Pimlico Tube Station - Only Unconnect

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It's time to visit some of my favourite station on the Tube Map again, this time with the theme of not being connected to any other lines, and appear with just a station 'tick' on the map - not a connector blog, they're unconceted, hence ... Only Unconnect!
First up, is on the Victoria Line, at Pimlico station, and i'll do one one station ( except the Waterloo & City ) from all the other lines as well.

[@FinimillionMcBajintilipilion]

this gives off a secrets of the underground vibe and i love it

[@oliverbevan2575]

It’s the soothing voice over and nice animations…

[@transportationuk7656]

I agree. Geoff does have a soothing voice. So, Geoff feels Soothed on the Tube and inturn we feel soothed by his voice.

[@gordonchard6243]

Only Geoff could come up with a series that none of us would have even thought about but now totally want to know more .

[@gregmichael8473]

How about a series on Tube stations that have featured or at least been referenced in movies. When I saw this one about Pimlico, my mind went immediately to the film, Passport to Pimlico.

[@paulsavage9977]

​@gregmichael8473 there's probably plenty, a couple of films I can think of are Sliding Doors and the 2001 film South Kensington. Other series can include TV shows, books, comics and music. From TV there's Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I count this as tv as it was written for TV first. I can understand that there nay be issues with music, but just a few of many are: Sunny Goodge Street by Donovan Every Tube Staton by Jay Forman Euston Road by Eliza Doolittle Warwick Avenue by Duffy Camden Town by Suggs (not sure if its a cover or not). And Finchley Central by the New Vaudeville Band.

[@pedanticradiator1491]

​@@gregmichael8473 only thing is the film predates the station by several years

[@PeterGaunt]

And Geoff can always follow it up with another series on stations which are connected!

[@gymnasiast90]

It’s very fitting that an Only Unconnect series would start with the _Victoria_ line... For some reason, I now feel like watching a certain quiz that originated on BBC Four...

[@mremumerm]

Next

[@highpath4776]

@@mremumerm actually a quiz that forces no connection at all between 4 things could be interesting (as in at least two you could probably find a connection)

[@krissp8712]

@@highpath4776 it's always interesting when they do the matching wall with fake outs and double matches. There's usually exactly 4 per category, but sometimes there'll be up to five/six potential matches just to make it harder on the teams to guess!

[@emjackson2289]

@@mremumerm, I'll take the Horned Viper line please

[@makkari1]

@@emjackson2289 Hornd or Horn -edd? How pretentious art thou? (Not you, EM, some of the contestants)

[@Stjaernljus]

just a note on the sponsor, they among other things have a lot of privacy issues being caught repeatedly selling peoples medical info despite multiple goverment agencies telling them not to and their own policy saying they don't sell/share information.

[@Eddyspeeder]

I think a great sequel to the unconnected station is to look at connected stations of which at least two platforms are entirely underground, and what they look like in 3D. Just so people get a better understanding of their layout.

[@allenwilliams1306]

I deplore private metal therapy provision for four main reasons: (1) it only helps people who can afford to pay for it (2) those who can afford to pay for it are prioritized over those who may need it more urgently, but cannot pay for it (3) those who can afford to pay for it get it, even though they may not need it (4) it is a business, and not a health care service.

[@FranzBieberkopf]

The questionnaire Geoff refers to in his spiel for private mental health is a bit skewed. It will not say "You're OK, go home and relax" As they're profit makers, they will always say you need help

[@ronyinparis]

Pimlico is WAY too underrated

[@ianmcclavin]

It's been a useful facility for over 50 years though; it wasn't ready in 1971 when the rest of the Brixton extension opened, but there are plenty of folks who were glad to wait the extra year, and still make regular use of it!! Signs on the "Pimlico" friezes on the platforms used to say "For Tate Gallery," they were altered to read, "For Tate Britain," after the Tate Modern opened on Bankside, near Blackfriars, as there were now 2 Tates, and they had to think up a name for the original. As well as the back-lit illuminated signs, Pimlico retains the original platform ceiling finishes. (Tottenham Hale, Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central never received any ceiling finishes, and remain devoid of them to this day!!)

[@doctordeej]

Pimlico to me always means the film “Passport to Pimlico”, which of course features an underground train, being stopped for passport checks. Presumably a district line stock one, as it predates the Victoria line by a couple of decades.

[@silverthorn9759]

I was thinking of that film as well.

