The Disused Bit at Mansion House

[@michaeljohnson9421]

I like the way the abandoned platform at Mansion House has been kept intact, in complete working order. It's not fenced off, it's fully lit, with signage, adverts and seats - all ready for trains that will never come. It even has the yellow lines to warn people to stand back from moving trains. I think it would have been nice to retain the track and use the bay to display some of the historic rolling stock which normally stays hidden away in the London Transport Museum depot at Acton.

[@illyasvielemiya9059]

reason why it is in a working order because that was an advertisement area. No idea how that actually works but an empty area that can be seen by a lot of people is definitely a good advertising places

[@germanogirardelli]

I mean it's space that gets quite the visibility, culture and advertising should defo get their hands on it

[@comicus01]

It's not 100% clear to me, but it looks like the other side of the island platform is still in use. Which would also explain why Jago was able to stand next to the edge where the track was removed.

[@thephantomeagle2]

As I just posted it could be a back up. When visiting Paris over 20 years ago there were several large stations that had platforms that were empty with no signage. I noticed that the tracks had not been used. I asked the conductor if that's what they where there for and he said yes. The same is true in New York City.

[@comicus01]

@@thephantomeagle2 At 2:28 he shows a train pulling next to where he's standing, the abandoned part just across, and a train leaving from the far side. Looks like they opted to use two separate island platforms, one for each direction.

[@willingshelf]

Fun fact about Mansion House: it’s the perfect station to get to St Paul’s. It has services from double the lines, it’s less crowded, beautiful and shallower

[@norbitonflyer5625]

Quite so - if I had a pound for every tourist leaving St Pauls station who I have helped find the cathedral I could buy an annual travelcard. (Leaving the station, the cathedral is not only behind you, but almost completely hidden behind the new Stock Exchange building. From the station, you also have to walk the whole length of the cathedral to get in, asn the station is at the east end and the entrance to the cathedral is at the west end. City Thameslink is much more convenient.

[@ianmcclavin]

Yes, the first time my late father and I visited St Paul's Cathedral back in the 70's, we went to St Paul's on the Central Line, but noticed Mansion House Station nearby on exiting the cathedral, and decided to return from there, even though we were going to Bethnal Green, incurring a change at Liverpool Street.

[@rjwusher]

The regular output and steadfast quality of content makes your channel quite exceptional. Frankly, I'm in awe.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@glennchartrand5411]

When I was a kid in St.Louis there was an abandoned subway system that only a few civil engineers and city workers seemed to know about. Most people thought I was making up a story when I talked about it. (My fifth grade Teacher in particular.) Eventually part of it was reopened as "Metrolink" , the odd metal and concrete slabs on the sidewalks that covered the stairwells were removed and some of the platforms were renovated and folks in St.Louis found the subway that had been under their feet since the 1800's Unfortunately my 5th grade teacher had already passed away so ... ( It's still a sore spot )

[@brianartillery]

ITMA! The 'Drink!' prompt made me laugh. A Jago Hazzard 'Charles Tyson Yerkes' drinklng game would be lethal. Hundreds of people suddenly stricken with livers like OXO cubes. All swigging beer and Buckfast every time CTY appears on one of your videos. It would be similar to reading an original James Bond novel, and trying to match him drink for drink. Small tip: Don't. I tried when I was about 25, and there are three days out there with my name on them, that I never experienced.

[@josephkarl2061]

There's a KZbin video out there of someone attempting to drink like Winston Churchill, and that was frightening to watch. Bond was a heavier drinker still, so I'm literally surprised there aren't whole weeks out there with your name missing 😄

[@althejazzman]

Has anyone created a CTY playlist from Jago's videos yet? Drinking game sorted.

[@josephkarl2061]

@@althejazzman Problem is, you'd be absolutely blotto after about 5 minutes if you did that 🤣😅 In the history of transport in London, CTY casts a long shadow 😆

[@robertgallion9845]

100% Agree Brian, I saw that and had to rewind to make sure what I saw was correct. Honestly, I love and adore watching Jago's Tales from the Tube not only for the History and perspective...but for Jago's unique brand of wit, sarcasm, and humor. So a Jago Hazzard Drinking Game involving any instance a certain Chicago Transit Tycoon/Shady Dealer is mentioned...or the mention of the rivalry between two certain South Western London based Railways would be just a guaranteed way to get pissed.

[@johnsowerby7182]

Thank you for the Yerkes drinking game!

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

Despite the hundreds (if not potentially thousands) of times I must have passed through Mansion House during my time living in London, I never realised there was such an unused platform there! It's titbits like this that keep me coming back for more, Jago!

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

I might have been exaggerating a mite to be honest.

[@ValiantInstance]

I was aware of it, I mean when you stop at the station it looks like Mile End. But I had no idea the opposite platform was abandoned. I just assumed it was a track used when service was especially busy.

[@nezbrun872]

Coming in from the West, I was certainly aware: it was a right royal PITA having your train terminate at Mansion House!

[@rjjcms1]

I love that the London Underground has all these peculiarities because of its piecemeal development. Thanks for highlighting them in videos like this one,Jago.

