Secrets of the Cable Car

Geoff Marshall explores the little-known past of the London transport link.
(Please note - This was an April Fool's joke we ran on April 1, 2015. Don't take this too seriously!)
Outakes and Extras on Geoff's channel: • Video

[@JovanLemon]

i am ashamed by the fact that i didn't realise this was an april fools joke until the world record for all stations was mentioned

[@somax1259]

same oof

[@TroyVan6654]

You take the Cable Car every day?

[@Ser_Xav]

It is a April fools joke not real

[@HjjMemes]

It was an April fools 😳?!

[@TheAnimystro]

I finally get the "15 storey building" joke...

[@stefantrandafir1099]

When?

[@lngvly22]

Explain...

[@antharro]

Here is your answer... You need to watch more of Geoff's videos! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnO3p6Coh6yfmKc

[@Cpr1234]

The original 15 storey building joke comes from Covent Garden station, which is actually the equivalent of 15 storeys. It has 193 steps. Hearing it as a fact at any other tube station is just a funny joke - don't get offended

[@hanstheexplorer]

312 steps ~ 15 stories. Google it

[@francisburgess4006]

even as a blatant parody, this is still incredibly interesting

[@peterbuckley265]

LIES AND UNTRUTH ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND OUT OF ORDER AND FAR FROM INTERESTING, PLUS THEY ARE BORING AND CONFUSE PEOPLE, THE TRUE FACTS ARE INTERESTING THOUGH. TIS STUPID GUY NEEDS YOU TUBE TO GIVE HIM A BIG ROLLICKING OR KICK HIM OFF YOU TUBE ALTOGETHER, TOTALLY BANNING HIM FOR GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

[@Trek001]

+Peter Buckley - what the hell are you on about? Its traditional for broadcasters to do jokes

[@peterbuckley265]

NO, THIS IS NOT A JOKE, BUT TAING THE P, PLUS CHILDISH AND IRRESPONSIBLE WHILST CONFUSING PEOPLE NOT IN THE KNOW, GEOFF NEEDS KICKING OFF YOU TUBE IMMEDIAYTELY.

[@Trek001]

@Robert Baker - Yeah... I know. Depending on how comments come up for you, the guy under mine types much the same way under the name "graham lea" and yet signs off with "Peter" so i suspect he is one and the same person causing trouble under different names

[@Sophiebryson510]

JUST STOP IT OR I WILL START peter Buckley

[@olivergray1367]

Love how you open up with “like me you probably use the cable car every day” 😂😂

[@davekirwin]

"...different shades of red rectangles" hahahahaaa..

[@alextheo965]

I thought it was Germany s flag

[@youtube-kanal2606]

What's so funny. It's true

[@alextheo965]

@@youtube-kanal2606 nothing Edit: just realised you weren t talking to me

[@FreekyFreezer]

Actually, if you take the cable car with an Arsenal shirt, you have to pay four pounds. The price resembles Arsenal's position in the final league table every year.

[@joshdean9105]

Robin Brockhusen you do realise hes a spurs fan

[@FreekyFreezer]

I have never said that he's an Arsenal fan.

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Donald Trump People NDUK don't play sports. Instead Dey torture w/D underground

[@didierdeweille1722]

😂😂

[@oats9922]

that explains a lot

[@lawrencemartin8102]

A *_fifteen storey_* building. Well played, Geoff.

[@davidbull7210]

What laughing stock is currently being used on this service?

[@TheAngryPheonix]

XD

[@denelson83]

+TheAngryPhioneEggs Not XP?

[@QuarioQuario54321]

David Bull Cable car 2012

[@LJW1912]

That's brilliant XD

[@dopplerfox]

MaXtreme TrainsLP - Nah I think they use the CRH380A.

[@TheAlbinoskunk]

It took me a second, but once he started talking about a ghost station in the middle, I cottoned on and checked the date. Good on you, Londonist.

[@cameroncook2048]

March 31st

[@MCookies21]

You forgot to say that it used to be part of the circle cable car line, going through Bank, Reading, Inverness, Dubai and the moon XD

[@christopherpowell7014]

Exactly

[@neobe195]

And Ben Nevis, the biggest mountain in the UK

[@Larryberry961]

And before Brexit, it was forced to do a loop around Brussels, Strasbourg, Maastricht and Berlin, before we took back control.

[@merlinsbeard-_-1749]

Best comment I've seen in a while hahaha

[@westcheap]

Did you hear about the recent expansion plan that’ll take it all the way to Sydney with just two towers at either end? Naturally they need to be pretty high but TfL promises they’ll only have to be about fifteen stories tall.

