Moonbase Alpha Journey Tube

Journey Tube
Journey tubes present fast transit between sections of the bottom and to the launch pads.
The idea is derived from underground mass-transit railway methods, notably London’s “Tube” with the distinctive spherical tunnels and trains. The concept additionally appears to be based mostly on Robert Salter’s proposals for a tube shuttle, which he was selling within the Seventies. This was a vactrain, travelling by means of a de-pressurised tube. As a result of there was little air resistance, and mixed with maglev expertise, speeds might be probably quicker than sound. The concept was revived within the 2000s, beneath the title hyperloop.
A lunar vactrain/hyperloop wouldn’t want a tube, only a monitor, as a result of there isn’t a air on the Moon, though throughout the base {a partially} pressurised system could also be safer. The journey tube is evidently not a vacuum, because the creatures in Space Warp and The Beta Cloud use it with out inflicting decompression.
Entry to and from corridors is by way of the double facet doorways. Entry to spaceships on the launch pad is thru the top door. This opens into the Boarding Tube.
In 12 months 1 there are six seats (the Toga chair); in 12 months 2 there are 4.
The alternative finish of the journey unit has no inside door. As a substitute, there’s a communications panel with two black and white screens. Externally, we by no means see an finish and not using a door. Arguably the journey unit has a symmetrical outer shell for ease of producing, and one door is non-functional when the inside is fitted.
When travelling, the ahead facet is illuminated with white gentle; the rear facet with purple gentle. There are two rails, one on the high, one on the backside.
Within the original concept, Alphans would key in a vacation spot to their commlock, level it on the tube door keypad, and be routinely taken to their vacation spot wherever on the bottom (like a taxi-request software on a smartphone). In two episodes, Alphans use both the door keypad or communications panel to start out or cease the journey tube, however usually they simply enter and sit down. This implies the journey tubes strains are like subway strains, travelling between two mounted factors with maybe a number of stops alongside the way in which. It’s attainable there are two parallel tubes, to permit models to cross in both path like trains, switching to a single tube for stops/finish stations. This might permit a number of models constantly shifting in each instructions. A single tube design would require a single unit per tube, with longer waits in any respect stops.
Exterior
The outside pictures of Moonbase Alpha clearly present the journey tube buildings. All scales of exterior mannequin are sq. in profile.
There are roughly 19 lengthy radial tubes from the primary buildings, terminating at launch pads or small buildings. There are additionally smaller spokes between bigger buildings, and some shorter orbital strains at proper angles, normally connected to launch pads.
All of the strains are floor strains, with no elevated strains for greater flooring of the buildings. There can also be some underground tracks. All of the strains are straight, with no curved tracks. The junctions of radial and orbital strains might have a constructing (maybe a turntable), however some don’t, with a pointy proper angle flip.
Exterior vs Inside
The outside journey unit has finish doorways on each ends. The inside solely has one finish door. The doorways are completely different form: angled sides for the outside (like an Eagle door), straight for the inside and opening within the center.
Inside

Early Keith Wilson artwork of the Journey Tube inside, 1973. The seating continues spherical all sides. Components that may survive to the ultimate set embody the rounded form, the facet door with tube map over the door, a strip of lights across the partitions, and the 2 video screens on the finish of the cabin. The brief cables hanging from the ceiling are presumably hand-grips, like London tube carriages. 55 x 80 cm. This drawing offered for £380 at an public sale in July 2022.
We do not see the inside typically in 12 months 1 (it’s featured solely in 6 episodes, Breakaway, Matter of Life And Death, Black Sun, Missing Link, Guardian Of Piri, The Troubled Spirit). We see angles of it in different episodes, from the hall set or Eagle set. It’s featured in 8 12 months 2 episodes.
Reduce-away view of early 12 months 1 Journey Tube inside, by Andrew Novinc. See 360° panorama here

