I remember many a drunken evening spent in Central London, getting on the Northern Line to make my way home in Tooting Broadway, only to fall asleep and wake up in Morden. Crazy times.
don't they check and chuck you off? I managed to get into the reversing siding at Waterloo (W&C line) on an old 487. I got on an empty train in ignorance, noone checked and I got a ride into the sidings and back.
+Andrew Phillips Pretend that you're asleep in the back carriage of the train. Usually the driver can't be bothered to get out of the train to kick you out, so they go round the loop anyway
Geoff I think these videos are brilliant. Im actually a Signaller for the Northern Line and going back to Kennington there are also a “Kennington Sidings” which people won’t know about where we reverse late trains ;) And from Euston City Southbound pt 6 you can cross over into a Loop Called the Kings Cross loop and enter the Piccadilly Line Eastbound ;) Please keep these up !!!
There are two roundels at South Wimbledon with "Merton" in brackets- one on each platform. Whilst videoing them earlier this year, I explained the significance of them to someone standing right in front of the one on the northbound platform. I'm sure he thought I was mad! In the good old days there were far more Merton signs- I remember being fascinated by them decades ago. Glad you included this on your video.
Outside of Colliers Wood station there's a pub called 'The Charles Holden'. The most likely reason for this is because Colliers Wood station was built/designed by Charles Holden.
By the way, since you're a big fan of counting steps, walk up the steps at Hampstead. Being the deepest station on the network, the sign just says "This stairway has over 320 steps", so even the authorities didn't bother with the counting. I tried, but lost count. I got around 340 steps. Maybe you will do an accurate count?
+KasabianFan44 Yep I had about that. there are 2 things I realised which relevant to this. No1. So many people kept proposing that Northern line trains should be extended from Morden to Sutton since as we speak Sutton is tubeless and No2. In 2030 If the Bakerloo line is extended to Hayes via Lewisham, would that affect Morden's title of the most Southern tube station
MY favourite and beloved tube line. Taking me many times home- when I used to live in London (2011). Stopping at so important places in London and at my fav Camden Town. However steps at Chalk Farm and need to use a lift there were sometimes difficult :)
Love your train content loved every station and love all your London Underground content we have have learnt so much especially the forgotten stations never knew there was so many keep up the great work
You can now get a 'I've ridden the Kennington Loop' t-shirt, from our shop website: www.moretvicar.com/collection/londonist/product/kennington-loop-t-shirt
+Londonist Ltd Nice video! Is it possible to go through Kennington loop without any problems? Or did you have any special permission fot it? Thank you.
In 2018 The Kennington loop, much-mentioned below, is now a tunnel running within a larger new tunnel. This is to make connections to the new Battersea Extension. The old tunnel is gradually being removed when trains are not running. When the old tunnel lining has been removed the the new battersea tracks can easily be connected to the old northern line within a large permanent underground chamber.
Narrow island platforms. Sad to say we in NYC still have that issue to an alarming degree (Wall Street, Fulton Street, and 72 Street all come to mind).
That spiral staircase at Belsize Park was central to a 1930's detective story, recently reprinted, called "Murder Underground" by Mavis Doriel Hay. The body was found on it. The cover of the modern paperback edition has a superb painting of an Underground station scene with a 38 Tube Stock train (possibly an anachronism) with "Morden" on its destination indicator..
3:26 That is similar to NYC on the (6)! At Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, (6) trains terminate, then go around the widely known City Hall Loop, and then arrive at the Northbound Platform. Stations like Old South Ferry also have loops in the NYC Subway.
Have the Tfl paid attention to the things that you highlight in your videos? Such as the shortcuts, trains waiting for no reason etc etc? I suppose what I am asking is.. has your videos provoked change on the underground and elsewhere?
+Andrew Fleming hey Andrew, some things have changed in that things we've shown in the series and no longer there! At somepoint, we'll do a "Secrets of ... things that have changed", pointing out what is no longer true in these videos.
I used to live near Highgate Tube and always wondered about the gap and the platform you could see outside. Hampstead Tube I used often too, including the emergency stairs (for a fitness campaign). I remember Angel as am island platform too. Many Thanks.
Not quite sure if this is right, but I'm half-certain that Belsize Park is the only station with a Z anywhere in its name and consequently is the only place in the whole network where you can see a Z in the roundel.
