flight. Fri evening up Monday down. Did this for some 3 months all paid for by Aunt Betty.
However back to the OP Question. At the check in desks I remember a circular spiral chute to ground level for the bags to go down to the loaders

Heathrow went through a period of silly names for various facilities, possibly the pinnacle of which was renaming the T1 Business Car park as the "Pink Elephant".

Thanks Kiltrash, That ref to the spiral chute has nailed it!
.........and I have just remembered that one of the first passengers to check in on grand opening day had the worlds biggest and heaviest metal toolbox.
Before anyone could shout stop, it was on the belt and then zoomed down the spiral chute at close to the speed of sound!
Upon hitting the takeaway conveyor at the bottom it took a huge chunk of rubber out of the belt, not the best start to the day, but it kept running.

T1 1980's ???
 

You rang M'Laud? What do you want to know?
:)

Hi Rog747, Thanks for popping in, much appreciated.
As you can probably see from the above, I have managed to line up a few of my brain cells and am now fairly certain about the name and location of the small check in system that played a significant part in the onward direction of my working life!
Still not sure of the date when the "T1 Domestic Check In" system was installed (or was it simply an upgrade to an older system?).
My guess is that it I was there in the early 1980's (definitely not pre 79).
A photograph of the "T1 Domestic Check In" from that era would be great, but I have spent some time on the web searching and drawn a blank.
Mike

....and if time to spare up the escalator or lift and check in, turn right and a bar with panoramic windows to while away a hour or three watching the cumming and goings to exotic places.
Northeast to Newcastle, Cambria to Cardiff? Even the Air New Zealand on the end of the pier..
There would always be another shuttle, remember to get the last of the day....
and if really lucky the earth shatteringsound and sight of Concorde. I remember we were next in line once and our captain did come on to tell us to beware of the noise and vibration ....