Regent's Park: The Station That Shouldn't Be There

[@PenryMMJ]

Any long rambling diversion that ends up leading to Charles Yerkes is a diversion worth taking. 😁

[@cv990a4]

All yarns lead to Yerkes. Jago needs some Yerkes merch.

[@MirzaAhmed89]

Charles Tyson Yerkes. The middle name is essential.

[@neilyoungman9814]

Yerkes. Hmm. Now where have I heard that name?

[@disphoto]

As per usual, Jago maligns Yerkes with an ad hominem attack and then goes on to tell all the wonderful things Yerkes did, such as building nice stations, fixing up poor stations, extending failed lines, driving the electrification of the underground, and helping to unify the lines. Seems rather ungrateful if you ask me. To be fair, he seems to malign all the business people who got the underground built in the first place. What would Jago do if there were no Yerkes?

[@jayray4327]

It is funny how, in Hazzardland, Charles Tyson Yerkes started out as an archvillain and has ended up as an anti-hero - the former bad guy rescuing rail companies in distress. Sort of reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator series. PS - sign me up for a Charles Tyson Yerkes t-shirt.

[@petermarksteiner7754]

04:07 "It transpired that Wright had been selling shares between his own companies to artificially inflate their prices." I'm so glad we no longer live in these lawless times! Our modern business men, particularly all the upstanding billionaires who have made their billions through hard work only, would not dream of doing such a thing!

[@stevegreen8262]

you'll note that when he was found out, he took the only honourable way out. People don' t seem to be so honourable these days, shame.

[@PeterPaul175]

Very interesting indeed. As a very young architect, I worked on the refurbishment of the station and the replacement of the lifts in 1983. Against much opposition, we made exceptional effort to retain the original Edwardian detail, and largely succeeded.

[@highpath4776]

was there a thought that "modernisation" should mean contemporary styling - I guess the Jubillee extension tiling was the current style cue. Where the Bakerloo (ironically?) met the Victoria the Victoria re-wrote the platform styles in its own image

[@iankemp1131]

Bravo!

[@Sawrattan]

Are the current lifts the same ones installed in 1983?

[@PeterPaul175]

@ Yes.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Calling a railway line stupid and useless was the least offensive thing an Englishman could say in the days of yore.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

This reminds me of the story of Piața Romană station. Piața Romană or Roman Square station is on Line M2 of the Bucharest Metro. But like Regent's Park, it wasn't supposed to be built, but it was anyway. The Bucharest Metro was first opened for service in November 1979 under the approval of Nicolae Ceaușescu. The second metro line, Line M2, was in the works and plans that were drawn up for the line were shown to Nicolae’s wife Elena Ceaușescu in 1985. When she saw Piața Romană planned as a location for a station, she complained that the working class and students were starting to "gain weight" and "needed to walk more", so the Communist Party ordered it not to be built. To put things into perspective about Elena, she was known for her farfetched theories. She pretended to be a scientist. She forced several actual scientists to write papers in her name so she could graduate. So despite the party's order, they secretly built it. Because of this, the platforms are somewhat asymmetrical, very narrow (less than 1.5 m wide) and the waiting area is in a corridor separated by thick walls from the platforms in order to sustain the station's structure. While trains ran past without stopping for about a year, thousands of residents reportedly wrote to petition for a station, which was opened in November 1988.

[@lypcizhenaf8988]

Sorry for asking but are you a real person? Coz you I see your comments everywhere😂

[@Boabywankenobi]

This is why I follow Jago. Lesser used stations and the backstory.

[@LeafHuntress]

If we're talking least used stations i want a Geoff.

[@martinjude66]

Jago Lesser? Wasn't he in Endeavour 🤔

[@Boabywankenobi]

@@LeafHuntress no I want Geoff for current and future......jago is infinitely better for the history, I say that as a fan of both.

[@teecefamilykent]

He's a great youtuber is JH!