+Hi Ho Wolverhampton indeed! it appears in our quiz here that we published this week! londonist.com/2015/12/quiz-so-you-think-you-re-a-london-transport-nerd
In winter 1982-83 a man on the run being chased by police fled daringly through the tunnel between Belsize Park and Hampstead,squeezing into a 10-inch gap as a tube train passed along (can only imagine the noise at such close quarters!) He must have been lucky to make it out alive because of the two live rails with those upturned saucer insulating things beneath them,in the middle and furthest from the platform - and seeing as the platform on some stations can switch to the opposite side from the previous one,it must cross over somewhere,in the darkness? The guy was involved in some kind of major criminal enterprise that the police were trying to crack when they shot an aspiring young film director,I think his name was Waldorf,in his car (a mini?) in London by mistake,which put the case all over the papers and the news.
@@rjjcms1 I remember it well. A film was made in 1994 about these events. It's called 'Open Fire' and has been uploaded ....I hope this is of interest.
Looking forward to the abandoned stations video! I've seen a few but sure you'll do the best. I love this series. There's just something utterly brilliant and capturing about the Underground Network. Just being on the tube is exciting.
Canning Town station also has a plastic owl! At the front facing end of the eastbound Jubilee line platform. I LOVE your videos, I geek out hard at them, thank you for this work Geoff.
Three more Northern Line stations, Goodge Street (don't laugh), Kentish Town and also Hampstead also have incorrect emergency stairs signs!!! At Kentish Town the sign says 117, but I confirmed that there are 121. The sign at Goodge Street say 136. There are actually 147. Hampstead's sign says 320, but my count says 311. Hampstead was hard work by the way!
Riveting and excellent. Your voice and personality make these so professional. I hope you are able to publish a DVD/book and get paid. You deserve that!
I was a guard on the Northern Line in 1965 - 1966. I lived with my parents in Mile End (Central line). London Transport in their infinite wisdom decided it would be the best option to base me at Golders Green. This added an hour and a half to my working day (45 minutes each way) so needless to say I only remained here for approximately 18 months. The discovery of beer and women just prior to going to work on the underground and the fact that all my pals had 8 - 5 jobs Mon - Fri sealed my fate.
During the 1970s it was rumoured a serial killer was operating on the Northern Line, who pushed over a dozen people to their deaths. Great video by the way, keep up the good work.
2:47 Geoff at Angel platform diversion took place/opened in 1992, 27 years ago, I used to use the old narrow platforms which were dangerously overcrowded in rush hour.
Great Video - thanks for posting - I'm enjoying the Secrets series. Thirty-odd years ago, I was fascinated with the network. I found that, at least THEN, the Northern Line had the two stations with the shortest names AND the two stations with the longest names. Bank and Oval, and Kings Cross Saint Pancras and Totteridge and Whetstone. These stations still exist - and they are still on the Northern Line - but I don't know whether there are any shorter or longer names on the network.
I keep hearing 3-tone descending chimes in the background, just like Toronto's TTC subway and Waterloo Region's ION LRT. Which London Underground line/rolling stock has these chimes?
Just started watching these videos tonight and I'm hooked. I also thought it was cool to see a poster for Peace's album "In Love" at 3:43, but that's just me.
***** Well, I researched and published my fact because I had seen the fact about Balham earlier in the posts for this video. I'm sorry that I didn't make that clear in my post.
***** Probably because Bounds Green is not on the Northern Line - it is on the Piccadilly Line. I posted my comment here because happysellotape had posted his comment about Balham here (and Balham _is_ on the Northern Line). So, my post was related to happysellotape's post rather than to this video.
It's had its share of catastrophes. There was also the Moorgate disaster in 1975,when a tube train ploughed into an 86-foot-long dead end tunnel. The driver pulled the Dead Man's Handle to try to stop the train but it was too late.
Growing up I lived at Angel (the old station on City Road), went to school just over Waterloo bridge and did school sports once a week at Morden. That used to be a loooong old trip home!
The overground line at Highgate shut in 1971 and ran a full service. It is now Parkland Walk - a public path from Finsbusry Park to Highgate and via the wood a second section to Alexandra Palace - another line that closed
The popular meaning of “Tube “ is all of the Underground The industry meaning of “tube” is the deep lines only (with the smaller trains in tight tunnels) (Then the shallower lines with bigger trains: met district circle are referred to as “sub-surface” lines)
3:58 I like that sound! Too bad it's not heard at every underground station and train in London! 4:35 wow! you can go through one train from platform to platform!
Thanks for showing the archer statue and the giant brick-roundel at East finchley station. There is a newspaper called The Archer that uses the statue as its emblem, with the motto "Local News is Our Aim!" which I have written for in the past.
I am old enough to recall seeing a diesel goods train running directly between Mill Hill East and edgware via Mill Hill the Hale. The tracks were removed weeks later and the M1 motorway part built on the route.
