Next month it will be the 60th anniversary of the Harrow and Wealdstone rail accident, Britain’s worst civilian rail disaster. We wrote extensively about the accident last year, but for those unfamiliar with the consequences, …
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In Pictures: The DLR at Twenty Five
Last week marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the DLR. Originally intended as a low cost option to support the Docklands redevelopment programme, the DLR had a somewhat troubled gestation. Now, however, it forms a vital part of London’s transport infrastructure. To help celebrate its birthday, we’ve pulled together some images from its past.
Continue readingOff Site: London Transport Posters at Christies
It appears that the LTM are looking to auction off a number of excess posters from their archive, with the funds raised being ringfenced for future acquisitions. Whilst unfortunately the decorating budget here at LR Towers doesn’t stretch far enough to allow us to take part in the auction itself, the online catalogue is well worth a look.
Continue readingWarminster – Imber Village Routemaster Special Service
After yesterday highlighting the “Beck and Beyond” talk at the LTM, it seemed only fair to highlight something for the more omnibuphile members of the LR readership – Imberbus, the annual Warminster – Imber Village Routemaster Special Service on Monday 4th June.
Continue readingNot Stopping Here: (Gimmie) Deep Level Shelter
Through the Blitz and beyond, the part the Underground played in World War Two was a complex one. Nowhere was this more true than the role it played in sheltering the civilian populace from aerial attack. The part platforms at places like Aldwych played, and the tragedy at Bethnal Green are now relatively well known. What is perhaps less well known, however, is the role played by the Deep Level Shelters – the remains of which can still be seen at street level.
Continue readingSteam at Edgware Road and Earl’s Court
Following on from yesterday’s article, which included photos of the steam test at Baker Street on Sunday morning, below are a selection of photos of the same Special Train at Edgware Road and Earl’s Court. …
Continue readingA Late Night Steam Run on the Metropolitan
Last night, at 0100, a special train left Lillie Bridge depot. Bracketed by L24 and L26, it was a very different configuration from that normally seen by passengers (not least because it included Sarah Siddons, …
Continue readingIn Pictures: London Underground in the Seventies
With new Rolling Stock now appearing on much of the London Underground, it seems an opportune moment to take a step back and look at some trains of times past. Below are a selection of …
Continue readingIn Video: the Waterloo & City 1940 Stock
For those who have yet to encounter it, the SouthernRailwayFilms channel on Youtube has a veritable treasure-trove of videos related to the history of the old Southern Railway Company. The Waterloo & City line was, …
Continue readingLondon Buses and the Battle for Shoeburyness
On Friday the 18th December 1908, an unknown military force landed on the shores of the river Crouch in Essex. Britain had been invaded. The invading force (the Germans, if the soldiers tasked with responding …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Moving the Mail Rail
Whilst we tend to concentrate on the movement of people and freight, there are other uses to which rail has been put in London – notably the movement of mail. Earlier this year the British …
Continue readingThe Return of the Broad Street War Memorial
In focusing our attention on the ELL Extension to the south, we appear to have unfortunately missed on a little bit of activity to the north – the re-siting of the Broad Street War Memorial. …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Farringdon and High Holborn
Mikey’s Flikr pool is one that we have raided (with his permission) before, as it is often home to some impressive images from London’s Transport history. This week is no exception, with two excellent images …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Brompton Road Station
This post arguably needs little introduction. IanVisits (an occasional and always welcome guest author here at LR Towers) and M@ from Londonist were able to visit parts of Brompton Road, one of the Piccadilly Line’s …
Continue reading150 Years Of The Metropolitan Line: Exploring the Possibility of Steam
2013 will see London Underground reach a noteworthy landmark – it will mark 150 years since the Metropolitan Railway, the core of the modern Metropolitan line, opened on 10 January 1863. Given the significance of …
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