[@stewarthills9344]

I’ve heard they are planning to increase the number of cars per set and also the platform length. Also, I heard of an outlandish project to extend the cable car to Waterloo to help with congestion, with the cable car going underground to meet directly with the Jubilee. However, the platform is curved, so you really must mind the gap there.

[@rikufryderyk]

😂😂😂

[@nickytanner]

Brilliant thanks Geoff, I've just submitted a PHD dissertation on London history, it's my life work and I've added a lot of this at the last minute because to be honest I'm embarrassed I didn't know it!!!

[@xanderthomas8707]

@@theswedishrailfan3675 he knows he just tricked you

[@harryfoley2294]

This was an April fools joke

[@speedbird1598]

Oh, its an April fools XD

[@Londonistvids]

+Speedbird :-D

[@tnzl3058]

+Londonist Ltd good one, I will take off the dislike and give your video a like. Sorry :D

[@awesomeeverton7111]

love your channel name

[@hanspetzelius8335]

jj

[@alanaabibe254]

B

[@nightw4tchman]

Thought this was genuine until I heard "If you're like me you'll use it every day".

[@Londonistvids]

+nightw4tchman but we do use it everyday! don't you?

[@Jaxymann]

"If you look at them *really* closely - zoom in - and look at the design, you can see what they are. That's right! Different shades of red rectangles." Just the heightened excitement of the line delivery followed by the complete deadpan explanation at the end fucking killed me.

[@gezatherton1071]

Absolutely hilarious! It starts out as a subtle parody and gets progressively less subtle! Brilliant!

[@peterbuckley265]

NO A LOT OF IRRESPONSIBLE, CHILDISH CRAP AND FAR FROM BRILIANT.

[@gezatherton1071]

peter buckley Each to their own I suppose.

[@peterbuckley265]

NOT BRILLIANT, BUT STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE AND CHILDISH, SUITABLE FOR YOUNGTERS SCI FI COMICS ONLY.

[@lrp_745]

ITS AN APRIL FOOLS GAG

[@yorkshireball_animations]

@@peterbuckley265 ew

[@MrFantasnick]

I loved all the references to the past episodes and facts, like that 'secret loop that no one knows about' which is a nod to Kennington loop, or the incorrect numbers of steps at the 'ghost station'. It's also fun to see you again on video :D Thanks for the laughs friend! :P

[@Londonistvids]

GentlemanlyNinja thanks Mr Ninja! that was always the plan, to gently poke fun at our our series of videos .. a nice reward to all those that have watched the entire series. thanks!

[@madone7583]

GentlemanlyNinja The 189 steps sign is a reference to baker street i believe

[@volvotrident4835]

***** Yes good videos especilly about the Met Line and the secret stations are youdoing the Tramlink?

[@DavidFrankal]

I spotted a reference to the labyrinth, like that of Warren street. :)

[@londonundergroundfan1563]

+GentlemanlyNinja There´s also a reference to the Metropolitain Railway, because they wanted to build the Met from Manchester to Paris.

[@charliefischer59]

This video was honestly almost believable to someone who has never been to London and doesn't know the history of the cable car up until the part where you show us the super secret footage of the cable car going through the loop

[@Camzy84]

This is an amazing payoff to those of us who have enjoyed the rest of the genuine series, in the way it parodies itself. One of the most original April Fool's jokes in a long time.

[@jacobshaw7767]

Thanks londonist i got on for free because i was wearing my arsenal shirt TFL took this video seriously :D

[@QuarioQuario54321]

THEGAMINGBADGER You used a currency more that 100x worth than than £1

[@martinbigg2029]

I wouldn't brag about wearing the "scum shirt"of the Arseholes

[@fadimesaridas1878]

Arsenal fan #COYG

[@jpbdude4223]

Adam T beat me too it

[@jpbdude4223]

Jacob Shaw xD

[@rickoneillable]

Ah I was thinking wow it ran that far and then...I realised

[@susanh4388]

Rick Oneill q

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

I laughed at the 15 storey thing, that's Geoff's joke calling card

[@irvalfirestar6265]

Ah, British deep sarcastic humor.

[@omfgmouse]

+Irval Firestar Satori

[@irvalfirestar6265]

satori bes, but flan bester

[@Dollarx]

when to the Cable Car in an Arsenal Kit. asked for a free ride. guards soon came and had me on my knees in handcuffs. a lady then walked towards me and whispered into my ear "Spurs FTW". I am never taking the cable car ever again!!