[@ijmad]

Voice sounded fine Jago. Hope you're feeling better!

[@srhvideo]

Thank you for showing the electro-mechanical destination indicator at Earls Court, my single favourite thing(s) on the whole network, not that I ever use them when changing trains there.

[@frglee]

Yes, I liked to see them too. Reminds me of my commuting days in the 70s and 80s where they were Very Important Devices, which all eyes on the platforms watched like hawks. I hope they never get rid of them. That image did make me wonder what old destinations the westbound blanking plates covered. Come to think about it, are there blanking plates on the eastbound electro-mechanical destination indicators too? I seem to recall that back in the 70s and 80s Mansion House was a terminating station for a few eastbound District Line lines.

[@trueriver1950]

I think they're still in use at Uxbridge and Harrow-o-t-Hill. Someone correct me if they've been vandalised since I last visited those stations...

[@trueriver1950]

I'm now wondering if they are still driven by the electro-mechanical relays, or if the lights are now controlled via a more modern interface to the signalling computer, leaving the visible display a bit like the facade they sometimes leave of a former Victorian building to disguise the modern iron and concrete structure they redeveloped behind it. That could be a good topic for a Jago video perhaps?

[@ColinMSmith-mo1kh]

@@trueriver1950 Harrow-on-the-Hill now has modern displays

[@ianmcclavin]

I think Earl's Court and possibly Gloucester Road are the last ones left now. I can remember when stations like Sloane Square and even Victoria had them! When Mansion House was closed for refurbishment in 1989 until 1991, the boards at Earl's Court were "re-plated" to read "Blackfriars," as Mansion House reversals were still taking place, but Blackfriars was the last place for passengers to alight!

[@kaitlyn__L]

Just as I finished your backlog, a new one appeared! I always like looking at old unneeded infrastructure for a similar reason; it connects the station, region, etc to its history.

[@dodgydruid]

The commuter logistics of Mansion House was curious, they expected folks to jump off the train at London Bridge, Waterloo etc and take a tube to the city but fairly quickly it was discovered that the steps walked, time taken to do so was longer than just shank's pony'ing it which is why you see them sleeting across from London Bridge, Cannon St etc on foot because it really is quicker. Also the Red Arrow buses were super efficient if you had to get a vehicular assistance, those buses broke the speed limits whenever they could because of a "understanding" between police etc to turn a very blind eye to naughty no no's, same with the old Newsflow vans, City of London police became super myopic when them vans were thundering from presses to railway station at 70 or 80, if you as a driver missed your train you were never asked back and back then it was like 400 quid a night lol

[@johnmurray8428]

In my childhood I always imagined the Lord Mayor in full regalia standing on the platform at Mansion House!

[@luxford60]

One of my great great grandfathers worked at the Mansion house as the Lord Mayor's treasurer, though not quite recently enough to have used the station.

[@Mike8981]

Perhaps he did?

[@TrainFreakCow12]

As someone who lives on the other side of the earth Melbourne Australia ( close too it) . I find it interesting why there are abandoned plateforms in the tube. Here in Melbourne Box hill station as also an abandoned platform. The platform was forward thinking in the 80s and planned duplication never happened so far. Thanks.. enjoying every video and learning about the tube

[@ade22805]

Really good video Jago, thanks. I was a regular user of Mansion House as it was often quicker to jog round from Liverpool Street to pick up a District Line train than it was to wait for a 10 minute service Circle Line train that had to loop round via Aldgate. I also remember catching tubes from the bay platform speeding off on an almost empty train whilst the huddled masses crowded onto a train that originated from Barking or Upminster. I hadn’t realised that it was six years since they pulled up the track on that line and remember the work being done. Time really flies.

[@peterjohncooper]

Thank you. And a mention of The Man. Cheers. What a way to start the weekend.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Mansion House not being the closest to Mansion House reminds me of a station here in NY on the Franklin Ave Shuttle called Botanic Garden. It opened in September 1928 and it's two to three blocks from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but it's not the closest to Botanic Garden! Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum (which opened in October 1920) on the 2 and 3 is much closer, and since Botanic Garden is an interchange station with the Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College of those services, signage recommends people to take them one stop Manhattan-bound for the garden. Though the free transfer passageway between them wasn't built until 1999, the BMT Franklin Avenue Line deteriorated so much by 1999 that the MTA considered abandoning the line and shuttle service altogether but the local community got the NY State Assembly to force the MTA to rebuild. Fun fact, there's a tunnel from 1878 that's just north of the station that takes the shuttle under Eastern Parkway...this is the oldest tunnel in the *ENTIRE* system still in use

[@MirzaAhmed89]

Is there any video I watch that you don't seem to have commented on?

[@illyasvielemiya9059]

this is interesting. thank you for sharing

[@williamerazo3921]

You know your NYC Subway history. Plus The FAS was part of the BRT Fulton Ave El and down south is the worlds most infamous subway disaster. 98 souls were lost

[@GR46404]

Your voice sounds OK to me, Mr. Hazzard. I would not have guessed you were ill. I hope you get better soon. Thanks for making your videos!

