A thread for mumsnet nerds to talk about the history of the London Underground (aka what's your favourite tube station)

[GetOrfMoiIand]

I spent a happy hour looking at this site www.abandonedstations.org.uk/

The history of the tube is fascinating, and I love travelling on it, it is so atmospheric (apart from when I am commuting within London and then I hate it with a vengeance like any normal person reserving special ire for the wanking Circle line).

Some stations feel really evocative - for instance Lambeth North looks as if it hasn't changed since the second world war.

Just caught up with this thread. Don't want to give too much personal info, but DH and I both work for LU and DH was on the telly in The Tube series earlier this year. The Tube is a popular subject at my house.

There were a couple of reasons why they changed the Circle line. Partly to improve the service on the Hammersmith & City line with the Westfield Shopping Centre opening, and also to regulate the service on the Circle line. When it was just a continuous circle, if there was a delay, they'd sometimes have to cancel trains to regulate the service, whereas now, they can just wait less time at either end to regulate the timings.

My favourite stations are Baker Street, Barons Court, and Gloucester Road to name a few. I think they have the most character.

Actually there is a Geeky Stuff topic but its populated by mumsnetters near to tears because they've killed their laptop.

rachel you are our honorary guest.

Tell us more stuff about the tube.

Are you a tube driver?

Which is the deepest line btw? I always assumed it is the northern line but I might be making that up.

The deepest station is Hampstead (on the Northern Line), I think, partly presumably because it's on a hill.

Rachel

The northern line is the deepest. I found out here

My favourite station name might be the fabulous Theydon Bois.

I'm not a driver, I sell tickets.

Deepest tube line I think would be Northern, around the Highgate area.... I suppose it depends on whether you measure deepest from the top of the ground or from sea level.

I think there is still a wooden escalator at Greenford, but they are not the same grade as a deep station in central London so can get away with it. I think the last wooden escalators in central London were at Marylebone, and were just replaced about 5 years ago.

My aunt lives near Theydon Bois - she took the piss when I prononuced it like I was Inspector Clousseau. How was I to know.

Olympia2012 the abandoned village on Salisbury Plain is Imber.

MNHQ - pleeeeeeaaaaaassssssse can we have a Geek section?

I embarrassed myself with the pronunciation of Theydon Bois at work once, that was cringey!

Are we geeks, nerds or dweebs?

It sounds really smart if you say Theydon BOI with a frenchy flourish.

Theydon Boys is deeply disappointing.

rachel can you please fix it for me to sit in the driver's cab one day?!

I bet everyone asks you and your DH that

Theydon BWAAAAAAA.

Oooh, wanna go to abandoned village. And wanna be rachel's best friend.

Ooh! Dweeb is good!

I always hear Theydon Boys in an Alison Steadman voice in my head.

I like the name Ladbroke Grove, but mainly just because of the way Jarvis Cocker sings "Your Ladbroke Grove looks turn me on, yeah!" Guess there are loads of song lyrics that mention tube stations!

Wooden escalators: get thee to Greenford .

I always sing that when I'm in the Ladbroke Grove area, rachel. Which is sadly, not often.

If you come to the outskirts, a lot of the drivers are nice really bored and will let you ride in the cab, especially if you have a train enthusiast child!

Where the bloody hell is Greenford then

Seriously, rachel?! WAAAH! That's exciting!

Oh it's a trip out West.

Zone 4 somewhere