The Smell of the Underground

[Going Underground]

Is it just me or does anyone else love that particular smell you get on the tube....

This is mainly when your are standing on the platform.....

Not sure how you would decsribe it, a kind of mechanical oily smell.
I am sure the engineer/construction minded amongst you will fully explain this......

I get a brief few seconds worth when I cycle to work where the tube comes above ground between Hounslow West and Hatton Cross

[Dr Who]

I love the smell of the tube

[Root]

It depends on what line you're on!

The Jubilee always smells of disinfectant, the Norhern line has quite a dusty, musty smell, while the East London line has more or a... how shall I say this, Eau de Toilet?

I like some, dislike others.

[Soup Dragon]

A huge component of the dust down the tube is apparently from dead skin cells, so it's probably the smell of old Victorian's from over 100 years ago, to me it smells quite old and musty but not unpleasant

[Going Underground]

A huge component of the dust down the tube is apparently from dead skin cells, so it's probably the smell of old Victorian's from over 100 years ago, to me it smells quite old and musty but not unpleasant

Suddenly the smell is not so appealing anymore and I was just about to start lunch

[Dr Who]

Thanks for that Soup Dragon

[editorsfoot]

A huge component of the dust down the tube is apparently from dead skin cells, so it's probably the smell of old Victorian's from over 100 years ago, to me it smells quite old and musty but not unpleasant

Well that explains why the Jubilee Extension doesnt smell the same as the rest of the underground.

A while back I travelled on a refurbished D stock, it must have been its first trip out as the train smelt of new plastic and upholstery, the whole train noticed it, and I had to get out at Olympia for some fresh air.

[CrunchySaviour]

The dust on the Tube is mainly iron and silica - from brakes and wear on the trains and that. Or so a TfL-commissioned dust safety report said.

I like the smell of some parts of the Tube. Jubilee line, mainly.

I like the smell of airports more, though.

[Going Underground]

The dust on the Tube is mainly iron and silica - from brakes and wear on the trains and that. Or so a TfL-commissioned dust safety report said.

Well our resident dust expert should know

[tubeguru]

Doesn't the smell of kerosine at airports give you a headache though?

Much the same as diesel fumes from trains if you stand around them for too long.

[TheFatBuoy]

The dust on the Tube is mainly iron and silica - from brakes and wear on the trains and that. Or so a TfL-commissioned dust safety report said.

Well our resident dust expert should know

Dust. Very low in fat. So you can eat as much dust as you like.

[Soup Dragon]

Thank you Majory Dawes

[travelpass]

Yes I do like the smell of the Tube, and I also love the way it is pushed towards you as you descend into the deeper stations.

[Sillert, V.I.]

Yes. Particlarly the deep level tubes. But it was even better in the old days, before they took the asbestos out of the brake linings. And what about the sounds of the tube? Time to start another thread, methinks...

[Garion]

I dont mind the smell. I like it. But i dont like the smell on the jubilee line trains because twice i've had headaches when using the trains. But overall, I like the smell.