At 3:03, Geoff explains that where he is standing on the Angel platform used to be the other line...but as far as I can remember, it's not true. The new angel station platforms were built anew and when completed, the lines were diverted to it. The old angel platforms are still there, disused and I've visited them.
Now this is my personal favorite tube line. The trains are just Jubilee Line trains with slightly less cool sounding motors, but it goes to some pretty good parts.
Some other parts to show (maybe in a 2nd film about the line) include tunnels just beyond the platform at Edgeware (the start of an abandoned extension to Elstree and Bushey) former passing loops at Brent cross station, the fact that Belsize Park has a station garden at street level, original station name "Euston Road" at Warren Street and platform artworks at Charing Cross and Tottenham Court Road
If the northern line was extended to Sutton then it would be a nightmare as after you come of the Wimbledon loop just past West sutton you join with the main leatherhead/Dorking line and it would be utter chaos. The quickest way would be to have a single track that runs part way up past St Helier station then double tracks via rose hill and down to the bottom of Sutton and terminates there as there is enough land it could be easier to cut and cover.
No mention of Mornington Cres' or the Northern Line Express plan. Plus a missing useful hint when changing from Northern to Victoria lines is to do it at Euston rather than Kings Cross as its a whole lot less walking.
The Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station on NYC's Lexington Avenue Line has a very similar setup to Kennington; the 6 local turns around in the loop that passes through the original 1904 City Hall station.
There are actually two abandoned stations which are City Road station, between Angel and Old Street station and South Kentish Town station, between Kentish Town and Camden Town station. Besides that, there is also an incomplete station, which is North End aka Bull & Bush station between Golders Green and Hampstead station.
Hmmm. The Kennington Loop reminds me very much of Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall here in New York City. Southbound 6 trains, indicated on the map as terminating there, actually use a loop (which also passes through the original and abandoned City Hall Station) and re-enter service on the Northbound platform
2 things you forgot, some stations have that bit in the overpass, you can look through it and see the trains, i have seen them at Waterloo and Belsize Park, plus at Morden, if you go down Morden Road, keep walking for a few minutes, then your at Morden Road Tram Stop
Did you know that there's a hidden tube station between Golders Green and Hampstead? It was never finished but while travelling on the train you should look out of the train window and you'll be able to see partialy built south band platform. It was suppposed to be called Bull & Bush.
1:30 I'm not surprised. Here in New York, stations can accommodate trains of up to 10 cars. The C, J, L and Z routes run 8-car trains, while the G has only 4.
Northern line is the only line I know more than 5 stops of Fun fact: The part between Tooting Broadway and Elephant & Castle is basically the 155 bus route
Hey Geoff. Did you know the northern line was actually going to extend from Morden further down but as the war broke out they never finished. You should look into this and make another bonus secrets of the underground. I love your videos.
My least favorite station on this line would have to be Highgate, because when Northbound trains travelling towards High Barnet and Mill Hill East screech to a halt, the traction whine sort of gives them a sound like they're crying or something like that. Mornington Crescent and Old Street I think would also go under the category as something from the lighting on the platforms gives an eerie feel - same with Great Northern's platforms at Old Street.
I wish you''d included the unused station between Camden Town and Kentish Town! If your facing forward you'll see it on the right after the sound goes all high pitched and echoey!
The tube never really seemed quite how I remembered it as a kid when I went on it a couple of years ago, that was until I took a Northern Line train, I though "This seems more familiar" so I looked at the Tube map and as my Uncle lived in Tooting that would have been the line I was on most when I went to visit as a kid.
In nyc we have something similar to the kennington loop its called CITY HALL LOOP and you will pass a abandoned station called CITY HALL it was abandoned after brooklyn bridge got expanded. brooklyn bridge is now brooklyn bridge city hall
Hi Geoff , on min.2’15 , did you notice you stood in front of one the Mark Wallinger ‘s “ labyrinth “ mazes / prints when talking about Heath Station ? * some enthusiasts try to photgraph every one that are in situ , in all the stations on the tube map !