[@n17hero]

Very fond memories of using this station in the early noughties when contracting in New Cavendish Street. Not being a fan of commuting, being able to take the Bakerloo to a quiet stop and then a nice walk passed some very grand Regency buildings is the perfect way to start and end the working day.

[@highpath4776]

yes, handy if you live in the North to avoid the Melee of Oxford Circus

[@bertspeggly4428]

@@highpath4776 I used to walk to Regent's Park from my work in Carnaby Street, get a train to Warwick Avenue, (another lightly used station) and then walk home to Ladbroke Grove. As you say, anything to avoid the horrors of Oxford Street!

[@highpath4776]

@@bertspeggly4428 I wonder if folk will work out on nice days Old Oak Common - walk to Willesden Junction, then Regents Park walk Oxford Circus (or Bond Street) is a nicer way of geting to central london?

[@RoyCousins]

I remember when Regents Park Station was closed for several months a few years ago. The onboard announcements and slow moving service through the closed platform was the most attention it ever had.

[@bobwilcox1147]

In the spirit of the season...... Charles Tyson Yerkes has bought the railway! OH NO HE HASN'T! OH YES HE HAS!

[@joshuaW5621]

You’re starting to inspire me to make history videos on Irish stations.

[@CarolineFord1]

I know the feeling. I feel influenced!

[@TheGunnarRoxen]

Please do. I, for one, would be interested to learn about Irish stations in a way similar to Jago's awesome videos.

[@jamesbutler6253]

Would you start with the DART?

[@joshuaW5621]

@@jamesbutler6253 not quite. I’m starting with the Harcourt Street line in a few days.

[@CaptainCalculus]

A Yerkes number! Mr Hazzard, have you considered doing a tour of the final resting places of the great men and women of the Underground?

[@JagoHazzard]

Many thanks! It is a possible future subject.

[@mdhazeldine]

I have fond memories of Regents Park. I used to go and visit my new girlfriend (who later became my wife) almost every day, who was studying at International Student House just down the road. It feels like a bit of a blast from the past riding on the old bouncy 72 stock and getting off at a lovely old station with green tiling. It was never that busy, which I quite liked.

[@miles1467]

Proving what a backwater this station is, I once got stuck in the lift which stopped about one metre above the lower level. After a good 20 minutes of pressing the alarm button and no one working at the station coming to help me and my travelling companion, I decided to force open the doors and squeeze through the small gap between the lift and the lower level.

[@londonbusfanrex]

Very dangerous because if the lift suddenly moved up then it wouldn’t be the greatest situation for you but I understand why you did it, fair enough

[@MrAsBBB]

Just love this part of Christmas when I binge on my favourite channels and get to wish someone like Jago a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for all of the presents he gives us over the past year. 🎉

[@CJonestheSteam72]

Loud cheers from the back at 3:59 😁

[@johnporter8678]

Thanks

[@JagoHazzard]

And thank you!

[@Ian-q7r]

Hi Jago, Thank you for another informative walk down memory lane for me (I used to work on Paddington Green 70s/80s and lived in W2). I've taken the tube between Regent's Park and Edgeware Road many times as it gave me access to a couple of professional headquarters buildings in Langham Place. 73, POHM

[@archstanton6102]

Used to live just around the corner from this station. This and Great Portland St were closest, some very fond memories started and ended from these.

[@rikkichunn8856]

Fascinating! I grew up in Chicago, and have been reading about Charles Tyson Yerkes for years. He was just as unscrupulous in Chicago as he was in London, just younger. My favorite Yerkes story is how the University of Chicago got him to make a donation. Charity was, not surprisingly, not his thing. So, the president of the University announced they were going to name a new building after him, even without a donation. I suppose he realized that the negative press that would follow that would be too much even for him--so he made the donation. If you like Yerkes, we have someone cut from the same cloth in America now. His name is Donald Trump. We'd love to relocate him to London, too. Interested?

