As always, I recommend saving in a new slot before trying anything tricky. Then if it doesn't work, you can reload your earlier save and continue from where you left off.

If you'd prefer to skip the business with the flue room key and flue room but don't mind doing the bit with the huge water tanks, try this:

Follow the same first steps as in the previous shortcut. From the starting point, turn around and head for the end of the ledge near the perpendicular catwalk. Drop down onto the small metal ledge below.

Take a running jump across the alley onto the rooftop above where the zip line is anchored.

Move to the right end of this roof and carefully drop down onto the little roof below, where you'll find a small medi pack.

Grab the horizontal crevice in the wall and traverse to the right...

...until you can pull up onto a flat ledge. (The angled roof below is safe, but there's no need to drop down.)

Now climb all the way to the upper ledge and head to the right.

When you come to the opening above the burner, the flame below is still on, since you bypassed the FLUE ROOM, where you would normally have deactivated it.

NOTE: If you like, you can get the shotgun shells on the ledge above the hole and go after secret #3. Check the main walkthrough for details.

To continue, hang from the edge of the walkway above the burner and traverse all the way to the right. Make sure Lara has full health. Then drop down...

...and immediately side flip off the burner. If you're fast, Lara will lose a little health but will not catch fire.

Now slide down the slopes into the INDUSTRIAL AREA WITH THREE LARGE WATER TANKS. Continue with the main walkthrough.

Several players have mentioned this shortcut to me over the years, but as far as I know, Steve Rawnsley was the first to discover it. He shared the info with tombraiders.com back in 1998-99.

[Shortcuts Part 3 | Return to the Thames Wharf Walkthrough]