Secrets of the Bakerloo Line

Geoff Marshall follows the brown line, as he continues his exploration of the London Underground network. But why's he starting in Stanmore? And which is his least favourite station?

[@cantbants]

The Queen's Park shed that you're not a fan of is actually a handy little hack for commuters. If a train rolls up and it's full, don't get on and a couple of minutes later one of the trains waiting in the shed will roll up up after completely empty.

[@robertomh7525]

Nice

[@TheSniper9752]

There's a similar thing to this in Newbury Park; During rush hour some of the eastbound trains via the hainult loop terminate at Newbury Park by going into a little side track between the two railways, wait for about 10 minutes and you will have a completely empty train going to Central London.

[@akbarsatria6272]

that's true. I usually wait for an empty train rather than jump on a full train

[@Levifarley2014]

Ads

[@HarrowwInk]

the shed on the overground route is far nicer than the bakerloo shed

[@psoras]

I just love the fact that the line with "loo" in it's name is marked by colour brown.

[@ThatRandom6]

My friend was baking a cake and he had to loo

[@nojusBal-fr3du]

I just noticed😂

[@alanfrost4661]

Dont worry it will soon have a name change somethimg like the Mustaffa crap lline

[@SlopeSlide]

*_W A T E R L O O & C I T Y_*

[@HarryPlayzStuff1245]

@@SlopeSlide W&C

[@waiyinka]

I love the noise of the screeching on the wheels on the curve of the stations and the smell and the warm wind is so lovely!

[@gamercoolcraft4208]

waiyinka the wind scare me

[@Zlervo]

I thought I was the only one that liked the smell of these trains.

[@crashfan9997]

I hate screeching anywhere

[@CrazyPanda688]

The screeching is horrific but the smell and unique sounds of every train as they pull away and slow down are cool Like the Jubilee line sounds like the old V10 F1 cars when it departs

[@LNER_TRAINS22543]

waiyinka yes it is I love it all

[@4444colin]

Mum tells a story of seeing her mum off to Canada from Heathrow in 1970. On returning home to the Elephant she spaced out on the last tube at the Elephant. Not hearing the voice on the tannoy to disembark the train. Train went into the overnight silo. Lights off and goodnight. A late night driver spotted her and carried her down the line back onto the platform. Also The Bakerloo line always had a great musty smell that stamped itself on my subconscious as to say "I am now home". Just a memory share as I now live 5K miles away from the tube. Thanks Colin.

[@clementpoon120]

that smell of old electronics

[@FlyNAA]

Also as someone with a powerful personal memory of the Bakerloo line, who lives thousands of miles away, I'm glad I stumbled on your post and just wanted to say "hi" and wish we could sit down with a pint.

[@AbstractMan23]

If you travel past the McVitie factory by Harlesden - at the right time - the carriage will fill with the malty smell of freshly baked digestive biscuits. Wonderful!

[@littleshoemaker]

Always thought it was golden syrup.

[@emgee81]

My Nan used to work at that McVities factory years ago! My Grandad worked at Rolls-Royce in Park Royal. Before they retired and moved up to Willesden Green in the late 1970's they lived in both Manor Park Road and Tubbs Road in Harlesden where they brought up their 8 children! Their house in Tubbs road backed onto the railway line right near Willesden Junction and my Grandad cheekily used to grow strawberries on the grass sidings that were just beyond his back fence! ;) :)

[@hu6860]

AbstractMan23 Geff will Get off at bank

[@ameenkashani1666]

AbstractMan23 خم

[@bhac2807]

,,nnnnm nh🚙🚍🛫🚃🚍🚟🚍🚜🌎🌍🌏🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌕🌖🌔🌚🌝🌝🌛🌛🌜🌞🌞🌙⭐️🌟🌟💫☀️🌤☄☄☄☀️🌤✨🌤💫🔥💥⛄️☂☂☂🌫🌫☃🍍💦🍉🍓🍌

[@JeffWiersma]

I hate the thought that the Bakerloo stock will be replaced in the near future. The stock is so cool, and it is part of London's history.