[@roboftherock]

Not on your life, thank you very much. NO!

[@iankemp1131]

Only if he pays for and builds 3 new tube lines and stays out of politics (though I doubt he'd have the same success here as on t'other side of the pond)

[@rikkichunn8856]

@@iankemp1131 But would London really want a tube line named the Trump Line? 😉

[@storiesincolour5205]

0:16 & 4:35 DM + UNDM: never realised that the Bakerloo has 7-car formation... mega video as always ♥

[@N1120A]

I used to use Regents Park all the time, when I lived in London. Was always fun to take the stairs.

[@jkang7265]

Excellent as per, sir. The lift/elevator discussion reminds me of my time living across the street from Tufnell Park and praying for a prompt descent when in a rush. I wonder if there are some nuggets of interest from the various stations which still have no escalators! In any case, my disappointment is absent and my day is made.

[@MichaelDembinski]

One of my favourite stations. Love the tiling.

[@abzzeus]

According to DiamondGeezer it is the least used station in Zone 1 with lambeth North in second but that was back in June 2023

[@johncochrane2707]

Thanks for all the great content have a very Happy New Year.

[@johnjeffers5656]

I remember those old staff operated lifts 🛗 at Regent’s Park, Goodge Street and Aldwych. The operator at Aldwych explained the lift was installed in 1920, refurbished 1954. They represented London’s late Victorian /Edwardian atmosphere, like a Sherlock Holmes novel

[@GiselleBel]

I think Gloucester Road along had staff operated lifts. I remember having to use them in the early 1980s for the few days I stayed nearby. I found the ride in those lifts quite a frightening experience. Lots of people crammed in for each ride, the mechanical shutter gate that the operator pulled across, ugh, I didn't like them at all.

[@boohaka]

Magnificent! Wishing you well for 2024.

[@isashax]

Another fab video! I recently was around the crescent (for a gig at 229) and it's always cool seeing it in your videos.

[@alanmoss3603]

My Christmas is now complete! Yerkes is back, baby, and he's raring to go!

[@jakeeiseman-renyard3505]

I'd love to see platform artworks at Regent's Park Station, showing scenes in and around the park itself

[@Ashley_van_Schooneveld]

Warwick Ave is also another interesting station

[@mrhappytommy5865]

5:50 thats my birthday. 💀 nice vid btw! I actually kinda like regents park, as the old style of the station is brilliant to look at and the outside view when you get out of the underground is fantastic! I also remember the really nice stations the bakerloo has due to its old collurful style. It gives 1800s vibes, same can be said for piccadilly (im gonna miss them trains when they are retired.) I did go to regents park once and it sure was brilliant, and fun too, and will definitely be a nostalgic memory!

[@thepanman2024]

Interesting video idea. When your in the south east next, a video covering the uckfield line (history and future reopening) would be cool. It's an interesting subject and there is a chance of it still happening. There are some lovely little surprises on this line. Every station bar one is still there. There's a small heritage line. One of the old uckfield station platform still stands with it's lovely signal box opposite still standing and restored recently. Furthermore plenty of evidence of the lines double track with various abandoned platforms and evidence that the line was there. I personally just think it would be an interesting topic to cover.

[@tomcarroll2244]

Thanks for this video. My family and I lived near Regent's Park for 2 years before fleeing to the suburbs in Bucks. This and Great Portland Street were our stations. I remember the lift, which doubled as the ticket collection. A nice elderly lady ran the lift most of the time.

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

A very well-preserved station, especially the bottle-green tiling. Intrigued when googling Whitaker Wright to learn about his doomed underwater ballroom in Godalming - material for a future episode....?

[@highpath4776]

we need one of them for Strictly vs Pro-Celbrity Water Polo on ITV1

[@JagoHazzard]

There actually is a video on this channel that talks about it. Quite an old one though.