[@marcuspotter5590]

You are joking right?

[@Dollarx]

Marcus Potter its all a true story

[@marcuspotter5590]

Thanks, what happened when the Police turned up, did they nick you or have the cuffs removed?

[@ax2bxc]

This was an april fools joke.

[@marcuspotter5590]

If you're refering to ShengJun101's comment I'd call it quite a late one! :P

[@mrfweeis]

1:16 Thats mocking how TFL just gives a random number of stairs and just says "OH ITS A 15-STOREY BUILDING!" Lol love how that was part of the vid

[@mhapigeon4026]

Friend: Let's get across the Thames with the cable car Me: No I'm not an arsenal fan lets get the DLR

[@matthewfield2958]

I can't decide whether if this instead a subtle nod to the fact that many Londoners rather dislike the Emirates Air Line and that Geoff dislikes it too or if it is nothing more than a April Fools Day joke. Either way, it was brilliantly done. I was laughing loudly to myself on the tube this morning while watching it.

[@jeffeffery8181]

4 years later Im laughing even harder at this. This is some top teir satire!!!

[@Kingration387]

“If you look at the maquette very closely, you will see many different shades of red rectangles.” Yeah, I definitely never knew that 😂😂

[@Thoomas2001]

I was confused when I couldn't find any information about it. I looked at the date in the description, which says 31st of March... Oh, wait, that's followed by...?

[@Thoomas2001]

***** I normally read the description but for whatever reason I didn't there.

[@Thoomas2001]

***** That explains a lot :P

[@QuarioQuario54321]

It's not an April Fools joke actually because it was uploaded on March 31, 2015

[@gnair840]

QuarioQuario54321

[@RealistikDash]

Robert Baker I'm in gmt +1 and it still says march 31st

[@markstott6091]

I'm so glad this was an April Fool, because a genuine video would have been 15 seconds of Geoff saying "It's a complete waste of money and it's shite!"

[@Quasihamster]

"Wait a second, Alexandra place, that's some 10 mi... DAMMIT! Got me!"

[@aaronfidelis3188]

I’m rolling in the floor laughing. This broke me when Geoff focused on the Moquette design.

[@HenrysAdventures]

I told my Mother for a joke that the cable car ran from Crystal Palace to Alexandra Palace, she didn't comment until we were on the DLR and finally realized I was joking! Thanks Londonist for the idea! :)

[@SB22animations]

I would suggest secrets of the tramlink

[@Londonistvids]

Stephen Boyle There will not be a Secrets of the Tramlink video.

[@lawofscotland]

***** Dammit

[@anonymousanonymous7250]

***** How come?

[@Medic26898]

Hello again.

[@SB22animations]

BassMaster hello wub pony

[@sturovision3363]

That'd be some hardcore blackout sheltering!

[@wiix2695]

"If you look at them really closely, zoom in and look at the design, you can see what they are. *That's right, different shades of red rectangles.*

[@GorgeDawes]

Something tells me this video required more than Geoff’s usual number of “takes”……

[@Raminator137]

So if this is an Aprils Fools joke? Does that mean none of this is true!? ;n;

[@tbarasmussen]

King of Transport The one about the red shaded rectangels seems true.

[@wharris302]

+Thomas Bjørn Aalstrup Rasmussen And how it loops around

[@iainmacn62]

+King of Transport a lot of the "facts" are references to bits in other videos, e.g. plague pits, the loop at the end etc

[@skifan32]

The maquette seating and the 'disused station'. Superb :)

[@TheDodgerville]

I just looked at the date this was posted and I'm dying right now.....well played, Geoff.

[@MulleMap]

I litterally began researching about the ghost station before i found out

[@trainzguy2472]

if the dangleway went zigzag, it would probably be the slowest way across the Thames...oh wait! it already is! :D

[@countshrubula5997]

I only realised this was an April fools ten seconds before the end. I'm sad now

[@EightThreeEight]

This was basically 3 minutes of passive-aggressive roasting, and I love it.

[@dwayner901]

I wore an Arsenal shirt with Fly Emirates on it but I didn't ride for free. I spoke to the customer service advisor she pretty much laughed me off.

[@dwayner901]

@@disappointingmarbleraces9028 Yeah, I did find out in the end 😉🤣😂

[@MarioJPav]

Can u do the non April's foolsday version ☺

[@xevlonperc]

The non April Fool's Day one would have nothing.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

This is fantastic. Amazed so many people were/are taken in.