[@thomasburke2683]

When did Mansion House discontinue terminating trains? It was a very handy way to provide enough trains to and from the three western District line branches plus Circle line trains, while avoiding congestion at the junction between Tower Hill and Aldgate.

[@highpath4776]

Certainly used to see quite a few terminating - is it something with the S stock compared to the D Stock (and the removal of the terminating bays at Whitechapel for the H and C. So most short journeys seem to be to Plaistow .

[@enochliu8316]

2016.

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

S Stock too long for the platform, so stopped when they came in / after withdrawal of D and C stock.

[@iankemp1131]

Well it looks as if the terminating trains moved to Tower Hill. But it was always a right nuisance if you wanted to get to Liverpool Street on the Circle and was confronted by and endless list of Upminster, Barking, Tower Hill. I should have looked at the map and walked, as other commenters have suggested. The Circle with all its flat junctions carries less traffic than its potential capacity.

[@billcowap3270]

Back in the early 80s I worked on a project to build a building underground at Mansion House on the disused platform. A tight job access wise and it was completed without too much trouble. However I did wonder why there was available space. Thanks for the insight, now I know!

[@ianmoseley9910]

Oddly, I have no memory of the old Tower Hill station but I can remember seeing trains with Mansion House as a destination. They did have bays at Whitechapel for reversing purposes but these have gone post-Elizabeth line. Still one at Plaistow, I believe.

[@donquixote2553]

And further down the track at Dagenham East...

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

Both still in regular use as far as I know, early morning / late evening / engineering works turn backs.

[@warweezil2802]

I'm pretty sure I've worked a train that reversed at Mansion house when I was on the District. Have definitely been in Both Plaistow & Dagenham East. I'm sure I remember a driver/trainer telling me that D Stock couldn't reverse at Whitechapel because it was too long to clear the signal section to get a release on the signals but I may be confusing it with something else.... It's been a long time, The now removed bay road at Putney Bridge was similarly restricted to C stock only, D stock trains had to reverse via the crossover further towards East Putney. I well remember the bay road at Tower Hill. There was a tea point there and even working thru from further east I'd hop out of the back cab and fill my tea can 😄

[@timothyphillips7576]

@@warweezil2802 Mansion House used to be long enough for D stock and reversed there all day. Whitechapel was brilliant because you could reverse all stock east to west and west to east without disrupting the main service. You are thinking of West Kensington where the platform was too short and you had to draw a D stock forward about a car and a half past the EB starter to reverse back west. Otherwise the rear of the train stood on the points. I used to drive on the Pic many years ago and the first four or five trains came out of Northfield's, ran down the district empty and reversed back to Acton from West Kensington. They had to draw forward as well as they were the same length (give or take).

[@warweezil2802]

@@timothyphillips7576 Ah Northfields, ended up there with a D stock one very frosty Sunday early turn after picking up at Acton w/b, the points on the bank wouldn't release so they sent us thru to Northfields to reverse, luckily my driver that week was an ex Picc line man so we made the moves ok, but the punters in the platform lookec rather angry when we ran thru the e/b street reversing as we had been instructed to do.I was surprised we did the whole thing without a pilotman but apparently the controller took my drivers word that he was familiar with the layouts and permitted moves. I think my memory of what you can do where is probably rather scrambled by all the Northern Line cruft from road training from my displacement on opo and motors a few months later. Coming back to Mansion House, I'm sure I remember it as a very run-down looking place with the old red disc bullseye signs like the ones that were in place at Ealing Broadway till at least the mid 80s

[@ugiswrong]

I enjoyed how you did some instruction on what the district railway was, yet just assumed anyone who watched 5 minutes would easily know who Yerkes was 🤓

[@truebrit3578]

On the rebuilt Tower Hill i have always thought it underwhelming, in particular the exterior, given that it serves one of London’s primary tourist attractions. It rather feels like the entrance to a Public Lavatory. The best I can think is that it was intended to be inconspicuous. Is that an architectural style?

[@paintedpilgrim]

There is a vague plan to rebuild the station again but this time incorporating the DLR station at Tower Gateway, that would mean closing the existing DLR station taking it over the road where it would terminate at a new station which had links to the Underground and potentially a link to Fenchurch Street rail station.

[@highpath4776]

@@paintedpilgrim Tower Ill ?

[@michaeldwyer3352]

Definitely. It was perfected by Leslie Green using ox-blood coloured tiling.

[@Steven_Rowe]

As an ex Pat living in Aus for 50 years I'm still a Londoner in my heart, I loved railway and the mysterious subterranean underground I love your videos Jago, I really do, I feel as if I'm there Have fond memories of buying twin Rivers for 5 bob and riding the rails. I regret the fact I favoured the met and found the Central line so boring. I wish I had travelled to Ongar. My favourite line was the Northern City line. I also chased Red Ghosts around the Underground. Red Ghosts are ex GWR 57XX panniers tanks that were used on maintenance. trains until 6th June 1971

[@stevelknievel4183]

Having a relatively small station underground in the middle of a city where some but not all trains terminate reminds me of the situation today at one of the three Osaka Namba stations. It does so all the more for the fact that its main line trains rather than metro ones that are doing the terminating.