My childhood line, growing up near Belsize Park, and going to school at Golders Green. Hard to believe, but from age 9 I was allowed (nay-forced!) to go to school on the underground on my own as my parents - both career people - didn't have time to take me. How much did it cost? 5d (that's 5 old pence; just over 2p) for a child's half fare. It went up to a massive 6d - a sixpenny bit - soon after. Yes I know the stairs, and the old gated lifts that had a window that looked on to glowing hot resistance wires. Belsize Park also had a loo. Now another secret. Come out of the station and walk down the hill a few yards. A huge concrete cylinder. This was the entrance to air raid shelters. But they were more than that. I haven't been down there, but apparently there are two tunnels that were excavated to make the shelter, at tube train level and paralleling the existing tube lines. Apparently these were built to allow the possible construction of fast lines that bypassed some stops. They exist at a few other stations as well. The shelter was used at one time by a document storage company and I think they had secret government uses as well. At Belsize Park southbound, the platforms always smelt of burning and often a thin haze of smoke. Trains descending the gradient from Hampstead had to brake hard to stop; hence the burning brake shoes. And finally a bit about myself. At Underground stations, the wheels aren't visible. So as a small boy I used to wonder how they moved. Did they have wheels like other trains? Until age 9, I never visited an overground Underground station, so the mystery continued until my first trip to Golders Green, where the mystery was solved! They didn't just slide along the rails!
No mention of Kentish Town South? If you're going from Camden up the High Barnet branch, the train will pass through the empty platform. The actual platform was demolished, so the tunnel essentially gets larger. You can hear it.
At Clapham North we can see a trap door on the center platform down the stairs. If you open this trap on the platform, you access to an electrical room which runs underneath the platform. Then from this electrical room, there's another trap which leads to a bunker underneath. One of the many bunkers used during WWII. Also at Oval station there's a door which leads to the former elevator shaft built in 1890 and kept its original tiling style. There's also another door from this old elevator shaft which leads to a former corridor from the same era.
You have no idea (well you probably do actually) how much this series taught me.
u
Same!
I remember many a drunken evening spent in Central London, getting on the Northern Line to make my way home in Tooting Broadway, only to fall asleep and wake up in Morden. Crazy times.
Literally like three stops away
I once needed to get to embankment but slept and woke up at brent cross, so yeah i had to go all the way back :(
I like how there's someone going up the down escalator at 1:56
Thought I was the only one who noticed that :)
Me too
me too i only just realised that when I saw your comment
Jesse Omara b
Evan Slater same!
Isn't it kind of weird that the southernmost station is on the Northern Line.
Nathan Gorringe just
Thats British logic
Merseyrail-Northern Line
F
BahnSpotter I guess this was added afterwards and originally trains went from central to northern areas
I also like how the Northern Line has both the highest and lowest points on the entire deep tube Underground network
i have been round the kennington loop and it is fun to see the expressions on peoples faces as you come out a train that they think is empty
Love that result. I had chuckled at Kennington myself, watching someone get off a train that should be empty.
HalfDeadSquared How did you do it
You do it by staying in by the train then gets to the loop and few minutues later you get to the other side
don't they check and chuck you off? I managed to get into the reversing siding at Waterloo (W&C line) on an old 487. I got on an empty train in ignorance, noone checked and I got a ride into the sidings and back.
+Andrew Phillips Pretend that you're asleep in the back carriage of the train. Usually the driver can't be bothered to get out of the train to kick you out, so they go round the loop anyway
balham is the only tube station without any letters of the word underground
happysellotape I like trains!!
happysellotape Also runs furthes north
Thegamer2000 what are you talking about
happysellotape i
also West Ham.
Geoff I think these videos are brilliant.
Im actually a Signaller for the Northern Line and going back to Kennington there are also a “Kennington Sidings” which people won’t know about where we reverse late trains ;)
And from Euston City Southbound pt 6 you can cross over into a Loop Called the Kings Cross loop and enter the Piccadilly Line Eastbound ;)
Please keep these up !!!
This was just what I was looking for! A professional series on TH-cam about the London Underground.
1:56 Did anyone else see that person try running up the wrong escalator?
TransitUSA yes
try? he nailed it
Coconut Mall AI be like
I also did
There are two roundels at South Wimbledon with "Merton" in brackets- one on each platform. Whilst videoing them earlier this year, I explained the significance of them to someone standing right in front of the one on the northbound platform. I'm sure he thought I was mad! In the good old days there were far more Merton signs- I remember being fascinated by them decades ago. Glad you included this on your video.
voxley19
If you think 'Charing +' is bad you should see America's pedestrian crossings or 'ped xings' as they are called.
My first time in the US and I thought Ped Xing was the name of a street - I was thinking 'this must be the longest street in the US" D'oh!
All their Xmas's came at once.
@@rjjcms1 Crossmass!
Outside of Colliers Wood station there's a pub called 'The Charles Holden'.
The most likely reason for this is because Colliers Wood station was built/designed by Charles Holden.
