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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 8h

#OnThisDay 120 years ago, Barons Court station opened on the District Line in advance of the Piccadilly Line opening a year later. This charming station designed by Harry Ford is in a typical Edwardian style, and is Grade II listed. Image: @tubemapper.bsky.social buff.ly/nZDpbn1

Looking east down the westbound island platform at Barons Court at night, on the left a 1973 Stock and on the right an S7 stock arrive in unison in a symmetrical image bar the ornate clock on the District Line side of the canopy.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 8h

#OnThisDay 9 years ago I marked the first ever Jubilee Line 'Night Tube' service with a hastily-made laminated sign as Train 134 departed Stanmore at 00:24. We take it for granted now, but starting Night Tube on each line was a lengthy process and took a lot of planning.

Joe stands on platform 2 at Stanmore alongside the cab of southbound Train 137 of 1996 Stock, the first ever Jubilee Night Tube train, with the driver Adam. A laminated A3 sign stuck in the window marks the event.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay 176 years ago, the GWR opened a branch from Slough to Windsor, now Windsor & Eton Central. The magnificent building dates from a rebuild 1895-97, and sadly no longer sees trains as the branch was truncated to create a shopping centre. buff.ly/NiERYDP

Looking through the original elegant trainshed at Windsor & Eton Central, now lined with cafes with a cobbled floor as people pass through. The lettering 'Windsor Royal Shopping' has been applied to the end facade of the trainshed roof, with a crest above.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay 147 years ago Palace Gates (Wood Green) station opened on a short extension from Noel Park. The least conveniently located of Ally Pally's three stations and competing with the Piccadilly Line, it only lasted 85 years. Image: Colour-Rail buff.ly/7hPD2T6

A weathered light steam engine in British Rail black livery seems to idle at one of the platforms at Palace Gates viewed from the other, possibly about to depart tender-first as the starter signal is off. A large and well-kept black and white sign in the background has PALACE GATES / WOOD GREEN on it, while nearer the camera a lamp-post carries a green totem sign with just PALACE GATES on it. Both platforms look mossy and overgrown.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay 47 years ago Hannah Dadds qualified as a District Line driver, the first woman driver in the UK (predating Karen Harrison on the mainline by a year). When sister Edna became a Guard, they formed the first all-woman train crew. Image LT Museum Collection buff.ly/4P2MH59

Hannah looks over her shoulder smiling to camera as she scales the ladder up into the cab of a District Line R Stock.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 4d

#OnThisDay 61 years ago Belmont closed (in Middlesex, as opposed to the still-open one near Sutton). For the final 12 years after Stanmore Village closed, Belmont was a one-stop shuttle from Harrow & Wealdstone. Image of final day: Nick Catford buff.ly/izRXRo1

A smart-looking green liveried 2-car Diesel Multiple Unit waits to depart the surviving platform at Belmont on the final day of operation, 3 October 1964

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 4d

When I was a kid there was a subway under the broadway with a dragon painted along the length of it… nobody likes a pissy muggers paradise subway granted, but it’s more pedestrian friendly

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you, I briefly attempted ‘hair’ for a couple of years but Covid lockdowns was the end of that 🤣

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 5d

BBC archive footage covering their impending launch and highlighting the innovations and luxuries like draught beer and a very sad looking BR pizza www.facebook.com/share/v/1D4e...

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 5d

#OnThisDay 49 years ago at 08:05 the first InterCity 125 in regular service left Paddington station with a service to Bristol Temple Meads. 12 years ago, I was privileged to have a cab ride to Reading... hitting platforms at 100mph+ was unnerving for this ex-Tube driver!

Viewed from the platform at Paddington, @JoeBrownLondon leans out of the cab of Intercity 125 / Class 43 power car 43196

@JoeBrownLondon sat in the driver's seat of 43196

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 6d

#OnThisDay 42 years ago the sleepy peak hours weekdays only terminus at Coulsdon North closed, primarily due to the Brighton mainline resignalling. Images jon33040: buff.ly/QX2o6jI buff.ly/6KbqSNM Map extract London Railway Atlas @CrecyRail.bsky.social buff.ly/yjwJ0aN

Looking across a deserted Coulsdon North station, a train likely of 4EPB units in BR blue and grey livery stand at a platform on the right with a concrete footbridge spanning the tracks and a large concrete-mounted station name board on the left with white lettering on a green background.

Another view of a deserted Coulsdon North station with a train of blue-and-grey 4EPB units idling. Sleepers are dumped on the island platform in the middle distance, while the platform the photographer is stood on is covered in moss and grass.

London Railway Atlas extract showing Coulsdon North station relative to Coulsdon South and Couldson Town (formerly Smitham)

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 7d

#OnThisDay 143 years ago St Ann's Road station opened at the intersection of Seven Sisters Road and St Ann's Road, between today's Harringay Green Lanes and South Tottenham. Image: buff.ly/bUoSUJe Map: London Railway Atlas 6th edition @CrecyRail.bsky.social buff.ly/yjwJ0aN

Image of St Ann's Road station showing simple wooden construction and a fairly basic shelter on each platform.