[@kinkisharyocoasters]

Not to mention it's the only deep tube with transverse seats

[@tonys1636]

I mourned the replacement of the 1927 stock in the 1970's, they rattled and shook but they were quaint and you could open windows if it got too warm. another piece of art deco design gone.

[@davidcrook4166]

May I butt in please? I remember the old Bakerloo stock from 1968 when I was 9 lovely red livery remember thinking this is the London of Mary Poppins!! Although MP dates back to 1910...

[@spdfatomicstructure]

Probably Siemens Inspiro though

[@dressrosacr7]

Bakerloo line is the best train line

[@Greenacre-AV]

A great series of docs on the UndergrounD, enthusiastically presented. Love Geoff’s appropriately coloured shirt for each line!

[@markhbfindlay]

Actually we lived for years in Harlesden (Until I ceased to be a Londoner and moved to Brighton), but a secret that you might like to convey is that Willesden Junction is much closer to the centre. I'm familiar with most of the things you tell me, but the Northbound section between Paddington and Queen's Park is one of the hottest sections... and in winter from Queens Park southbound the trains stay cold for a surprising distance! The Bakerloo Line was also the last line to lose its 1938 stock red trains, now trundling through the Isle of Wight! It's always been the Cinderella line and will be the last to get its now-old 1972 trains sometime in the 2020s. Thank goodness that London Overground provides a fast alternative to Euston, always preferable - even the 18 bus can be better! Thanks for your very interesting posts BTW.

[@moritzl7065]

I once had a scary experience at Piccadilly Circus. I was at the front of the northbound platform when the train came, and at the same time the southbound train arrived on the other side. For a brief moment I thought that both trains were on the same track and they were gonna crash.

[@davidclifford5124]

I really love this series. I hope Geoff does some more. He's such a good presenter.

[@cctrollz5706]

I visited london some years ago and thought the Underground was just so cool. Even after all this time, I still can vividly remember hearing the announcements for the Piccadilly Line

[@ahpadt]

The tiles at paddington are amazing. Full of equations and shapes. Prolly an homage to brunel.

[@TobyNight]

Ikr

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

Paddington is also beautiful at night. But people have to work on the concourse though

[@davidtopgood9109]

The tiles at Marylebone show Great Central not because the mainline station was going to be called that but because that was the company that owned built and operated the mainline station.

[@cr-yi7ep]

Yep. I was going to say that but you beat me to it (by about four years). Terminus of the Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire's London Extension, the MS&L then becoming the Great Central, a line noted for its island platforms (which were a rarity on two-track main-line railways). The last main trunk line into London.

[@banknotecollect67]

Ok

[@Cowman9791]

1:56, don't go to Camden town station I would actually say, unless ludicrous crowds are your thing

[@fasthracing]

Don't know why I keep watching these as I live in Manchester. But I do.

[@ricardomendez1916]

Well, I live in Germany, but I still watch them 👀

[@phobsdsr4326]

Will serve a purpose one day when you visit.. After this silly lockdown of course

[@harrymiles2652]

Although Camden Town is nearer to London Zoo, I'd probably stick to Regent's Park anyway, because I really like the Bakerloo Line trains. I was also pretty upset when I found out the Victoria Line 1967TS was getting scrapped :(.

[@harrymiles2652]

***** Also, did you give Ben the Blue T-shirt at Piccadilly Circus to match the Piccadilly Line?

[@Londonistvids]

Don'tLookOrItTakesYou O.O yes we did .. well spotted!

[@harrymiles2652]

***** Thank you.

[@a.g.9847]

I can not stand the Bakerloo Line!

[@jeffkwan4210]

+William Beresford is it because it's the colour of poop? 🙃

[@keithrussell9662]

I love going through the shed at Queens Park as it's the only place on the tube network that it happens. a interesting thing that you failed to point out that if you want to go from central London to harrow is to catch a London midland service that stops there which can take 15 minutes off the same trip done by the bakerloo line.