[@sierraalphaalphabravo9705]

As a former regular user of Mansion House, I had no idea they'd lifted the tracks here on the (former) bay platform!

[@robertbutlin3708]

The bay was also too short for the S7 trains, while being long enough for the previous D stock.

[@ColinMSmith-mo1kh]

@@robertbutlin3708 S7 Stock could just fit in the bay, as demonstrated on the last evening of use

[@barrydysert2974]

Dear Jago, This is exactly why i watch. The complexity of the London Underground and wider rail systems boggle my mind. Your deep research, excellent videography and concise explanations make it understandable. i believe we share a similar aesthetic sense. The bumper, platform and clean ballast stone with no track are the perfect visual metaphor of the Underground's fascinating history. Additionally, You have a marvelous sense of humor! Thank you !:-) p.s. Your voice sounded fine. i hope you feel better soon! 💜🙏⚡️

[@reececollison5101]

I think it’s also worth mentioning the tracks were actually removed creating the void due to the S Stock trains being too big to fit in them. The D stocks were big enough, so worth keeping the bay platform in case there were delays and trains could be turned back quickly.

[@GaryJohnWalker1]

And hows about a history of pre-London Underground Yerkes? You've mentioned his Chicago(?) past but a more detailed early years story might be good.

[@trueriver1950]

... and it's that sort of obscure information that keeps people coming back to this channel... Know your customer 😃

[@mdhazeldine]

I used to work on Queen Victoria Street and this was my local station. I always wondered why it had an extra platform. Now I know. Thanks Jago!

[@stevecooksley]

I worked two streets away from Mansion House and was a joy to use at rush hour as everyone else went to the more popular stations in the area. I think they are missing a trick keeping that bay empty, it seems a perfect place to build a bar.

[@ianhelps3749]

I have been through Mansion House a few times and wondered about the extra platform. I noticed that the track had been removed a few years ago. It would have been more useful as an extra through platform rather than a terminating stub.

[@highpath4776]

For those that dont want to pay duty on their Yerkes Drink the station can be called Moonshine House.

[@davidpeters6536]

In 1973 I worked from an office in Queen Victoria Street but lived in Lordship Lane so I used Bank or Moorgate (changing at King'sX) to get to and from work but used the Mansion House if I had an appointment in central London. Funny how your videos tend to stir up old memories from 50 years ago.

[@johnharper3909]

I travelled from 1963 to 1969 from Canon St. to Blackfriars (school) and often wondered about Mansion House.53 years later I now know.Thank you

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Great video. It's easy to forget that the "Circle" line was designed as a mainline steam railway, hence was designed with all sorts of features a modern metro wouldn't need.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I have been to Mansion House tube station and yeah I was wondering why it’s got a abandoned platform. Which was quite interesting to see. As other tube stations also have abandoned or disused platforms that isn’t used anymore. And I wonder why Mansion House underground station is called that. 🤔

[@TheDailyRant2023]

It's near to the Lord Mayors Residence, which is of the same name.

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@TheDailyRant2023 Ah right 👍

[@Albatross-365]

It's mentioned in the video

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@Albatross-365 Yep 👍

[@blatherskite9601]

Because it's an underground railway station. 😉

[@kapuchinoification]

The Waterloo and City line passes beneath the western end of Mansion House Station, running parallel with the District line as far as Blackfriars. If the deep level, express line had been built this far, its conceivable that there may have been a junction!

[@tombullen5676]

I also quite like it as a remembrance.. And.... Laughed out lound at the terminator pun! Thanks Jago!

[@MrJezza31]

Actually, the main reason the bay was removed in 2016 was due to the replacement of D-Stock trains with the new S-Stock trains, which did not fit, and would've sat over the crossings - rendering the other "through" platforms unuseable when an S-Stock train was occupying the bay platform.

[@TheCam1966]

you caught crossrail flu. that much veg in a crowded space it was bound to happen.

[@memediatek]

Thankfully I did get it (yet) :)

[@davidbull7210]

I blame Geoff Marshall for that. He's patient zero.

[@memediatek]

@@davidbull7210 I got my Oyster signed by him and got a selfie 😱

[@davidbull7210]

@@memediatek I've heard he transmits it by signature...good luck 😄

[@NickyMitchell85]

Lol 😂 😆 😝 🤣 🤪

[@phaasch]

Many was the time I passed through Mansion House, and wondered about that odd terminating line (before it was finally terminated), and now I finally know, so many thanks! Also I recall as a kiddy, passing through Mark Lane not so long after it closed, and the platforms were still clearly visible, all sooty and mysterious. I'm sure that was the beginning of my fascination with subterranean London.