[@matthewfield2958]

Wonderful stuff! Though I do think the Emirates Air-Line gets far too much stick for what it is. Yes it has relatively low passenger numbers, yes it was expensive to build but It is a unique way to see London's skyline. It is much, much cheaper than The Shard, which I love, and Up at The O2, which I loathe.

[@MKJack20]

I'm still waiting for Secrets of the Overground! :(

[@adamhorsfield6104]

That would be good, but maybe there are very little secrets of the Overground so it will take time do make.

[@Muzer0]

Adam Horsfield I somehow doubt that, given the history of all the lines involved. I suspect the difficulty is figuring out how to partition it into videos, and simply fitting everything into a short enough video.

[@Tubeb]

I'm pretty sure Geoff has filmed this now

[@Deltic55-mw4bo]

'' they wanted to build it in a zig zag line, but they found plague pits, so they had to build it in a straight line to avoid those plague pits'' Thats brilliant, that is.

[@airplaneplustrainguy8143]

Geoff thinks that backing up to the station that you from is brilliant

[@michaelmonn9308]

Had to come back and rewatch this after the big win. Brilliantly done 😂

[@daviddiplodocus1952]

This cable car goes via Cardiff Inverness and Stratford international

[@Northern_Idaho]

Can’t believe both stations make you walk up a 15 story staircase to get to the cable cars

[@Shyguythesmartstickman]

189 steps, equivalent to 15 floors Don't be a hero, you'll get knackered after 30 seconds Just be like everyone else, and wait for the lift Wait, do they even have lifts?

[@Cheeseeatingshark]

I never realised this was a joke for YEARS

[@FrancisCWolfe]

All distressingly believable.

[@twixieshores]

Took me 50 seconds to realize this was an April Fool's video. Which I feel is about 35 seconds too long.

[@milsteadonmovies]

AAARRGGH! I've been well and truly had with this one 😭

[@fuzzysstuff9888]

How all of this would work: Cable Car would've closed down shortly after WW2 and go under rehabilitation but it got demolished and had to be rebuilt The abandoned station was like a roundabout where cables stopped but because the system was too unreliable it had to be shut down The zig-zags wouldn't have made the main route possible so when they realized there were plague pits they decided it was all for the better That secret loop became visible and they had to stop hiding passengers on the loop It was too expensive to build escalators People think because of the lines they're squares not rectangles The Arsenal Shirt thing ended up losing money for the cable car so they stopped the promo ...cables were weirdly fast that day? Geoff lives in West London

[@elijahjoel537]

I can't wait to share these facts with my friends and family!

[@Trockenshampooleopard]

The deadpan delivery of "different shades of red rectangles" ist just perfect.

[@elijaha773]

It's interesting that those 2 stations are the only ones without escalators.

[@Mortimer50145]

It doesn't matter whether or not the "facts" are true. It's whether you *wish* they were true that matters :-) I'd love to have seen the cable car going over its full route from Ally Pally to Crystal Palace and I'd love to have seen the opening ceremony with the banquets (including butlers and waiters) in each cabin. Ah well, I'll just have to imagine those. Thanks for a wonderfully humourous end to your excellent "Secrets of" series about each tube line. Maybe you should do one about all the DLR lines and one about the Croydon Tramlink. And then maybe one about each of the mainline terminus stations. PS: I loved the "here we go all over again" split-screen edit at the end of the Circle line one.

[@Londonistvids]

+Mortimer50145 we did Secrets of the DLR here! : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnTRlYqNgJiYjas

[@Mortimer50145]

+Londonist Ltd So you did. I'd missed that one.

[@TheClunkingFist]

+Mortimer50145 LOL, the views on the "original" route would have been absolutely amazing.

[@KasabianFan44]

I kinda wish the zig-zag bit was true as well... :'(

[@mseven1]

There wouldn't be much point if there was to be a cable car between Alexandra Palace and Crystal Palace. If there was there would be stops between as well because there is quite a distance and it would probably be cheaper having a shuttle train if they really needed to link them

[@jskwk2424]

Cool thats also my nearest cable car station, only 2317km away.

[@davidrenton]

another lesser known fact, they used to have a dinning cable car, but it was hard to get to mid journey

[@88fredmcfred]

Red rectangles. Love it!

[@sebastiangoddard1717]

Secrets of the buses please?

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Sebastian Goddard That would take a year

[@VkmSpouge]

The cable car is going to form part of Crossrail / Elizabeth Line.