[@sunrayuk]

I watched 4 of these videos in a row before I realised that your wearing a tshirt which is the same colour of the line your on 🤦‍♂️

[@MonnyArcade]

I took the bakerloo/picadilly shortcut once with a heavy suitcase. It was a little tricky but I was glad I found it!

[@dananddanfilms]

I know what you mean about that stretch of the Bakerloo line... I would suggest that Stonebridge Park is even bleaker than Queen's Park, cos at least QP has a bit of life within a minutes walk of it. Stonebridge Park has little except derelict offices and the north circular nearby. On a winters evening it's positively harrowing.

[@Psevdonim123]

And wealdstonig? 😃 (sorry)

[@quintuscrinis8032]

Those trains in the "shed" at Queen's Park are in service, just ones that only run through the Central section because the overground has to take paths on the same track as the Bakerloo north of the station

[@tonys1636]

The bakerloo line was the last line to be using the lovely, rattling and noisy 1927 rolling stock in the late 60's and early 70's

[@spdfatomicstructure]

It's been the last line to use rolling stock from a particular generation for quite a few times already. The last 1938 stock trains ran along the Bakerloo Line in the 1980s. The last 1967/1972 stock trains (specifically 1972 Mk II) are currently running on the Bakerloo Line, having served 3 other lines before that (Victoria Line for 1967 stock; Northern Line for 1972 Mk I stock; Jubilee Line for 1972 Mk II stock

[@TheSniper9752]

Hence why it is my favourite line, It's like going back in time when you hop on the train.

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

@Jonah Kemp ahem Ahem, they are going in 2027

[@adamrobinson6460]

Bakerloo line trains, (the one in the thumbnail) are truly the best.

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

That's your opinion. My opinion, the 67 and 72 stocks are my least favourite. Get used to the new vehicles.

[@Psevdonim123]

@@Great_WesternTVFan They're more reliable... somehow...

[@ajmeipalu1051]

Watching this before Train Sim World 2

[@tread0carefully]

The walk through Regents Park is lovely though.. To the Zoo.

[@kevlandy]

I remember visiting Baker St. station in the late 70’s. They were in the process of tiling it. - I wish now in hindsight, that I had ‘liberated’ a tile or two…

[@Steamyy_]

Whenever I'm visiting London I just watch this channel a week before 🤣

[@mikdavies5027]

Don't you just hate it when somebody insists on going the wrong way? Seriously, that is probably why it's only signposted one way. Very interesting info, Geoff!

[@jimgibson9805]

Thanks Geoff, I enjoy your tours of the underground I am facinated by the London Underground and have used it many times on visits to the capital and have never yet been lost on the system that is to say never knowingly been lost.

[@bryntownshend6528]

I think Marylebone was called Great Central because it used to be the terminus for the Great Central Mainline which closed in the 1960's. The station lost traffic as a consequence. Only the line to Aylesbury is left of the Great Central Mainline.

[@jpbdude4223]

frrd ktbg Nice. LSNED

[@johnkeepin7527]

Not quite. Lots of services to Oxford via Bicester & Birmingham via Banbury from here these days.

[@Thenextrealm]

Just stumbled across this channel and it’s fascinating 👏🏻

[@paulcarpenter2800]

Another great documentary. Plus loads from my design hero Harry Beck. Many thanks, Paul in Lower Boddington

[@TobyNight]

"Only use in emergency" Londonist - Goes up to get to Piccadilly line quicker Sign - "Am I a joke to you?"

[@Psevdonim123]

At the same time, sign on the other end: "pst, hey pal, you wanna little bit o' Bakerloo? then come this way, but shhh, quite..."🤣

[@Potionette81]

This line always made me and my primary school classmates titter back in the day, just because it has 'loo' in its name.

[@PineaFan]

I now have the londonist seat maquette. It is my lock screen! Love it!

[@bobo577]

3:19. One of my favourite sections of Piccadilly Circus. Even before the trains arrive, it's just neat to walk down the edge of the platform. It's amusing that the tunnel even exists like that.