[@JTHD26]

None of that film is filmed in Pimlico funnily enough

[@Shalott63]

Hi Geoff, I'm glad you're doing a new series. Just a bit about Pimlico and the Tate: when Pimlico tube was opened, Tate Britain (to which you refer in the video) didn't exist as such, because there was no Tate Modern, just the one gallery for all the Tate stuff. As a result not just the British art bit of the collection was in the original Tate Gallery at the Millbank site near Pimlico (which is now Tate Britain) but also the modern art, which has now been moved to the Bankside site (Tate Modern). The yellow dots on the Pimlico platforms refer to the modern art, which is no longer there! So Pimlico tube is left stranded with a platform motif that refers to something that is no longer anywhere near the station - just another of London's little peculiarities.

[@julianaylor4351]

As an artist, I would say the dots being a reference to modern art doesn't matter, because they can also represent the blobs of paint on a pallette, of an artist who is obsessed with getting yellow on to the canvas. 😁

[@totallypixelated]

Some of the rather naïve murals by the entrances represent works which are now at Tate Modern too. I believe there were plans to paint over the murals a few years ago but they were saved by public pressure.

[@trevordance5181]

Perhaps the yellow dots could be replaced by burgundy coloured ones with reference to the film Passport To Pimlico as in that film Pimlico was discovered to be part of the Dukedom of Burgundy

[@Shalott63]

@@trevordance5181 That's good thought about Pimlico, it's the thing it's most famous for!

[@Shalott63]

@@julianaylor4351 I think you would make an excellent spin doctor! 😆

[@danielkelly6784]

Hey Geoff, I was once told by an old colleague in industry that Pimlico was actually considered as part of an evacuation strategy for Victoria Station. In the event of an emergency it was thought due to how busy Vicky station is trains would need to move past and evacuate there (Pimlico) to save overcrowding (at Victoria platforms) which is why it's the only unconnected station on the line. I have never confirmed this but I thought it was interesting and made alot of sense.

[@S1lverArr0w]

My home station🔥 There's a certain magic about Pimlico. Quiet and disconnected and peaceful.

[@jimherbert007]

When I lived in Gloucester St, I had the option of Pimlico or Victoria as about the same walk. So Grumbles it was 🤣

[@judeastall-fuller6230]

I grew up on Churchill Gardens, this video is making me homesick

[@loushared6602]

@@jimherbert007 I got the reference, Grumbles is still alive and kicking..

[@jimherbert007]

That is excellent news@@loushared6602

[@bjenner2356]

Same

[@danielmaximoff8151]

i honestly love the transporter roundel so much! it's so cool🤩

[@kultowyikarus]

This series looks like at least 3 years worth of material!

[@frmattdrummond6535]

Indeed, most outer and sone inner London stations are unconnected to other lines, underground or other. This series could be verrry looooong!

[@stephenholt4670]

I doubt he'll do all of them, but you never know!

[@DJRickDawson]

​@@stephenholt4670well he's visited them all more than once.

[@mdhazeldine]

I was thinking the exact same thing 😂

[@DevonPixie1991]

⁠@@frmattdrummond6535he’ll probably do just zone 1-2. But there could be a whole series of stations that are in 2 zones.

[@FC-Mobile-Highlights]

Cmon Geoff love it when you create series

[@alfiestewart6312]

Trains help your mental health. I find I tend to struggle a lot more when I haven't been on a train or even just to a station in a while. There's just something about sitting on a platform and watching the world go by that's soothing..

[@pixoontube2912]

Its great to see that Geoff has started a new Tube series. I really enjoyed End of the Line and your Secrets of the Underground videos made for Londonist, so I am excited to see more of this series.

[@paulphillips4267]

I worked by Victoria Station from 1992-2009 and often on my way home I would take a train “backwards” to Pimlico (a 90 second ride) so that I could board a northbound train more easily. And I was far from the only person doing this.

[@seanralph]

I visited London for my first time back in June and Pimlico was my local station to my hotel, so great to see a video on it!!

[@wdougwendt]

Geoff you are an inspiration - I too ride trains purely as therapy for my soul and I know you’ve been very vulnerable about your journey in life. Thank you from NYC to you in London. 😊

[@jeffwiseman3840]

Hooray, that someone else is talking about therapy! I think it was very bold and honest of Geoff to speak of therapy and how it helps. I’m a little bit dispirited that I have to scroll down as far as this in the comments to find someone else who has mentioned it!

[@teapot2186]

At one time of course, Pimlico used to be sovereign Burgundian territory - caused a great fuss just after the war, but it all got sorted in the end.

[@Mishima505]

So you needed a passport to go there?

[@ballyhigh11]

@@Mishima505 It's a reference to a famous Ealing comedy (genre of British film from the middle of the last century) called Passport to Pimlico.