The tip door of the journey tube opens into the boarding tube, which in flip connects to the Eagle passenger module or different spaceships. In 12 months 1, the left door (seen by means of this open door) usually goes to the corridor; in 12 months 2 the hall is by way of the other facet door (see set plan).
Renders by Andrew Novinc
The inside is 20ft/6 metres lengthy, 10ft/3 metres extensive.
In 12 months 1 the unit options 6 seats. The chairs are the Artemide Toga, designed by Sergio Mazza in 1968.
The ground is raised, with sloping ramps down to every of the three doorways.
Uniquely in Moonbase Alpha, the partitions have a brown patterned texture (most likely carpet tile). Darker and lighter vertical stripes will be seen, created by the diagonal patterns seen at an angle. The white “air flow” panels on the partitions and finish of the seat body are the identical as seen within the Eagle command module and passenger module. They’re really bathtub trays; there are not any air flow holes.
The sunshine strip alongside the facet signifies movement. It solely strikes from the communications panel facet to the door. Solely in Space Warp can we see it shifting in the other way, from the top door.
The white curved overhead panels are normally illuminated, however typically not. The triangular finish panels are additionally typically not illuminated. In Missing Link they’re purple, whereas the overhead panels are turned off.
In a single episode, End of Eternity, the illumination is purple, however we do not see clearly contained in the journey unit.
The marginally modified 12 months 2 model. Notice the set has shrunk. Alongside the facet partitions there have been 3 white “air flow” panels and three seats; now there are solely 2 of every.
Communications Panel

Later model, from Missing Link onwards. The 2 screens, Emergency Procedure label and line of lights beneath are an identical. The dial or spherical button above the “Emergency Process” label is a purple button, which Koenig presses to attempt to name Paul Morrow. There are further purple lights/buttons on both sides, beneath the screens, with purple Letraset panels, and a yellow Letraset panel backside centre.

In Missing Link, Koenig presses the far left purple button to start out the journey unit. It usually begins routinely, besides in a single different episode, The AB Chrysalis, when Alan makes use of the door management panel contained in the facet door body.
The communications panel does not change in 12 months 2, though the road of purple and white lights/buttons is now not illuminated.
Doorways
In Matter Of Life and Death, they enter by means of each the left and proper doorways. Neither opens to a hall. Each facet doorways are additionally utilized in Missing Link (the correct door has a wall behind him; the left door is the usual hall). Usually in 12 months 1, the left door is used. In 12 months 2, the correct door is used.
In Space Warp, two uncommon 12 months 2 makes use of of the left door.
The tip door has straight sides, in contrast to the outside pictures of the journey tube unit. There’s a storage space with mounted rails and usually a wide range of completely different bins.

The door management panel is on the within body of the door. The label above the management panel is the Emergency Procedure label, additionally on the communications panel. The label on the correct facet door disappears half means by means of 12 months 2, however stays on the opposite doorways.
View displaying the graphic over the door, presumably a schematic topological map of the journey tube community, just like the London underground map. The graphic over the 2 facet doorways is analogous however not an identical. The 2 facet door plans are shorter and a few particulars are completely different.
The 2 graphics, as rendered by Andrew Novinc. Some textual content is unsure. The taller map is over the top door; the shorter one is over the facet doorways. Other than some rearrangement of labels, the end-door map is lacking two connections. See more on the map.

Showing in The Seance Spectre are two buttons by the door. The highest inexperienced one is “Re-start” (white textual content on purple), the decrease purple button is “Emergency Cease” (purple textual content on white). Notice the inside facet of the door has labels, together with the quantity “2”
Exterior door signage
Within the corridor in 12 months 1, the signal is generally “Journey Unit 2”, though “Journey Unit 7” additionally seems.

In Alpha Child the journey tube door is open and labelled “Medical Centre”, regardless that the journey tube inside is clearly seen (with a gurney). Maybe a particular journey tube connecting wards and therapy rooms?
Within the boarding tube the signal says “Journey Unit 12”
In 12 months 2, the reception signal reads “Journey Tube”, with no quantity. There’s usually an indication by the facet studying “Journey Tube to Launch Pad 4”.
In Space Warp, the Launch Area has two journey tube doorways, marked (in duplicate) “Journey Tube 1” and “Journey Tube 2b”. Journey Tube 1 is a standard double doorways, with no journey unit behind it.
Revamp

The set didn’t lend itself to revamps, however in A Matter of Balance it’s briefly seen because the Nuclear Generator Room, connected to the Tools Room, and crammed with hexagonal bins. The raised ground, distinctive brown partitions and movement indicator are seen.