[@1974cfjl]

The spiral stairs in this video at Piccadilly Circus leads to the current sub surface ticket hall, the original 1906 spiral staircase leads to the now demolished joint Bakerloo and Piccadilly 1906 surface building which was located ion the south side of Piccadilly Circus which also had entrances on Haymarket and Jermyn Street.

[@andrewanderson3046]

I remember using the Haymarket entrance in the 80's .It had an arcade of shops .

[@RedoStoneCraft]

0:36 - 1:03 My left ear really liked this part.

[@DimensionalIO]

Did the map say "we want to make your journey longer"

[@mariolawitecka4399]

Windows XP

[@oliviabullock2148]

Dimensional Explanation it didn't but it'd be funny if it did. It says about making your journeys simpler 😂😂😂

[@dansmith4601]

Dimensional Explanation explain dimensions

[@indrearvydasmikelionis8169]

It said We want to make your journey simpler

[@paciic]

Ah yes Harrow & Wealdstone, Beware of the invisible platform there, the entire platform is raised higher than you think TSW Bakerloo Line

[@stephand4017]

0:03 Random person: Geoff, have you lost your mind? Bakerloo line trains don't go to Stanmore!

[@anonandon71]

This is fantastic. Looking forward to watching your other videos.

[@Paco_Gaepedores]

Absolutely Love the Bakerloo Line ❤

[@fgc3251]

Ben looked delighted

[@Dewan-gf3nr]

I love you're secrets of underground videos

[@calebrobinson3144]

why am i watching this i've only been to london once in my life

[@annother3350]

Because it's unique and you're afraid to admit it but you like trains!

[@CaptainCalculus]

I love how he is obviously passionate about London and the Undeground

[@kotzwell88]

guy knows his shit about trains.

[@waiyinka]

+kotzwell88 your bad

[@airplaneplustrainguy8143]

kotzwell88 yeah man

[@seanh2286]

Hard to understand how a station (Maida Vale) can win an award for its renovation and still be inaccessible.

[@joeymandrews]

Nice colour co-ordination by Geoff and Ben (2:00-3:38) at Piccadilly Circus, wearing brown and blue respectively, to match the colours of the Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines.

[@siedward74]

In answer to Camberwell86 - Camberwell did have a railway station (yes on Station Road) but it closed in 1916. The proposals for Camberwell underground have been around since the 1930s so I hope that we will get progress soon

[@scooby6518]

really enjoy your channel. I live at Wembley Park station.

[@Cpr1234]

Ben wore a blue shirt for this video while Geoff wore a brown shirt. The Bakerloo line is brown on the map and the Piccadilly line is blue And they went from the Bakerloo to Piccadilly at Piccadilly Circus

[@leytonjay]

I commuted to Uni in Harrow from Gatwick for three years, mostly using the Metropolitan line and Jubilee lines. The only time I ever used the Bakerloo line I was MASSIVELY unimpressed, I’m not a train geek but even I noticed so many things about it that were just shit. Great video.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Great memories seeing the old Roundabout at Elephant n Castle...!!!

[@9ancho]

from watching the video 1 day after it released to 9 years, crazy time

[@bjmorley]

Marylebone was called Great Central as London Marylebone railway station was the terminus for the Great Central Railway, which was formed from the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway's London Extension plan in 1897.

[@claudejl1702]

Marylebone Stn was originally intended to be called Lisson Grove , but prior to opening decided to be called Great Central and was renamed Marylebone in 1917 (11 years after opening), the original Bakerloo station was on the corner of Hardwood Row and Hardwood Avenue.

[@blazerun1029]

THE OLD MAQUETTE I loved it

[@philohara6681]

your vids are great m8

[@ednuttah]

Very few channels are worth watching let alone subscribing to, Your's sir is 100% brilliance! Love it. Keep it up!