Holden was a giant in the look of the underground
Guess what I was born at colliers wood
By the way, since you're a big fan of counting steps, walk up the steps at Hampstead. Being the deepest station on the network, the sign just says "This stairway has over 320 steps", so even the authorities didn't bother with the counting.
I tried, but lost count. I got around 340 steps. Maybe you will do an accurate count?
Equivalent to 15 stories remember.
I've been up those steps
Anyone else noticed that this line runs furthest *south* despite being called the *Northern* line?
Omg I was just about to say that
+KasabianFan44 Runs further south but it covers more northern boroughs.
+KasabianFan44 Yep I had about that. there are 2 things I realised which relevant to this. No1. So many people kept proposing that Northern line trains should be extended from Morden to Sutton since as we speak Sutton is tubeless and No2. In 2030 If the Bakerloo line is extended to Hayes via Lewisham, would that affect Morden's title of the most Southern tube station
Smart1529 Thanks for the info.
So if both extensions happened, which station would be furthest south on the Underground? Sutton or Hayes?
Not sure looks like both are on par with Croydon
MY favourite and beloved tube line. Taking me many times home- when I used to live in London (2011). Stopping at so important places in London and at my fav Camden Town. However steps at Chalk Farm and need to use a lift there were sometimes difficult :)
Charing + sounds like a premium subscription service
1:35 Geoff: “ don’t ever stand there!”
Love your train content loved every station and love all your London Underground content we have have learnt so much especially the forgotten stations never knew there was so many keep up the great work
This series is just amazing. I’m from Sweden but I want to visit London as soon as possible.
You can now get a 'I've ridden the Kennington Loop' t-shirt, from our shop website: www.moretvicar.com/collection/londonist/product/kennington-loop-t-shirt
+Londonist Ltd isn't the Kennington Loop haunted?
+Londonist Ltd Nice video! Is it possible to go through Kennington loop without any problems? Or did you have any special permission fot it? Thank you.
wow really cool though
How long does it take to ride the Kennington loop
hidden rooms
In 2018 The Kennington loop, much-mentioned below, is now a tunnel running within a larger new tunnel. This is to make connections to the new Battersea Extension.
The old tunnel is gradually being removed when trains are not running.
When the old tunnel lining has been removed the the new battersea tracks can easily be connected to the old northern line within a large permanent underground chamber.
I like this series "Secrets of the Underground"
Narrow island platforms. Sad to say we in NYC still have that issue to an alarming degree (Wall Street, Fulton Street, and 72 Street all come to mind).
Hakim - we're hoping to do every line eventually. One every 2-4 weeks. We'll get to them soon. Thanks.
Love these "Secrets of" videos.
Great job guys.
Despite living a couple of hundred miles away from London, I find these videos totally fascinating.
That spiral staircase at Belsize Park was central to a 1930's detective story, recently reprinted, called "Murder Underground" by Mavis Doriel Hay. The body was found on it. The cover of the modern paperback edition has a superb painting of an Underground station scene with a 38 Tube Stock train (possibly an anachronism) with "Morden" on its destination indicator..
I have that book. Good story
Nice series, Mr Londonist, thanks for sharing these secrets :) X
3:26 That is similar to NYC on the (6)!
At Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, (6) trains terminate, then go around the widely known City Hall Loop, and then arrive at the Northbound Platform.
Stations like Old South Ferry also have loops in the NYC Subway.
Have the Tfl paid attention to the things that you highlight in your videos? Such as the shortcuts, trains waiting for no reason etc etc? I suppose what I am asking is.. has your videos provoked change on the underground and elsewhere?
+Andrew Fleming hey Andrew, some things have changed in that things we've shown in the series and no longer there! At somepoint, we'll do a "Secrets of ... things that have changed", pointing out what is no longer true in these videos.
+Londonist Ltd Sounds great. Will keep an eye out for that :)
+Londonist Ltd u
Susu_ Pendao What?
So looking forward to this video ^
I used to live near Highgate Tube and always wondered about the gap and the platform you could see outside. Hampstead Tube I used often too, including the emergency stairs (for a fitness campaign). I remember Angel as am island platform too. Many Thanks.
I only live in the Midlands and I have learnt so much about each tube line!
Not quite sure if this is right, but I'm half-certain that Belsize Park is the only station with a Z anywhere in its name and consequently is the only place in the whole network where you can see a Z in the roundel.