[@thebuzzah]

As a traveler I don't regret skipping the cable car.

[@pgatplaysminecraft311]

me neither

[@conorbakhuizen4061]

I fully believed this video and told my friends about Crystal Palace and Alexandra Palace being old cable car stations 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@OrechTV]

Omg this is so british, to make April joke and regular helpful video with straight face :D loving it!

[@MGIC21]

1:58 thats kind of a "you dont day" moment

[@NoobeeGaming]

Why is every video recommended today is a april fools video

[@little-gworld1901]

I only realised it was a joke until he went on about the fact that it's a loop

[@ChrisInTheNorth]

When are we going to the 'Least used station on the Cable car'?

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Both of them

[@AdminFrank]

You forgot one thing: During The Blitz in WW2, cablecars engaged in Dogfights with German Luftwaffe Planes. That’s why cablecars are operated by Emirates Airlines nowadays, since Transport for London (TfL) wasn’t established since long after the war. That explains British Airways operating the London Eye...

[@TheMightyKinkle]

I honestly thought this was real up until about 1:30 in. I thought 'I didn't know it was that old, I thought I was built in the past few years'. Very well done though

[@safiyahotelwala]

Yeah Amazing experience, I never forgetting in my life most beautiful Moments, I had Cable Car visit started new year in 2017 n' wid lotz of rains but I'm enjoyed full of fun also I took some beautiful pictures of my gud memories. ..I keep always in my heart.

[@grim-upnorth]

Equivalent to a 15 storey building!! love it :-) I now say that to my family whenever we have to climb the steps at the shopping centre car park, they have no idea

[@unknown_user1398]

a real fact if you take a discovery you get a 360 degree journey and a free visit to the aviation experience on the south

[@TravisPlaysYT]

It's on March 31st! It's all true, not an april fools joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Muzer0]

Amazing video. One of the funniest April Fools' Jokes I've seen...

[@oliverqueen5883]

Who owns the Emirates Air lines, well Emirates Airlines.

[@josephowen4732]

I never noticed the 15 storey joke in this before

[@mobjam20]

I actually google searched "crystal palace cable car" before reading the comments.

[@vicstudios5200]

Did anyone else notice that this was posted 1 day before April Fools Day?

[@Gorantaylis]

It's actually a gondola strictly speaking. A cable car consists of 1 or 2 cabins on a cycle but stops at the top and then has to be reversed back up or down. A gondola consists of many smaller cabins which complete a full rotation.

[@lewisclark1122]

Talk about commitment to the bit! (Geoff is a Spurs fan, and here he is wearing an Arsenal shirt).

[@millercool21]

Took me 5 or 6 years to realise it's a joke

[@ellenmarch3095]

"Don't believe everything you see on the internet." - Abraham Lincoln.

[@Steamyy_]

Did you know this vid was an April fools joke

[@jaypeg49]

If you zoom in and look close you see different shades of red rectangles. Fantastic. I love this April fools video 😂😂

[@jrgboy]

I got stuck on one in Cornwall about 45 years ago, it was small with a glass bottom, we were about 40 feet in the air, stuck for 8 minutes,. never again, my ex went back on the return trip, I walked & smoked 4 ciggies one after the other & stopped for a coffee, I was 30 mins late but I felt much safer...

[@geraldwaldoluis6490]

The interesting fact: Do you know why the seats are red? Because if you wear an Arsenal kit, you get ride for free. Why? Because the original name is Emirates Air Line.

[@zochbuppet448]

Easy buddy. Come up for air and take a deep breath. Sounds like he's about to hyperventilate.

[@crazypilot7577]

This is great, so much sarcasm! I love it.

[@hypixelsiq21]

Did you know, that if you take a cable car with a spurs shirt, you can ride for free! The price resembles how many trophies tottenham owns.

[@larmetoderiax7620]

I didn't realize this is an April Fools joke until he got to the part about the maquette.

[@jellybrown]

Geoff have you done all the stops yet

[@MichaelStephens1997]

Did you know, Geoff, that the cable car is actually manufactured by a company called POMA and is the same as the cable cars at Alton Towers? known as "Skyride". the differences, however, are these: - the differing colours on each cable car. - a soundtrack with voice over summarising the park and it's attractions/rides, experiences and facilities. - no labyrinth pictures. - and rather than a straight line, the Skyride is in an "L" shape. - has 3 stations; Towers street, Forbidden Valley and Cloud Cuckoo Land. - Offers amazing views across the park.

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

The Emirates Air Line is a Doppelmayr product.