[@highpath4776]

@@JagoHazzard I remember WW (though had forgotten him in the context of Bakerloo for this vid) but dont recall the specifics of Godalming Ballrooms (Did you visit Godalming - you should, SWR train station and nearby Hollycombe collection for a day out.

[@Titan604]

@@highpath4776 As long as the horses don't drown!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Considerate how they made an attempt to make the CCTV camera at 6:03 blend in by decorating it in the line colours and sticking a tiny Underground roundel on it

[@highpath4776]

I dont think all are CCTV , some are specifcally for drivers to check platform and doors are clear

[@template16]

Any video containing Charles Yerkes is a good watch. Used to use Regents Park station a few times each year and it always seemed a strange station, I guess mainly because of the lack of a surface level building. Thanks Jago.

[@alastairbarkley6572]

Big shout out to the staff of Regent's Park station who regularly helped my (a bit) autistic son who as a young teenager managed to regularly mess up his trip to school. Lost phone, lost lunch, lost pocket money, lost the plot when faced with suspensions and unexpected route changes - they were always willing to help, call mum, hold his lost lunch until he could return to collect it from the ticket office, issue special travel tickets etc. Londoners don't say much but most of them deep down are really pretty good people.

[@chuckbeggles8858]

As an Australian, who is yet to make it to the UK, I love the history in such videos, including and all the way back to the 1700's. Thanks for posting.

[@mjaief]

Which is the least used station in Zone 1 then? If there's a video about it that I overlooked, apologies

[@JeannieWeanie]

I also would love to know. I will be spending hours trying to find the answer

[@thomasday3256]

@@JeannieWeanieHow are you getting on? All I can think of is Pimlico but not sure if that’s zone 1 or not

[@JeannieWeanie]

@@thomasday3256 no luck at all. Pimlico is in zone 1 so possibly

[@iankemp1131]

Lambeth North in 2015, but Regents Park had overtaken (undertaken?) it by 2022. Pimlico gets a fair amount of traffic for the Tate Gallery.

[@reececollison5101]

If this is the second least used tube station in zone 1, what’s the first?! (I’d guess either the Bakerloo Edgware Road, Borough, Queensway, Lambeth North or Bayswater)

[@okaythisisepic6196]

I was wondering that as well. I found the usage statistics published by TfL for 2022 and from that it looks like Regent's Park is actually number 1 with 2,207,000 taps. Lambeth North is number 2 with 2,567,000

[@okaythisisepic6196]

I did some more digging, and on the Wikipedia page for Regent's Park tube it states that it is the second least-used station in zone 1, behind Lambeth North. I suspect that this is what Jago is referencing. However, that claim is based on the usage data from 2015. As of 2022, Regent's Park has in fact surpassed Lambeth North as the least-used station in zone 1

[@1258-Eckhart]

Because the Bakerloo Line only goes north, whereas all other lines have both north and south, or east and west feeder stations. The Bakerloo needs extending to Lewisham, then the central stations will be better used.

[@andrewrevans8496]

Borough and Queensway seem reasonably busy. Bayswater is a lot quieter than the almost adjacent Queensway. Bakerloo ER and Lambeth North are good shouts. The latter is handy for the Imperial War Museum but otherwise that area still feels very quiet compared to so much of the South Bank these days.

[@martyonline1957]

that's answered my question then

[@marvwatkins7029]

TFL should have a Jago Hazzard station.

[@MrGreatplum]

When I worked in Dorset Square (next to Marylebone) in 2005-7, for much of the time, Regents Park station was closed with the trains crawling through at 5mph whilst it was heavily refurbished. We did take a tube there after it reopened and walked back - it’s got beautiful tiling and I’m pleased that it still looks like it’s in great condition!

[@CB32ndbase]

Thanks!

[@JagoHazzard]

And thank you!