+Hi Ho Wolverhampton indeed! it appears in our quiz here that we published this week! londonist.com/2015/12/quiz-so-you-think-you-re-a-london-transport-nerd
In winter 1982-83 a man on the run being chased by police fled daringly through the tunnel between Belsize Park and Hampstead,squeezing into a 10-inch gap as a tube train passed along (can only imagine the noise at such close quarters!) He must have been lucky to make it out alive because of the two live rails with those upturned saucer insulating things beneath them,in the middle and furthest from the platform - and seeing as the platform on some stations can switch to the opposite side from the previous one,it must cross over somewhere,in the darkness? The guy was involved in some kind of major criminal enterprise that the police were trying to crack when they shot an aspiring young film director,I think his name was Waldorf,in his car (a mini?) in London by mistake,which put the case all over the papers and the news.
Not in 2020. Because " eliZabeth line"
@@redgamer2163 only STATION not LINE
@@rjjcms1 I remember it well. A film was made in 1994 about these events. It's called 'Open Fire' and has been uploaded ....I hope this is of interest.
Looking forward to the abandoned stations video! I've seen a few but sure you'll do the best. I love this series. There's just something utterly brilliant and capturing about the Underground Network. Just being on the tube is exciting.
the funny thing about the underground is it does not go underground most of the time
yes only 45% of the network is underground
That viaduct is the most overground part of the underground.
I really like Geoff, I think he should have a TV programme!
Canning Town station also has a plastic owl! At the front facing end of the eastbound Jubilee line platform. I LOVE your videos, I geek out hard at them, thank you for this work Geoff.
Geoffs excitement is the reason i tune in
Three more Northern Line stations, Goodge Street (don't laugh), Kentish Town and also Hampstead also have incorrect emergency stairs signs!!! At Kentish Town the sign says 117, but I confirmed that there are 121. The sign at Goodge Street say 136. There are actually 147. Hampstead's sign says 320, but my count says 311. Hampstead was hard work by the way!
Riveting and excellent. Your voice and personality make these so professional. I hope you are able to publish a DVD/book and get paid. You deserve that!
I was a guard on the Northern Line in 1965 - 1966. I lived with my parents in Mile End (Central line). London Transport in their infinite wisdom decided it would be the best option to base me at Golders Green. This added an hour and a half to my working day (45 minutes each way) so needless to say I only remained here for approximately 18 months. The discovery of beer and women just prior to going to work on the underground and the fact that all my pals had 8 - 5 jobs Mon - Fri sealed my fate.
During the 1970s it was rumoured a serial killer was operating on the Northern Line, who pushed over a dozen people to their deaths.
Great video by the way, keep up the good work.
I heard that aswell it was on BBC London news last year
2:47 Geoff at Angel platform diversion took place/opened in 1992, 27 years ago, I used to use the old narrow platforms which were dangerously overcrowded in rush hour.
Great Video - thanks for posting - I'm enjoying the Secrets series. Thirty-odd years ago, I was fascinated with the network. I found that, at least THEN, the Northern Line had the two stations with the shortest names AND the two stations with the longest names. Bank and Oval, and Kings Cross Saint Pancras and Totteridge and Whetstone. These stations still exist - and they are still on the Northern Line - but I don't know whether there are any shorter or longer names on the network.
2:40 which is equivalent to 15 floors
I keep hearing 3-tone descending chimes in the background, just like Toronto's TTC subway and Waterloo Region's ION LRT. Which London Underground line/rolling stock has these chimes?
I have never lived in London and probably never will, but i find these videos facinating :)
Hampstead station is located in the nicest part of London.
Great series of videos i really enjoyed them. You should do some on the many hauntings reported on the Underground you'd do a good job i think :-)
Just started watching these videos tonight and I'm hooked. I also thought it was cool to see a poster for Peace's album "In Love" at 3:43, but that's just me.
Charing + sounds like a subscription only premium station. Where do I sign up?
Bounds Green is the only underground station that has _all_ 7 different letters of the word underground represented in its name.
NumbersGuy and 'Balham' is the only tube station that does NOT have any of the letters of the world 'Underground' in it!
***** Well, I researched and published my fact because I had seen the fact about Balham earlier in the posts for this video. I'm sorry that I didn't make that clear in my post.
***** Probably because Bounds Green is not on the Northern Line - it is on the Piccadilly Line. I posted my comment here because happysellotape had posted his comment about Balham here (and Balham _is_ on the Northern Line). So, my post was related to happysellotape's post rather than to this video.
NumbersGuy yeah
NumbersGuy Dang I have visited bounds green myself and did not know that! That's a new secret right there xD
No mention of the war memorial/ disaster at Balham
It's had its share of catastrophes. There was also the Moorgate disaster in 1975,when a tube train ploughed into an 86-foot-long dead end tunnel. The driver pulled the Dead Man's Handle to try to stop the train but it was too late.