[@johnwilliamson3228]

Oh jeez I fell asleep and my phone needed charging when I woke up!! Only joking, enjoyed the video, I'm from the North East and like riding the tube lines when down south.

[@bronzesword7791]

me and my family accidentally went the quicker route to the Piccadilly line at Piccadilly Circus

[@majorgeneralexcaperr2583]

Aidan Silveston what

[@ep1phany62]

Love the bench seats on the Bakerloo line. Very springy and no arms.

[@angelicacalvet6708]

i love that section of the Bakerloo line

[@ianmcclavin]

What is now the southbound Jubilee Line platform at Baker Street was in existence when the Bakerloo ran on the Stanmore Branch, it was tiled in the same style as St. John's Wood and Swiss Cottage station platforms.

[@kaballis]

Going up the escalator and see Geoff and cameraman coming down in the opposite side, suffice to say that it is possible to be star struck by a KZbinR. Only right I post it here as it occurred at Baker Street station, keep up the great work guys.

[@LinxFox]

You should see the Queen's Park station on the TTC in Toronto, it is one of only 2 Bored/Tube style stations on the entire network. Quite nice, and no spooky trains parked on a siding.

[@djtoomuch230]

+SgtMays Yup nicer than St. Patrick even though St. Patrick also has the tube look to it it's too green Queen's Park though looks nicer.

[@driianh9086]

The Universty segment of the YUS has great station designs,

[@blackhole7909]

My favourite line is the district line

[@PPhillip31]

Now you can walk the length of the train.

[@julianaylor4351]

My late father once deliberately stayed in the train at Queen's Park when it turns round so he could join me on the opposite platform to get the train from Euston to Watford so we could go home together. As for the station itself the popstar Seal used to live in flats overlooking it and then a child he saw trains coming and going and dreamed of escape and travelling elsewhere.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

The north section of the Bakerloo is where my best friend ended our friendship. So it's my least favourite section too. (Shared with the entire Central Line.)

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

Come to think of it, I hate Elephant & Castle too.

[@WingsTM]

sorry that happened to you mate

[@turbodistortionirmc]

My commiserations

[@internetguy7965]

How do you 'end' friendships?

[@voetbal12]

Lmfao! Who ends a friendship! Hahaha

[@davidcrook4166]

Very very interesting hope 2 see some more of these haven't got time right now

[@lukakresoja5297]

I dont even live in the UK but still watch your videos

[@azure2130]

2:29 i love this MIND THE GAP PLEASE announcement!

[@Luca_86]

I’m missing so much my old Elephant and Castle stop which I’ve used for nearly 5 years..

[@michaelmiklosofficial]

My favorite line and is classic looking inside

[@ParaSytius]

Totally failed to point out the great unobstructed view you get of Wembley Stadium from Stonebridge Park Station.

[@lindenbeck]

Thanks for posting it. Looking forward to my next London trip. What I like in London is travelling through London by tube.

[@johncarpenter4018]

Brilliant as always and so informative love it

[@kailidovas9562]

Nice to see here my local line!

[@guillaumeklimczak7563]

Although you can't see it from the tube the southern Bakerloo Depot (London Road Depot) is just up from Elephant and Castle. Trains enter service towards Lambeth North station

[@jip3740]

Happy birthday for the 1972 stock! The stock is this year 50 years old!

[@Quasihamster]

Geoff: "The Bakerloo is quite possibly my least favourite tube line!" TfL: "Oh dear! What now?!" Dovetail Games: "No worry, we got you covered!"

[@Psevdonim123]

To be honest, it's kinda weird... It's cool between Kilburn Park and E&C, but notrh part is a bit odd and dull, it's even listed as a National Rail service between Harrow & Wealdstone and Queen's Park which is odd... And it makes Watford Overground line kinda pointless, cause people going to central London, gonna change at Queen's Park anyway (though some may go to Euston, depending on their destination)

[@StrikerIkez]

Bens such a good sport 👏🏾

[@gregorioratti]

18 years after, the signal failures between Harrow & Wealdstone are still happening twice a week. 😂😂😂

[@Matthew-it2jw]

Marylebone was almost gonna be called Lisson Grove because of the nearby Lisson Street.