London Railway Atlas 6th edition extract showing the Harringay area, St Ann's Road station marked by an arrow

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 8d

#OnThisDay 165 years ago, London Victoria was opened by the Victoria Station & Pimlico Railway, a joint venture between several companies, replacing a temporary terminus on the south bank of the Thames named Pimlico. Image SWD Photographs flic.kr/p/2hXspbg

Night time shot looking back towards the trainsheds from platform 2 at Victoria, with a Class 465 Networker waiting to depart platform 3 for Bromley South.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 8d

#OnThisDay 54 years ago at 18:04 the last 4DD double-decker train departed Charing Cross for Dartford. An ingenious way to increase capacity with restricted loading gauge, the two 1949-built units had 'interleaved' compartments. Michael Taylor / more info: buff.ly/DpLe2D3

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 8d

Oopsie. I’ve done that thing again where I foraged for something geekily wonderful for a few quid and spent a fortune framing it 😬 A rather fabulous in-car diagram from 1977 showing the District & Circle and East London Lines, from the LT Museum Depot open day 🟢🟡🟣

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 9d

#OnThisDay 31 years ago, the last passenger train departed Aldwych station. The branch remained available for filming with a captive 1972 stock until 2021. Image from the final day of operation from London Rail (more information and photos in the blog). buff.ly/thbRkTl

A 3-car 1973 Stock stands at Holborn waiting to depart for Aldwych on the last day. Confusingly the destination blind is displaying 'West Kensington' while there is a large 'Aldwych' destination board in the cab window on the driver's side. The driver is on the handset making a public address while several people are visible on the platform, presumably present to witness the last departure.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 10d

#OnThisDay 13 years ago, the A60 Stock farewell railtour covered the entire Metropolitan line, including Watford, Amersham, Aldgate, Uxbridge, Chesham and the Watford curve. The final revenue service was three days before on the 26th. Image: bowroaduk buff.ly/no6J7O6

The A Stock farewell tour arrives at Baker Street northbound Metropolitan Line platform with a commemorative headboard and the non-standard set number '60'

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 11d

#OnThisDay 1 year ago Ashley Down station in Bristol opened, or rather reopened after a 61 year hiatus (formerly known as Ashley Hill station). HighburyAndIslington capture of the first train on Reddit buff.ly/N661OjU

A GWR Class 165 arrives at Ashley Down station on the opening day, viewed from the platform. Dozens of people are gathered on the platform and footbridge stairs filming and taking pictures on their phones.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 11d

Yes it piqued my interest… a very recent image where the current line map had been torn to reveal Epping to Ongar underneath

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 11d

Same view, 200 years later… I wonder if any spectators are descendants of the 1825 ensemble? Courtesy of The Railway Magazine

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 12d

#OnThisDay 200 years ago witnessed the birth of modern railways through the opening procession of the Stockton & Darlington Railway from Shildon to Darlington. Watched by thousands, Locomotion No.1 hauled hundreds of passengers aboard wagons and coach 'Experiment'.

Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. John Dobbin (1815-1888) c.1875. Painting held by the National Railway Museum, York. Crowds gather as Locomotion No.1 hauls dozens of wagons packed with passengers along a distant embankment and across a river via an elegant bridge.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 13d

#OnThisDay 54 years ago a farewell railtour operated for the Q23 stock, seen here at Hammersmith alongside a gleaming C69 stock which had replaced them. The nameboard marks the fact these were the last clerestory-roofed LU stock. Robert Gadsdon collection buff.ly/R5RcOZA

Viewed from the north end of platform 2 at Hammersmith (Hammersmith & City station), a red clerestory-roofed Q23 stock stands at platform 1 while a new-looking C69 Stock stands at platform 2. The C Stock appears to be short, presumably 4 cars, and has a 'special' destination. The Q23 Stock has a large name board attached to the cab end heralding that it is 'the last clerestory roofed train' with a roundel with 'farewell to the Q Stock / 1923-71'.

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 14d

#OnThisDay 76 years ago the Central Line extended from Loughton to Ongar and ownership transferred from BR to LT. Epping to Ongar was single track and not electrified until 1957, operating as a shuttle. '92 Stock on test did reach Ongar however: Paul Smith buff.ly/SBd0f42

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 14d

Generally Bond Street EL fit-out was always lagging behind… even for the original December 2019 (!) opening date

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Joe Brown @joebrownlondon.bsky.social · 15d

#OnThisDay 125 years ago Bond Street station opened... or very nearly Davies Street, as seen on the architectural drawings of the street level building. It opened 8 weeks after the rest of the Central London Railway due to lift problems. LT Museum collection buff.ly/KZfvCNI

Architectural drawings of 'Davies Street' (Bond Street) station. Ink drawing on paper with colour wash. Elevation at street level to Oxford St. Miscellaneous sections. Draughted by: Harry Measures, Architect, 16 Great George St. Westminster SW, circa 1900

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