Growing up I lived at Angel (the old station on City Road), went to school just over Waterloo bridge and did school sports once a week at Morden. That used to be a loooong old trip home!
Excellent video ... just wish it was longer! Such an interesting subject. :)
The overground line at Highgate shut in 1971 and ran a full service. It is now Parkland Walk - a public path from Finsbusry Park to Highgate and via the wood a second section to Alexandra Palace - another line that closed
The popular meaning of “Tube “ is all of the Underground
The industry meaning of “tube” is the deep lines only (with the smaller trains in tight tunnels)
(Then the shallower lines with bigger trains: met district circle are referred to as “sub-surface” lines)
3:58 I like that sound! Too bad it's not heard at every underground station and train in London!
4:35 wow! you can go through one train from platform to platform!
3:57 MIND THE GAP!
This is a really interesting look at one of things most associated with London.
Thanks for showing the archer statue and the giant brick-roundel at East finchley station. There is a newspaper called The Archer that uses the statue as its emblem, with the motto "Local News is Our Aim!" which I have written for in the past.
Told my kids the story about the Embankment announcement and every time they hear “next stop Embankment” they get excited to hear his voice. 😄
Geoff Marshall you do such amazing videos
What a great video! I learned so many info about London Underground you really deserve a like and subscribe! :D
I am old enough to recall seeing a diesel goods train running directly between Mill Hill East and edgware via Mill Hill the Hale. The tracks were removed weeks later and the M1 motorway part built on the route.
At 3:03, Geoff explains that where he is standing on the Angel platform used to be the other line...but as far as I can remember, it's not true. The new angel station platforms were built anew and when completed, the lines were diverted to it. The old angel platforms are still there, disused and I've visited them.
4:45 There's also one at South Harrow!
Now this is my personal favorite tube line. The trains are just Jubilee Line trains with slightly less cool sounding motors, but it goes to some pretty good parts.
Some other parts to show (maybe in a 2nd film about the line) include tunnels just beyond the platform at Edgeware (the start of an abandoned extension to Elstree and Bushey) former passing loops at Brent cross station, the fact that Belsize Park has a station garden at street level, original station name "Euston Road" at Warren Street and platform artworks at Charing Cross and Tottenham Court Road
If the northern line was extended to Sutton then it would be a nightmare as after you come of the Wimbledon loop just past West sutton you join with the main leatherhead/Dorking line and it would be utter chaos. The quickest way would be to have a single track that runs part way up past St Helier station then double tracks via rose hill and down to the bottom of Sutton and terminates there as there is enough land it could be easier to cut and cover.
No mention of Mornington Cres' or the Northern Line Express plan. Plus a missing useful hint when changing from Northern to Victoria lines is to do it at Euston rather than Kings Cross as its a whole lot less walking.
I have a sentimental connection to this line thanks to the summer I spent living in the UK frequently using the Colindale station.
The Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station on NYC's Lexington Avenue Line has a very similar setup to Kennington; the 6 local turns around in the loop that passes through the original 1904 City Hall station.
The Northern Line recently got extended to Battersea Power Station and now has 52 stations with 38 underground - still the highest for any line
and 18 of the 31 that are south of the river
There's also a checkerboard floor in Hendon Central Station
There are actually two abandoned stations which are City Road station, between Angel and Old Street station and South Kentish Town station, between Kentish Town and Camden Town station. Besides that, there is also an incomplete station, which is North End aka Bull & Bush station between Golders Green and Hampstead station.
South Kentish Town station is now a cash converter oddly enough
lol
Also, there is a station 'Bull & Bush', between Golders Green & Hampstead that was never opened.
I know
+VincentKoh LUMCFan That must be the location where the Bull & Bush pub is then, by Golders Hill park? Interesting....
Clapham Common and North stations still have the island platforms.
Angel and Euston have since been rebuilt to single platforms.
You can leave Edgware Road station on the Circle Line, and arrive back at Edgware Road, albeit an hour later.
Hmmm. The Kennington Loop reminds me very much of Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall here in New York City. Southbound 6 trains, indicated on the map as terminating there, actually use a loop (which also passes through the original and abandoned City Hall Station) and re-enter service on the Northbound platform
I was on this line after holidays in London going to Euston to get the train to Glasgow. Four family at rush hour with massive rucksacks... Yep
2 things you forgot, some stations have that bit in the overpass, you can look through it and see the trains, i have seen them at Waterloo and Belsize Park, plus at Morden, if you go down Morden Road, keep walking for a few minutes, then your at Morden Road Tram Stop
Did you know that there's a hidden tube station between Golders Green and Hampstead? It was never finished but while travelling on the train you should look out of the train window and you'll be able to see partialy built south band platform. It was suppposed to be called Bull & Bush.