[@binarydinosaurs]

Multiple drinks necessary during that one, cheers Jago! #yerkesDrinkingGame

[@Rschaltegger]

I thought my " Wellington`s Unsung Heros: The 5th Division in the Peninsular" was a special Book...however, you just toped that with the Tube Books...well played Sir...well Played

[@Slycockney]

I won't steal the silver 🤣Brilliant I used the station a fair bit in my youth. playing football in Regent's Park

[@Kill3rballoon]

I’m glad to see that your co-host C T Yerkes got featured at least one more time before the end of 2023

[@roderickmain9697]

Fact-filled rambling is always a pleasant detour/diversion....even if "That Man" gets another mention. :-)) Perhaps the landowners were less bothered by a station by the time CTY made his application to parliament or maybe they were charmed by him. Do we know if there was ever a meeting between them?

[@MercenaryPen]

Given that the crown estate was one of the objectors, the passing on Queen Victoria in 1901 may have had an effect on their lack of objection in 1902

[@MervynPartin]

Handy station for visiting one's doctor in Harley Street when one's Rolls is being valeted.

[@smvwees]

I like that in London, at least the citycentre, you can travel to anywhere you have to be with the underground or the other intertwined railservices, without having to take a bus stuck in rush hour traffic.

[@annika_panicka]

Happy Belated Christmas or whatever you celebrate and best wishes for the new year! ❤ from 🗽

[@bertspeggly4428]

Interesting story! Thanks. I used to walk to Regent's Park from my work in Carnaby Street, get a train to Warwick Avenue, (another lightly used station) and then walk home to Ladbroke Grove. As you say, anything to avoid the horrors of Oxford Circus!

[@cd0u50c9]

I like the rambling style and delivery of this one - got a few chuckles out of me Mr. Hazzard!

[@bingbong7316]

I remember the Bakerloo when it was made out of wood, always liked it as a kid in the '60s.

[@Weyland_Yutani_Corp]

I use this station to get home from work whenever the Watford Junction - Euston overground is closed. But only going northbound because I'm too lazy to cross the street for Baker Street. It's a very quiet and tidy station with seating that never gets full since I think the most people I've ever seen on the platforms is maybe 7 or 8. Only thing I dislike about this station are the lifts.

[@eddmorrell90]

Thank you Jago for all of your videos. Merry Christmas mate.

[@kenmorris100]

Happy New Year Jago and looking forward more of your videos in 2024. I hope you will get around to my challenge of Liverpool Street Metropolitan station which, went first opened, had a direct line into platform 1 of the mainline station. Also it had a bay platform that was used by the Loco hauled trains to Rickmansworth and thence by steam to Aylesbury. A spur was provided to store the incoming loco until need to take the next train out. All of these movements operated from the redundant signal box.

[@xrayfish2020]

Happy 2024 to you, Jago, I look forward to more great content in 2024.

[@owaingriffiths1359]

I'd love it if you could do a video on Park Square, the private garden there. It's got some old structures and it's split across two sides of the road by (I think) an underpass. They're doing some construction work there now. Classic Jago material in my book!

[@pleappleappleap]

In case I don't have a chance later, Happy new year, Jago!

[@highbury1972]

Thanks for making this Jago. I grew up local to this station but I rarely used it. We loved Great Portland Street Stn as it used to have a Newsagent there called JimRoy’s and we used to buy our Panini football stickers there. You know, Got Got Got, Need…. I need it Man!!!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

5:04 First of all, I would never use that word. Second of all, windbags are making a comeback.

[@thecrankster]

Definitely station of choice for Marylebone high street which has reached the moon it is so up market these days. Also good for Fitzrovia which has also come a long way in the last 20 years. I don’t mind the lifts since the passenger numbers are low you don’t need to queue.

[@colmfitzgerald1712]

Used to commute Queens Park to Regents park when I worked on Cleveland Street for a few years. A lovely little station. Very many familiar faces there every morning too.

[@paulsheward3325]

It wouldn't be Xmas without Mr Y, merry Xmas and a happy new year. I always enjoy your tales from the universe!!!!!