[@Mishima505]

@@ballyhigh11 I know! Hence the passport reference 🙂

[@stevebarlow3154]

@@ballyhigh11 I'm happy to say Ealing Studios is still flourishing and is just a short walk from Ealing Broadway station.

[@loushared6602]

Lived in Pimlico for 21 years and I leant something new. So lovely to see it from a non commuter perspective 😊

[@geoffreycoan]

I used to travel through Pimlico regularly when working at a government department near there. There was often a “thought for the day” written by station staff on the board at the top of the escalators, and I was always amused by the sign on the mural ramp that made it clear that the ramps were not owned or maintained by TFL so if you slipped in wet weather it wasn’t their responsibility!

[@LeafLeafy]

What a great series idea!! I love unconnected stations, the mysterious yet friendly loners of the network.

[@michaeldavis2039]

Great that you started this series with Pimlico, which was the station nearest my hotel during my 2019 visit back home!! Will have to take a closer look at this station on my next visit!! Thanks Geoff!!

[@krissp8712]

As a tourist to London I also feel a great connection to the one nearest my hotel! It's nice to actually have a point of reference on the map.

[@Chris35005]

When the Victoria line opened between Victoria and Brixton the station at Pimlico had not been finished but the first southbound train was stopped to await the first northbound train due to the line had being opened at Brixton and the royalty involved using Pimlico to change trains to get back to Brixton. I know a lot of people in the southbound train wanted to get out to have a look around but i can't remember if we were allowed the chance.

[@eesti_lv]

I do wish the other Victoria line stations kept their backlit roundels, they are truly a peak of their time; as far as I know, they were only built in the late 60s and 70s, that’s why they’re also at Hatton Cross, as that was apart of the Heathrow extension. Pimlico probably sustains so much of its origin compared to the other Victoria line stations due to lack of needed refurbishment, as it’s obviously.. on one line.

[@writingbyemma]

I love the light-up platform roundels at Pimlico - I go from Brixton to Victoria early every morning so if I'm dozing, seeing the lighting at Pimlico always reminds me to start waking up 😅

[@darksider_video]

Up until the early 2000s Pimlico was the closest tube station to the worlds only Star Trek themed pub, the much missed Pages Bar. And yes I always used "that entrance" 😉

[@MRTransportVideos]

My word, I remember that place - went there once and, as George Takai puts it.... "oh, myyyy"!

[@MLampner]

Thanks Geoff. Wish more stations had a stariway. We were traveling in London with friends this spring. We had decided to have dinner in Chinatown and took the Piccadilly to get there exiting at Leicester Square. My friend Aaron whom I have known almost 60 years, has some issues with his balance and one look at the escalators at Leicester Sq and he knew he couldn't go up. The ladies had already headed up. I figured some place there would be an emergency exit with the spiral staircase - but not there. In the end running out of ideas and worried the ladies might be worried I went to the help point a gentleman answered I explained our problem and he said wait for me by the escalators so we did. A few minutes later the gentleman spotted us came over. He pulled out his two way radio and communicated with another person at the upper end. Then he shut down the escalator and we walked up. We certainly got some strange looks but we found our wives and went to dinner. Disaster adverted - a central stairs would have been nice but we were saved by the kind staff of the station. I did send a nice note to TFL commending the staff I hope someone did give them a pat on the back.

[@michellebell5092]

I’m definitely going to connect with this new series. And. Thanks again for being so open GM,

[@mesnilman2327]

Oh, Geoff. This used to be my commute station when I worked in the ONS. And I remember buying second hand books in that row of shops (at a newsagents?). Many thanks for this one - some lovely memories there.

[@jamespaw742]

Every time I take the Tube to Alexandra Palace (via Finsbury Park) or to any part of north London, Pimlico Station is the best entry station, less crowded and plenty of seat choices (I happen to live in the area). Love it. Cheers Geoff.

[@ReecesTrains]

I love the Star Trek Transporter Effect at the beginning! Great video!

[@a11oge]

To quote one of the comments below "Hooray, that someone else is talking about therapy! I think it was very bold and honest of Geoff to speak of therapy and how it helps. "

[@twixieshores]

Ive never been this early for a Geoff Marshall video and for a new series no less. Also, backlit roundels are neat. Make them as prominent (or ideally more prominent, but I'm trying to be realistic) as the adverts

[@dez3540]

_So_ eager to know more now - thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the series 🙂

[@IanFarquharson2]

Heh - bumped into you this morning on way to France via St. Pancras. You’re right, train travel does help you zone out from the things on your mind. Thanks again for all the content.