[@FannyLerouxTime]

Jago... Out of towner here, but, could you possibly do a video explaining how the... Erm... Victoria line? I think it's that line, the one with trains every 90 seconds during peak hours anyway... But how that line handles running a service so often, like, how do stations at the end of the lines cope? Surely they must be overrunning with trains? It's something I can't figure out, but I know your ability to talk about this topic and make it interesting and humerous. Thank you for keeping doing these videos! They are always interesting to watch!

[@highpath4776]

End of Lines have Scissors Crossovers so trains can depart from either platform and cross to the running line when needed quite quickly

[@FannyLerouxTime]

@@highpath4776 even if that's the case, a Jago video would be more than welcomed on the topic!

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

The short answer is the fact the trains are controlled by computer signalling and always have been since the line was built, plus the higher speed limits - the operators just control the doors and drive the trains in and out of the depot (as well as do any announcements).

[@iankemp1131]

It also benefits from being a straight out-and-back line with no branches although intermediate turnround points at Seven Sisters and Victoria. The flat junctions on the Circle/Met/District cause conflicting movements and reduce capacity. Seven Sisters turnrounds are a right nuisance when you have a tight connection to the mainline at Tottenham Hale. A great pity that they didn't take the Victoria trains to Northumberland Park (by the depot) and even further up the Lea Valley to Cheshunt. The stopping service doesn't fit well with the Stansted Express and Cambridge trains, even though the fast Cambridge service has been diverted to Kings Cross. But hindsight is great - in 1967 Stansted wasn't even planned as the third London airport (Foulness/Maplin was the plan).

[@ianmcclavin]

Originally, some trains used to terminate at King's Cross from the South, and Victoria from the North. This has long been discontinued.

[@ianmcclavin]

When Mansion House was closed for refurbishment, trains in the evening peak which were schrduled to reverse there were still doing so, with trains emptying their passengers at Blackfriars. The plates on the listed indicator boards at Earl's Court were temporarily amended to read "Blackfriars," although the D Stock trains were still showing Mansion House on the front.

[@fridgemagnet]

epic trouser flap at 2:04

[@adscri]

Finally all is revealed! I could never fathom who in their right mind had decided to terminate seemingly far too many trains at Mansion House. In fact, it was assuredly a sigh-inducing minor irritant to see a Mansion House train posted on the electric sign board for those of us wanting to reach Tower Hill/Fenchurch Street and beyond. RIP that encumbrance!

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

I guess if ever needed again it would be basically by easy to reinstall the Bay Track as they never filled the space? Very good video!

[@johnforrest695]

I have vague memories of Mansion House from the 60s. It felt like a much bigger station - not only were there four platforms but it had a much higher roof and a footbridge over. It seemed almost a small mainline station - perhaps I was just small! The late 80's, early 90's rebuild leaves it in a rather questionable state - the distance between the ticket office and the platforms is somewhat longer than I'm sure it needs to be and it has made it feel underground in a way that I'm sure it was not before. BTW The express railway between Earl's Court and Mansion House was of course half built - the permission was used for the Piccadilly Line between Earl's Court and South Ken.

[@peterbrown6224]

That enormous buffer down the end has always intrigued me over the 15 years I've been using the station. I presume it's strong enough to protect the curved tunnel behind it. At various points, that extra platform has been in use when I have arrived and before the airconditioned stock was introduced, it was advantageous to take the spare (less crowded) train, though the through trains went first.

[@nanoamp]

Nice little dance at 04:30. Glad I’m not the only one to jiggle around to keep circulation going in my legs while waiting for trains 😆

[@emmarevell6865]

i literally was at mansion house the other day wondering why there was no track there! me and my nan had never gotten off at this stop before and loved the slightly abandoned look it had, it’s not always often you see the history right in front of you especially with all the ongoing refurbs of stations. i loved the old exposed tunnels too

[@TheAltonEllis]

Ah, the mere insinuation that Yerkes was to be present in one of your excellent videos found an “AH HA!!!” escape from my mouth!! Well done as always and hope you are feeling tip top!

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I know more about London than my own home town here in the U.S. now. Thank you for the great content Jago!

[@swededude1992]

I began thinking about it right now while watching the video about Mansion house. When looking for information about the London Underground, there are atleast 4 levels of depths of information about the network. Level 1: The underground network in general. Level 2: Information about each individual line. Level 3: Information about each individual station and or depos of the network. Level 4: The deepest level. Why a singular station have yellow tiles on it's walls instead of the standard white tiles. London underground is a never ending source of information, and it's facinating! :)

[@Apollo_Mint]

I had to rewind (or whatever the term is) at 04:55 "DRINK!" 🤣 This is why people who really know how to use this platform laterally, literally run rings around dying media such as TV (much like TV rang the death knell for variety theatres). Jago you are legend!

[@Mattanyahu]

We visited London few weeks ago and I noticed the abandoned platform at Mansion House. Thanks for the quick explanation ;) By the way, brilliant content as always!

[@send2gl]

Love your descriptive use of the English language. There is something about buffer stops I find weirdly fascinating, can't put my finger on it but whether they terminate an active or disused line there is something captivating about them.