[@iankemp1131]

I remember as a child going to the Zoo and being surprised we didn't go to Regents Park station. Outward Camden Town then bus, return - bus to Baker Street. Of course, seeing a map in later years, it all made sense.

[@johncamp2567]

9:00 Beautiful nighttime roundel image!

[@Azeria]

I was nearing halfway through this video thinking to myself, you know what, there’s not enough Charles Tyson Yerkes in this story… But then moments later, sure enough, there he was!

[@jgodfrey546]

Gem of a video on a gem of a station, sir!

[@eclbirkeland]

Student who, until this summer, lived at International Students House in the East Crescent! 👋 We did not have access to the garden, sadly, but this was the home station

[@unclenogbad1509]

Damn you, Mr Hazard: I decided to try a game of 'Drink-along-a-Yerkes' for this video, and now I am typing while lying on the floor. Many thanks for this, a deservedly under-used station which isn't even convenient for the Zoo.

[@jimtonio9363]

The number one least used in zone one being aldwych of course👍

[@GMN360]

I’m one of the few that used Regent Street fairly often…because of work commitments!! It is a very handy stop. 😎😎🙃🙃❤️

[@N1120A]

It's close to a lot of stuff and goes a lot of places! Here's to the Regent's Park Rider's Association!

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

Same here. It was my second most frequently visited station about 20 years ago.

[@johnm2012]

It's nice to see the apostrophe at 0:34 but big disappointment at 5:57

[@robharris5245]

You mentioned how quiet Regent's Park stn was. When I joined LUL in 89 it had a class 2 booking office, ie very quiet. One of very few in Central London.

[@nonsuch9301]

8:34 I've seen this 'artwork' in a couple of places on the underground , does anyone know if there is a purpose to it ?

[@ianthomson9363]

It's a labyrinth and every station has one, all of which are different. They've been there for some years now.

[@highpath4776]

@@ianthomson9363 not nine elms or BPSS. I wonder why ?

[@Alexander_C69]

The Labyrinths artwork was to celebrate the London Underground's 150th anniversary.

[@ianthomson9363]

@@highpath4776 I understood that they've now got them.

[@Alexander_C69]

@@highpath4776 The Northern line extension was completed 8 years after Art on the Underground commissioned the Labyrinths for all the stations, and likely because the Labyrinths were to celebrate the London Underground's 150th anniversary they did not include the design of new stations. They had to retrofit them into stations 2 years after their opening and play it off as celebrating a decade of the Labyrinths.

[@willhovell9019]

The shady Yerkes was a great doer and we have to thank him for the basics of the deep tube Underground, as often said.

[@RogerPritchard-k4p]

Hazzard's Christmas present to the Yerkes fan club.

[@CharlesTysonYerkesOfficial]

It's the only place I feel safe

[@sanchoodell6789]

Jago Hazard, you can always *bake* up a decent video. The top quality ensures it never goes down the *loo!*

[@sunjamm222]

A great video once again. Plus I had enough beer for Charles Yerkes to be mentioned.

[@CharlesTysonYerkesOfficial]

Ooh, which beer?

[@blindovermatter3054]

I used to work at the Yerkes observatory and had no idea his business ventures carried outside the states, very interesting.

[@brianparker663]

My then girlfriend (and still very good friend) used to travel down to the National Theatre on a regular basis 40 to 45 years ago. We used to watch to see if anyone got on or off at Regent's Pork ( as we called it) in the evening. Very rarely happened!

[@johnburns4017]

I used it regularly at one time. 🙂

[@brianparker663]

@@johnburns4017 Must've been you we saw that one time. How are you keeping? 😄

[@johnburns4017]

@@brianparker663 I am fine, still wear the same loafers

[@brianparker663]

@@johnburns4017 🤣

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir!

[@u1zha]

I, too, participate in all kinds of metaphors vigorously!