[@geofftech2]

ah thanks Ian, hello! nice to meet you :-)

[@IanFarquharson2]

Back on Friday… good thing is the French bump 2nd to 1st on local trains for a reasonable amount so peace and window for a couple of hours.

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video. Loving the new series Geoff really looking forward to the next one.

[@wteff8586]

Such a great video, really looking forward to this series!

[@SamSitar]

very smart of Geoff to think of something like this.

[@billrootes-composersongwri5552]

This was my nearest station for years and still my favorite

[@isashax]

Start of a great new series! Thank you!

[@terriblegpu]

Brilliant idea for a series! cant wait for more.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Interesting video! I'll look forward to seeing more unconnected stations!

[@antonyrobinson1215]

Used to live in Pimlico back the late '80s/early '90s. I was midway between Victoria and Pimlico Stations, so always opted for Pimlico if I was going north as I could always get a seat before the chaos of Victoria. Rarely go there now, so good to see the old place.

[@hanyun287]

Excited for this new series!

[@olliecat1927]

Love the new series! Can’t wait for more

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for sharing the video Geoff it was very interesting. ❤

[@grahambaker7563]

Great video, Geoff! Looking forward to the next in the series!

[@enigmabletchley6936]

Pimlico is one of the best stations for a promenade between Vauxhall Bridge and Tower Bridge along the Victoria Embankment. Lots to see and enjoy on the walk. Incidentally, opposite the station is a pub where I got one of the best 'full english' breakfasts I have ever had. Not too sure if it is still in the business of serving them.

[@ballyhigh11]

It's called The Gallery (i'm sure you can guess why), and still very much in business!

[@someguy8427]

Normally I skip over ad spots during vids but I liked watching yours Geoff, thank you for that :D

[@brilliantbuilder4228]

This is one of Geoff's best video ideas yet. I'm intrigued for further videos and learn more history!!!

[@alastairmackay4589]

The sounds of the underground are just as iconic as the sights.

[@MRTransportVideos]

Speaking as someone who uses Public Transport as a source of therapy/release, I'm glad to hear that it's more common than I thought - thank you for making me feel more comfertable with my life choices.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

I'm looking forward to the new series, and will be catching up with some old favourites over the Christmas break!

[@kaliou6645]

🎄🚂❄️PIMLICO is simply the Perfect Station, was fortunate to stay at an AirBnb during spring vacations and using this underground station to connect to the CIty of London🇬🇧💛Excellent Video Geoff

[@elizabethlopeznunez9116]

Pimlico wasn't in the Victoria Line's original project. However, it has covered the area south of the Victoria Coach Station, which is overcrowded.

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

When I lived near Pimlico, myself and my friends would try and slide down those railings in the centre stairs. Didn't get far, but it was fun!

[@MrGreatplum]

Beautifully filmed, Geoff. And a great idea for a series!

[@76_SPZL]

Outstanding video Geoff. Can't wait for more videos in the series.

[@arwelp]

Ah, I used to use Pimlico station quite a lot in the 1990s - we used to have Babylon 5 meetings on Sunday afternoons in Pages Bar on Page St (now long gone, I think), to watch the latest episodes on tape from the US (that was the bar which had a model of the Starship Enterprise in the ceiling, and the doors to the toilets had “whoosh” sound effects like the doors on the Enterprise! (They also served green “Romulan Ale” but I could never face one of those!)). I used to travel down from Crewe for those meetings (joys of working for BR) and caught the last train home from Euston.

[@Ibis117]

Looking forward to this series. Sounds fun.

[@davefrench3608]

Good idea for a series. Looking forward to more

[@trimley]

Excellent Geoff - like the pace and length of these videos 👏

[@thanostheclub]

Short and sweet - perfect!

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

I'm going to love this new series

[@Mike-tx7mu]

I love Pimlico I sometime stop there when I traveling on the tube can't wait for the next station keep up the good work

[@meltrain]

This must be one of the most helpful advertisements in a video ever. Thanks Geoff. (As a person not living in the UK, I can't use it, but it is still nice that it exists.)

[@TheLondonMood]

This is gonna be a great series 👍🏽

[@decam5329]

Despite the title, it's ironic that Victoria Corran Mitchell would appreciate the geekyness of the content.

[@leemiles6963]

Geoff, I can't believe you'd be so remiss, as to forget the lightbox roundels at Hatton Cross! Good luck with the rest of the series. Really looking forward to it!