[@RogersRamblings]

If memory serves correctly, there was a bigger obstacle to completing the Inner Circle and that was the relationship between the chairmen of the Metropolitan Railway and the Metropolitan District Railway. In short, as Jago has mentioned previously, they detested each other to the point where it interfered with business decisions, eg completing the Inner Circle. This only happened when an Act of Parliament was passed obliging the two companies to get on with closing the gap between Aldgate and Tower Hill and to provide a service over it. Tower Hill is, IIRC, on the site of the original Tower station which was closed and moved to Mark Lane. As Jago says, Mark Lane was closed and Tower reopened as Tower Hill.

[@JagoHazzard]

You are correct! I actually have a video on Tower of London station on the way which, indeed, talks about the insanity of the Watkin/Forbes rivalry. Absolutely bonkers.

[@RogersRamblings]

@@JagoHazzard I look forward to it.

[@Bentaygo]

These videos are much more fun to watch having now made it to London and have visited the stations often featured in the videos!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Fun fact : Mansion House was the Up point on the District Railway, even after it was extended further east. Trains heading to Mansion House from both east & west were on the Up road, and upon departure were then on the Down Road. This lasted into LT days when the Eastbound, Westbound tube style directions were supplanted. National Rail still use Up & Down lines of course, London being Up. So on NR you actually go Down to Scotland......

[@hb1338]

In the non-railway world "up" and "down" often mean "northwards" and "southwards" respectively. Oxbridge alumni insist that one always travels up to Oxford and Cambridge regardless of direction of approach.

[@Robslondon]

Splendid video Jago, hope you’re feeling better.

[@BenTaylor.]

It was decommissioned because of the S stock trains were too long to accommodate 7 cars long trains

[@martindraper5235]

For a long time after Tower Hill was used as a terminus, the last eastbound District Line train beyond Earl's Court still terminated at Mansion House (and, presumably, provided an early mrong westbound service the following day). it was certainly so in the 1980s and, perhaps, the 1990s and later too. That might explain why the track remained until 2016.

[@supermanifolds]

Nearly choked on my food when the "drink" prompt appeared at the mention of Yerkes, i love this channel

[@antonydicesare4632]

The drink caption, was just fantastic, good old yerkes, quality yet again.

[@andyjay729]

Seems like piecemeal or as-and-when is the default construction mode for most large pieces of infrastructure. A lot of right-side (or left-side in North America) motorway/freeway/whatever exits mark where the road originally dumped out onto a surface street, long before they decided to extend them.

[@thegreybeard3441]

Next to the Eastbound platform is another disused area. It is used to keep staff training up to date with track work procedures. This was also an original reversing area/bay road. Another classic station sadly ruined by ridiculous buildings on top of it.

[@philanderson5138]

Thank you Jago, your asides are as entertaining as the information you convey - in the same way the 'aside' in this video is to Mansion house !! -sorry... It's like reading a Discworld book where Terry's footnotes are a little insight into the authors soul. His troubled.. crazy.. amazing soul.

[@daveconyard8946]

Thank You Jago, Keep safe And Well.👍

[@ianmcclavin]

At Tower Hill, the buffer stops have now been removed, platforms 1 and 2 are now both through lines, although the usual practice of using Platform 2 for reversing continues.

[@stephengreenwald5271]

There used to be an extra platform between the two Metropolitan/Hammersmith&City/Circle line platforms at King's Cross. It was filled in long ago which is why there is such a wide space between the two existing platforms. I recall the occasional steam loco parked there, as late as the early sixties.

[@louiseogden1296]

A childhood in London has left me with constant dreams about these weird places on the tube. Am I the only one who dreams about squeezing through tunnels too narrow for a train or track emerging out of thin air? This is why I love your channel -- it's those bits of the tube that are just plain weird...

[@alanspooner3612]

Love your stuff Mr Hazzard. Always well researched, always detailed, always interesting and your geeky amateur style is infectious. Great stuff. All the best.

[@davidnicholls5528]

I remember when this station was agreeably tatty, partially open to the light, and still sported the pre-Johnston solid red roundels! That dates me!!

[@iankemp1131]

Have all the red roundels definitely gone now? That would be sad - a bit of history.

[@davidnicholls5528]

@@iankemp1131 I believe they’re still in situ at Covent Garden. They were in use 1908-1916, so they might still be in some of the older tube stations that haven’t been upgraded.

[@ianhelps3749]

@@iankemp1131 there's still one at Ealing Broadway

[@neilbain8736]

A delightful tale. Well worth mansioning.

[@JagoHazzard]

Heyooooo!

[@mpersad]

"Looking at you Latimer Road!". That made me really laugh, thank you!

[@brianfretwell3886]

Well I certainly remember the bay platform in the early 1970's when I used the line often. Not having gone through much recently,and now reading more during my journeys, I did not notice that it had gone.

[@PaddyWV]

Reminds me of the extra single line ditch/ platform in the middle of Lewes station, that for years was there with a plank across the gap.