[@ajs41]

Does anyone know how many tube stations have a "double-decker" style arrangement, with the lines on top of each other? I think there's another one on the Northern Line, perhaps Oval. Not sure.

[@iankemp1131]

It's Borough

[@ajs41]

@@iankemp1131 Thanks. Is Borough the only other station with this arrangement?

[@MrSofakinggreat]

Beautiful tilework there.

[@greasyheart8648]

It's tatty and the trains are the oldest on the network, but I rather like the Bakerloo line. it's under-used and therefore less hectic, it has very comfortable transverse sofa-style seats, and the plethora of powerful fans in the carriages keep it tolerably cool in the summer.

[@robbiemorrison7085]

2:55 not rly tube related, but the Insatnbul café is a really good place to get a meal

[@chrischibnall593]

Those tiles are absolutely gorgeous.

[@johnmurray8428]

Good old Charles Yerkes, the pantomime villain of the London Underground.

[@tedcopple101]

Bit of an old school Jago vibe about this one. Well done, carry on.

[@pacificostudios]

One similarity between NYC, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia and Paris is that most of their metro stations have no surface building over them. In Paris, one result was the beautiful Art Noveau "Metropolitan" markers near stairways leading to the tracks. The older American systems have never marked their station entrances well. New York is one place where you just find some stairways going down and a sign or two. Competition, I suspect is one reason why the London tube stations rival each other for excellence.

[@AndreiTupolev]

I trust the solicitor for the Metropolitan Railway also went 😝 when offering that considered judgment in the measured language of his profession

[@timothynixon9437]

I am surprised you didn't mention its only a very short walk from Great Portland Street station.

[@FrymanKikkoman]

great write up! I live here and you cant steal my silver. The history is fascinating here. That garden opens once a day a year if you want footage or to mingle with the middle classes. It truly is a strange underused station

[@richardnotley8950]

As ever: Information, Interest & a Chuckle.

[@edwardoleyba3075]

My go to station in my first ‘proper job’ at the Bloomsbury & Marylebone County Court in Park Crescent. My daily commute was from Hammersmith, (or when I fancied a change) or Barons Court on the Piccadilly Line, then change onto the Bakerloo Line to Regents Park. I thought I was the bees knees in my black pinstripe suit complete with rolled umbrella and a bowler hat! (I think those last two words rhyme with Pratt)! Spare a thought dear reader - I was only just into my 17th, year at the time. There were some interesting characters who worked there. The Chief Clerk used to travel in a dark suit then, on arrival at work, would promptly change into a grey nylon jacket and wander around aimlessly most of the day! Then there was the ex teacher from Gloucester who didn’t seem to do much of anything productive. The coloured lady that was constantly clearing her throat. The loud mouth girl who, (I assume) was from the east end as think was “fink”, thought was “fought”. You get the picture? And lastly, Harry in the Bailiffs Office who spoke through a stoma in his neck, (I think he was a WWI veteran who suffered a gas attack). He had the highest rate of recovery of assets in the whole of the County Court system in all of the UK. No one messed with him! In retrospect, I wish I’d had the opportunity to talk with him more but I was always mindful of how incredibly difficult it was for him to speak.

[@darrenm7083]

“The next station is Regents Park. Change here for Local Buses to ZSL London Zoo.” Are there any other stations on the network where the announcements tell you to change for a bus to somewhere more interesting?

[@PaulJaYmes]

Weirder still is that it's not actually a great place to get a bus to London zoo, you're better off on the 274 from Baker Street

[@iankemp1131]

@@PaulJaYmes Exactly. I remember as a child going to the Zoo and being surprised we didn't go to Regents Park station. Outward Camden Town then bus, return - bus to Baker Street. Of course, seeing a map in later years, it all made sense.

[@JBB4118]

I find it interesting that you got Charles T Yerkes over there and we got Samuel Insull over here.