Angel station is basically one influence on the Bank station redevelopment.
And Euston station in the 1960s
@@hakc97again That is true though... at least it might be less congested
1:30 I'm not surprised. Here in New York, stations can accommodate trains of up to 10 cars. The C, J, L and Z routes run 8-car trains, while the G has only 4.
The Kennington loop is the most haunted part of the underlying
Why doesnt the 1995 stock have buttons for the doors anymore?
ATO
this guy is the best teacher of the lu
Northern line is the only line I know more than 5 stops of
Fun fact: The part between Tooting Broadway and Elephant & Castle is basically the 155 bus route
Geoff, you could have gone up tp Edgware to show us these tunnels at the end of the line, and inform us about that unfinished Bushey Heath Extension!
Hey Geoff. Did you know the northern line was actually going to extend from Morden further down but as the war broke out they never finished. You should look into this and make another bonus secrets of the underground. I love your videos.
My least favorite station on this line would have to be Highgate, because when Northbound trains travelling towards High Barnet and Mill Hill East screech to a halt, the traction whine sort of gives them a sound like they're crying or something like that. Mornington Crescent and Old Street I think would also go under the category as something from the lighting on the platforms gives an eerie feel - same with Great Northern's platforms at Old Street.
At 4:42, there was just one station that it did not say at the bottom of the screen. And that is Canning Town on the eastbound platform.
I wish you''d included the unused station between Camden Town and Kentish Town! If your facing forward you'll see it on the right after the sound goes all high pitched and echoey!
The tube never really seemed quite how I remembered it as a kid when I went on it a couple of years ago, that was until I took a Northern Line train, I though "This seems more familiar" so I looked at the Tube map and as my Uncle lived in Tooting that would have been the line I was on most when I went to visit as a kid.
Hey Geoff,
If you will count the stairs bring a bond paper and a marker
The bond paper must have a logo of TfL and Londonist
In nyc we have something similar to the kennington loop its called CITY HALL LOOP and you will pass a abandoned station called CITY HALL it was abandoned after brooklyn bridge got expanded. brooklyn bridge is now brooklyn bridge city hall
Hi Geoff , on min.2’15 , did you notice you stood in front of one the Mark Wallinger ‘s “ labyrinth “ mazes / prints when talking about Heath Station ? * some enthusiasts try to photgraph every one that are in situ , in all the stations on the tube map !
My childhood line, growing up near Belsize Park, and going to school at Golders Green. Hard to believe, but from age 9 I was allowed (nay-forced!) to go to school on the underground on my own as my parents - both career people - didn't have time to take me. How much did it cost? 5d (that's 5 old pence; just over 2p) for a child's half fare. It went up to a massive 6d - a sixpenny bit - soon after. Yes I know the stairs, and the old gated lifts that had a window that looked on to glowing hot resistance wires. Belsize Park also had a loo. Now another secret. Come out of the station and walk down the hill a few yards. A huge concrete cylinder. This was the entrance to air raid shelters. But they were more than that. I haven't been down there, but apparently there are two tunnels that were excavated to make the shelter, at tube train level and paralleling the existing tube lines. Apparently these were built to allow the possible construction of fast lines that bypassed some stops. They exist at a few other stations as well. The shelter was used at one time by a document storage company and I think they had secret government uses as well.
At Belsize Park southbound, the platforms always smelt of burning and often a thin haze of smoke. Trains descending the gradient from Hampstead had to brake hard to stop; hence the burning brake shoes. And finally a bit about myself. At Underground stations, the wheels aren't visible. So as a small boy I used to wonder how they moved. Did they have wheels like other trains? Until age 9, I never visited an overground Underground station, so the mystery continued until my first trip to Golders Green, where the mystery was solved! They didn't just slide along the rails!
No mention of Kentish Town South? If you're going from Camden up the High Barnet branch, the train will pass through the empty platform. The actual platform was demolished, so the tunnel essentially gets larger. You can hear it.
At Clapham North we can see a trap door on the center platform down the stairs. If you open this trap on the platform, you access to an electrical room which runs underneath the platform. Then from this electrical room, there's another trap which leads to a bunker underneath. One of the many bunkers used during WWII.
Also at Oval station there's a door which leads to the former elevator shaft built in 1890 and kept its original tiling style. There's also another door from this old elevator shaft which leads to a former corridor from the same era.