[@TBTSimPlayer]

Westbound at Putney Bridge station does have similar. The bay platform there also had restrictions on the train type, that being only C stock could use it. When the C stock had been withdrawn in 2014, the bay platform became redundant but works had been done so it had been reinstated as a through platform done in May 2016. The other platform which had a slow 10mph restriction is no longer in use.

[@MetroTitanD78]

Mansion House has 2 abandoned platforms with the first being made redundant in the 60s/70s and is now hidden behind a wall. You can still see the original approach before entering the station. Also until the late 80s early 90s the station was partly open air too.

[@jtsholtod.79]

You would think that they could have done something with the abandoned platform, such as put some stationary heritage stock and displays on it as a curiosity. Alas with the rails pulled up it shall likely forever be just another curiosity.

[@TheEarlofK]

In all the decades I've been travelling into and around London, I don't think I've ever used Mansion House Station or even know where the station entrance is, despite having worked in the City for many years. I rarely see people getting on or off their either, so it would be interesting to know how busy it is.

[@ianmcclavin]

I first went there in the 70's, going from Bethnal Green to St Paul's in order to have a look around the cathedral with my father. When we came out, Mansion House was standing there in front of us, so we got on there to go back instead of walking back to St Paul's. For the first time, we had to endure the lengthy wait at Aldgate, plus the change back to the Central at Liverpool Street, but it made a change...!!

[@JasperJanssen]

“Who also owned chairs in the railway” Huh? ooooooooh.

[@thephantomeagle2]

I could be wrong but I think they're keeping up the yellow line and keeping it clean as a possible back up.god-forbid a major water leak, or other major damage at one of the current platforms they could then re-open that abandoned line in short order to alleviate congestion.

[@hb1338]

Nah, without footfall the yellow paint has not faded. Keeping clean an area visible to the travelling public is obvious.

[@thephantomeagle2]

@@hb1338 thanks

[@timsully8958]

It certainly made me stop and think, “Good lord!” when, after an evening out in (I think) 2018 at a nearby club watching a Smiths tribute band (These Charming Men, from Ireland, ever so good 👍) we had to hot foot it to Mansion House and thence to Tower Hill in order to get the Vomit Comet from Fenchurch Street. It was a bit surreal and as we had a minute or two in hand, I tried to gauge it all. As a kid I obviously remember when you’d see Eastbound rush hour trains that had would stopped to reverse in the bays here at Mansion House, at Tower Hill and occasionally Whitechapel (where it was mostly Hammersmith and City Line trains, and of course all trace of the bays has been razed by the redevelopment for Betty’s Basement Line). There was something a bit spooky about it really, though I must admit I hadn’t really noticed the remnants from its older form, such as the metal columns and tidings. I realised this was because in fact it was the first (and hitherto only) time I had got on or off there. Alas, I was perhaps unsurprisingly the only one that was vaguely intrigued by this curious ghost platform as everyone else was half cut on the cheap-offer cocktails they’d thrown down their necks (and in a couple of cases sadly, ended up getting thrown right back up again 🙄) and probably couldn’t have cared less in truth anyway, but c’est la vie 🤷🏻‍♂️ I had no idea how extensive the original track plan was either, so thanks for the reference. I may have to do a touch of digging myself now 🤔 Santé mon ami 🍷👍🍀😎

[@michaeldwyer3352]

'Vomit Comet' is a new one on me, although I seem to remember that in the inter war years the last train back from Liverpool Street to Cambridge was known as the 'Flying Fornicator'.

[@timsully8958]

@@michaeldwyer3352: haha, I like the Flying Fornicator 😆 Though I suspect it wouldn’t be so popular with today’s open carriages 🤔 As for the christening of the last train home as The Vomit Comet, I really have no idea when the phrase was coined but I suspect it was actually the poor cleaners who had to clean the units when back in the sidings. When I was a shunter and we’d be checking and prepping the units, you could so,E times smell your little surprise from the next carriage despite the vestibule doors being closed 🥴 Seriously, on a few occasions I think there was something akin to the Family Guy “Who Wants Chowder?” sketch going on as it was like spew city, especially on Friday or Saturday night! 🤢 It’s why we always try to make sure we get the last but two or last but one train home if we’ve been on a night out!!! 🤣😂😅

[@rjjcms1]

@@timsully8958 I'd no idea there was a London train christened the Vomit Comet,but I know where it originated (unless there was any still-older usage of it) having visited the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral,Florida.

[@timsully8958]

@@rjjcms1: hi mate! I think it is a term that has come into fairly common parlance among railway employees here. The trouble is that when we have the last train leaving London, it is often filled with people that have been ‘on the go’ all day and, fuelled up with booze, and having got all over excited in trying to get the train, suddenly find themselves in some sort of mental flux and with a bit of a dodgy gut…with the inevitable result 🙄 I suspect there are plenty of other train crew that use the same phrase across the country 🤣😂😅 I feel for the poor cleaners! 😖😜

[@rjjcms1]

@@timsully8958 Hi mate,I sympathise with them too. I've never done that in a train but to my shame I did throw up on the top deck of a double decker bus one night - I was so embarrassed. It was the insane speed with which the people I was out with were sinking their drinks,and expecting me to keep up - it caught me right out.