[@1974cfjl]

Very true .

[@jpbdude4223]

Cool LSNED

[@jpbdude4223]

DaROBLOXChannel It said in the vid

[@Cpr1234]

if it was called lisson grove it probably wouldn't have been as popular as it is today

[@SomeBritishGal1]

I think the "Great Central" is in reference to the Great Central Railway who operated what is now the Chiltern Main Line and what was the Great Central Main Line, the latter of which fell to the scourge of Dr Beeching in the 60s.

[@tumblebrutusuk]

We need to use the "Childrens' Terminology" for the lines: The Jubbly Line, The Pick-a-lily Line, and The Peek-a-boo Line. You can do wonderful things with station names as pronounced by kids too... :)

[@stephenhowe4107]

For the section that goes from Queens Park to Harrow & Wealdstone, probably the most interesting thing is the line is to the right of main Euston Line from Stonebridge Park and south. But travel I stop north to Wembley Central and the Bakerloo line/Overground goes under the main Euston Line and from then onwards up to Harrow & Wealdstone, the entire line is on the left. And just before Kenton it crosses the Metropolitan line. A short walk away from Kenton is Northwick Park Station on the Metropolitan.

[@MrRp25]

At 2:55 you make the Piccadilly train. But is it the east or westbound?

[@Jamstarii]

+MrRp25 westbound as its going to Heathrow

[@MrRp25]

Yeah, not much of a shortcut if you want to go east.

[@eastlancsesteem]

I would extend the Bakerloo to Hayes (via Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate, Lewisham, Ladywell, Catford Bridge, Lower Sydenham, New Beckenham, Clock House, Elmers End, Eden Park, West Wickham and Hayes). I would then create a branch line towards Locksbottom (via Beckenham Junction, Shortlands, Bromley South, Bromley Common and Locksbottom). I would also extend it up to Watford Junction, replacing the London Overground service.

[@IndigoJo]

While you were on the Jubilee line you could have taken a look at some of the tile-work on the stations between Finchley Road (where the line goes below ground) and Baker Street. It's old brown tile-work from the Bakerloo days.

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Fun fact: Bakerloo is the name of a character from Underground Ernie. In fact, a lot of the characters are named after tube lines!

[@ElTipoEspañol]

Wish that Metrovalencia's 1982 B&W 3600 trains had the same sound as the 1972 stocks of the Bakerloo line.

[@mobile_vic]

So here's a secret of the Bakerloo: the rails/stations north of Queen's Park to Harrow & Wealdstone do not belong to LUL! In fact, they are owned and operated by Network Rail. As you depart the Queen's Park sheds north, you pass a signal whose nameplate begins "BB" (meaning Queen's Park interlocking, LUL signals) and the next signal is identified as "WS" (for Willesden signaling center, Network Rail).

[@Psevdonim123]

That's the whole reason why LUL is considered one of the NR operators... Bakerloo and District lines are even considered as National Rail services at some sections of the lines (which is weird cause Met isn't, I think it's backwards situation, Chiltern trains using LUL network)

[@iiExplosionz12]

Even though E&C is the terminus station of the Bakerloo line in zones 1 (and 2), you also got the Metropolitan line which is also a terminus station (for Circle, it's not) which is also in zone 1.

[@Stacktovic845]

I love this series, I only just noticed his shirt colour matches the line of each video

[@aminulh3328]

Ben looks like the kid in school when their teacher forces them to present their work in front of the whole class 😂

[@Dan-vc4ku]

Queens park to Wembley central is actually a very vibrant section of track....Dorps Dorps Dorps

[@Cpr1234]

1:33 it probably wouldnt have been so popular if it was called Lisson Grove

[@chrisst8922]

When the Bakerloo trains burst into a station, rockin' n rollin' they're more like a theme park ride than a transport system.

[@bb-3653]

seeing old elephant and castle is so nostalgic