The 270

067/270: #Hammersmith (Hammersmith & City) – The Identity Crisis

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The Hammersmith & City line is the failed rock star of the London Underground. In 1990 it had a mid-life identity crisis and went solo from the rest of the Metropolitan Line. A line which up until this point had conquered every corner of London.

For a while things looked good. The H&C even managed some minor hits stations, such as Royal Oak and Latimer Road, on its very own album section of track between Edgware Road and Hammersmith. It had its own stations and its own names, it was finally an artist a line in its own right.

But things weren’t as they seemed. From the offset the H&C released an unpopular duet with the District Line, who even then didn’t allow it full credit of the Upminster branch. To make ends meet, the H&C had to continue making appearances with the rest of the band Metropolitan Line. Sometimes out of sheer stubbornness the Met would terminate at Baker Street, leaving the H&C to pick up the slack at the big city gigs stations.

The H&C couldn’t cope. It was rock bottom. Things were so bad that in 2009, it reached out to the Circle, gave up 50% of the rights to its only 6 songs stations, and sold out. Last I heard they’d released a new single opened a new station together next to a shopping centre, but even that doesn’t have a ticket office…

The Hammersmith & City Line has just one thing left. The Eastern corner of Aldgate Junction connecting Liverpool Street to Aldgate East. And sometimes… just to prove a point… The H&C will clog it up. Bringing the Metropolitan, Circle and District to their knees.

I guess it got the last laugh after all.

Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk

Station Index

066/270: #Hammersmith (District & Piccadilly) – The Salvaged

ImageAndy Carter 1 Comment

Hammersmith, that is the District & Piccadilly Hammersmith, is one of those stations I’ve always seen as function over form. With its entrance sunk deep inside a nondescript 1990’s shopping centre called “Broadway,” overlooking it is easy. The same shopping centre forced the demolition of the original Harry Ford facade, something many will view as architectural vandalism.

But out of the ashes of what was clearly a Needs-Must rebuild stands something quite interesting. Effort in that ‘architectural vandalism’ has at least been made to salvage the remains of the original station, which now provides the frame to a spectacular mosaic artwork of Hammersmith Bridge.

A the plaque on wall reads,

The application of old and new elements are a reminder of the continuing commitment by London Underground to art and design.

Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk

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065/270: #RavenscourtPark – The Victorian

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To single out a station to represent the Victorian era is difficult, if not impossible, owing to the fact that such a vast part of the Underground network was constructed in that era. So how do you represent the quintessential Victorian station? Something well known, grand and imposing? Or maybe something a little more ordinary like the offering at Ravenscourt Park.

It opened in 1873, slap bang in the middle of the Victorian railway boom. It’s telling of the expansion, wealth and aspiration of the time. This would have merely been an unimportant suburban outpost but just look at the facilities it was given. It’s got neat triangular canopies spanning two island platforms, and offers commanding views over this area of affluent west London from on top of its viaduct. It’s topped off by a spacious and inviting ticket hall, strong in it’s brick and stone stature and symbolic of the age. Compare this with station construction in the modern age and with one of London’s newest suburban stations, Lea Bridge Road. This apologetic rebuild is just about lucky enough to receive a couple of small plexiglass shelters and certainly nothing as lavish as a ticket hall or street level building.

Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk

Station Index

064/270: #StamfordBrook – The Blue Signs

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In the last post at Turnham Green (063) we looked at oddities and how, in a way, each station presents its own uniqueness to the journey. But there are some very pleasing ‘uniformities’ to be noted (and enjoyed) about Underground Station designs as well.

We all recognise the roundel as the calling card of the network, but I think the station name plates themselves are just as recognisable. These present the name of the station in bold white capital letters on a blue background. They are more often than not found on the front of protruding canopies at the entrances to ticket halls. Even Leslie Green stations were at some point retro fitted with variations of white lettering on a blue background and this piece of design can be found at nearly every station. (With the only exception so far being Terminal 5 (025)).

Sometimes in the absence of entrance canopies, designers of these blue signs have got creative. Check out the vertical examples which sit fitted to the gateposts flanking the secondary entrance of Stamford Brook. Granted I’m going to continue to be awkward and post the picture in black and white, but trust me, you instantly know what this curious passageway is all about just by the colour of that sign…

Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk

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063/270: #TurnhamGreen – The Meta

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So far we have discovered that there are many oddities on the Underground network. It does rather begs the question – How many oddities does it take for the oddities to no longer be oddities? I know right? Meta.

Turnham Green is another station with an oddity. It gets its regular service from the District Line, but early in the morning and late at night it is also served by the Piccadilly Line as well. This regular irregularity is unique to Turnham Green. Double Meta.

In a few years time, when the Piccadilly Line is re-signalled and receives new stock, TfL plan to introduce a full time service here. Turnham Green’s Meta will be De-Meta’d. Which is Triple Meta.

Did you keep up?

Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk

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