[@keithfalkingham8861]

Great little video as always Geoff, hope you took your passport🚇

[@MattDavis_BeechingsGhosts]

Kudos for the mental health message

[@amethyst7084]

Thanks for the video Geoff. Pimlico is the nearest undergound station to where I used to work (for 11 and a half years). Always good to learn form your videos of all the characteristics that you'd walk past everyday. 👏🏾⭐❤

[@neilmcfarlane5644]

Very good idea, Geoff. And also very brave and honest - and helpful. Nx

[@pete6645]

Who would have believed so few stations have back-lit roundles. Thought there were loads. You always learn something new from Geoff's videos.

[@emjayay]

I wonder why all the other ones on the Victoria line were gotten rid of, and why these survive.

[@ballyhigh11]

@@emjayay I'm going to guess replaced by advertising space (seeing as the space on the wall opposite the platform is, as Jeff says, obscured so often due to the frequency of trains on the Vic line)

[@Mishima505]

Pimlico is the only underground station whose name contains none of the letters in the word “badger”.

[@TransportForLuka]

Great video Geoff! I can't wait for this series its going to be really good 😊

[@simonmcowan6874]

Loved it, what a great idea.

[@techguy_drew]

Love your content Geoff! For future videos in this series, it would be cool to hear about scrapped plans or railway lines that *would* have made an otherwise solitary station an interchange.

[@charlottelrose3221]

The chippy on Pimlico high street isn’t half bad I must say, but generally it needs some love and attention, more artwork definitely! Great video :)

[@QALibrary]

A very interesting video - thank you for sharing it with us

[@TorToroPorco]

It’s hard to imagine that there once wasn’t a station at Pimlico to service Tate Britain. And of course it’s the nearest station to my favourite camera store Grays of Westminster.

[@mikemainer3009]

Nice start to a new series. Cheers, Geoff..

[@danieltoth-nagy5097]

For some reason I haven't watched this or any videos in this series yet, but this is amazing stuff, peak Geoff Marshall, now I have to watch all others as soon as possible!

[@pav504]

I love riding trains they are very therapeutic for me. They really help with my anxiety, so yeah just wanted to tell everyone that because it makes me feel good to get it out there am not ashamed.

[@emjackson2289]

The little deli place that's in the building where the station is located is absolutely fab. What was rather less fab was the crappy "hotel" I stayed in local to the area. PS. Having seen 01:56 - there's a "flat roof pub" in that block that's built into the block itself. Absolutely great for a cheap pint.

[@GolfhausYT]

The fact that the series is called "Only Unconnect" and starts with a station on the VICTORIA line is either the cleverest deep-cut reference ever, or an absolutely amazing coincidence.

[@lstahling]

Thanks!

[@PD-jk5hd]

At busy times I've found it much quicker to use the static stairs than the big queues for the escalators, usually noting people who joined the escalator at the same time as i started on the stairs, and beating them. I must admit most often when descending! I do beat them ascending too at busy times but struggle to hide my asthmatic struggles from view at the top!

[@Jayvoltage253]

When Geoff said 2:13 travelling on underground puts him at ease I felt that, good for my mental health, from young I would always joyride, even now sometimes I park my car just to ride tubes off-peak

[@GiacomodellaSvezia]

As to the advertisement: Your videos are quite wholesome to me. Thank you again, Geoff!

[@lawrencespinelli7850]

Another great series from the Tube master!

[@ianb5949]

If you want to see a High Street without ANY shops, come to Great Linford, MK14. There are no longer any trains, but, there IS a pub, the Nag's Head

[@rofromoz1361]

Really love that backlit roundel ❤

[@shaunganley]

Love the shooting in this vide Geoff! That ending reflection shot of the sign on the train was spectacular!

[@SpeedyGPotassium]

Gonna need that Only Unconnect bingo sheet Geoff! 😂

[@JunafaniFIN]

I am taking the lion wall.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Yes to new series!

[@Kimberley42]

Pimlico is possibly my favourite station on the Tube. I'm a frequent visitor to Tate Britain so I use the station a fair bit and it just has a certain charm to it.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Like the new series... hope you had your passport for this one Geoff.

[@PetertheRock.]

Hi Geoff, Pimlico is in the area I worked when I first worked in London, but I've never visited the tube station, so thanks for that. The area itself is fascinating, mainly for the people there, some of whom may well not want to talk about it! I like the new theme too. I sometimes 'do' train videos, and my latest idea, to complement your 'End of the Line ' ones, is to do some penultimate stations, antepenultimates, and, of course, pre-antepenultimates! Good luck with your channel!

[@stevebarlow3154]

I assume your reference is to the headquarters of MI5, which is close by. I used to work in Millbank Tower and for lunch sometimes went to the canteen in the basement of what was the Department of Energy, now MI5. There was a nice little bar down there too!