[@themoviedealers]

First time I've seen Underground signs with the word "subway" on them. I assume that refers to an underground pedestrian passageway?

[@thomasburke2683]

They used be all over the centre of London

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

It does indeed.

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

The reason that they didn't keep the platform - as far as I know / I believe - is because the S Stock is too long / too big to fit into it without blocking the points at the western end OR the trains foul the platform in some way. This would have meant that every time the platform was occupied, no trains could enter or depart the station in either direction on the through lines - well they could but you might end up with a lot of damaged metal work in the process. . . . . It is a shame actually - I remember well the D stock and C stock reversing there on many occasion, as well as seeing the Dot Matrix showing Tower Hill, Upminster, Barking, Mansion House all on one list of departures during one visit. It made for a nice variety of destinations when heading east and often confused tourists (still happens at the Tower) when they inadvertently ended up on a short working and then when arriving at the "terminus" had to try and work out how they had suddenly ended up effectively on the wrong side of the station (despite the best efforts of train crews announcing "if you need to go further east, please change at Blackfriars / Monument respectively so you can wait on the same platform. . . . ".).

[@seancirillo6605]

Putney bridge on the District line also has a abandoned bay platform

[@robertphillips6296]

Thank you for posting this.

[@MrGreatplum]

I *think* that when I worked in London (c. 2005-7), I remember trains terminating at Mansion House. Great video as always…

[@chrisperry7963]

Great timing, just used this station, love the extra space! Excellent access to St. Paul's as well...

[@SamBrev]

2:37 nice jibe at Latimer Road, but undoubtedly you're aware that before the Westway carved up that part of London, the actual Latimer Road did extend further south to almost exactly meet the (then, and present) site of the station

[@no_one_of_that_name_here]

0:36 that line made me spit out my tea from laughing 🤣

[@ukroadsandtransport]

You did fine Jago and we thank you for a new informative video

[@derekstuart5234]

A lot of people struggle to relate the positions on the LUL map to the real World of London. Many years back I used to go with my Dad to his work at Kings Cross station, though we lived on the WCML so arrived in London at Euston. After many occasions asking why he walked from Euston to 'Cross, he told me to "catch the bloody Underground and see." He not only arrived at 'Cross before me, but was up in his office drinking his tea before I arrived. I think his point was that the distance from the 'entrance' to where the Underground station actually is can be quite deceptive. I seem to recall being told that the distance of this walk that was actually covered by the Underground was around 1/3, with the other 2/3 being the walk to and from the platform.

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️ I've always wondered why they don't use the platforms at Mansion House Station anymore.

[@martyonline1957]

Another tale from the commuting days..... When I worked in Pancras Lane, just off Queen Street (see previous video) this was the local station. I remember services terminating and starting from Mansion House, sometimes a result when going home, sometimes not, but it did help not having to walk to Monument / Bank, Cannon Street, Blackfriars ete etc etc, we were well served. They remodelled the station in the late 80's early 90's and as you say one of the entrances was closed and at the other end towards the crossover of Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street and St Pauls Churchyard was an Oyster and Champagne bar, always full of striped suited city types of a lunchtime, not the place for working types like me. Something to aspire to though

[@peterjack1.0]

It pains me that they rebuilt Tower Hill with only 3 tracks instead of 4 - with 4 they could’ve put in place a better balance between District & Hammersmith trains in East London.

[@ianmcclavin]

They just wanted a similar layout to Mansion House at the time, with a facility to reverse trains in a central "bay." Whitechapel had two island platforms until the Crossrail/Elizabeth Line works started, the centre tracks were removed there, and reversals at Whitechapel are no longer possible. At one time, virtually all off-peak Hammersmith & City Line trains used to terminate at Whitechapel, with trains only running through to Barking in the peaks.

[@peterjack1.0]

@@ianmcclavin yeh but Whitechapel wouldn't help because thats past the merge at Aldgate... at that point might as well keep going to Barking/Upminster

[@Garethness]

Thanks

[@ricktownend9144]

Thanks for another very watchable video. The bay platform between the main running lines is actually a very sensible arrangement - I believe this used to be the arrangement at Putney Bridge, and maybe Parsons Green. On the Central line at Loughton (as per your video on that) the middle line actually had a platform each side, to enable easy transfers in either direction, and this is replicated at White City, and also Golders Green. I don't know anywhere on the main line railway that uses this arrangement; in BR days (and presumably before then on the Southern and SECR) terminating trains at Maidstone East (and also Maidstone West and Oxted) used to arrive at a side bay one side, and then shunt to a bay on the opposite side to give cross-platform interchanges in each direction. Of course the modern private companies no longer do this - doubtless because they are innovative and enterprising, if not completely passenger-friendly.

[@ricktownend9144]

At South Kensington, which used to be much grander than it is now, there is what looks suspiciously like the remains of a central single track between the two halves of the island platform which is the only bit still in use ... but no more - I don't want to spoil a future Jago video!

[@juliansadler6263]

Track layout changes on the Underground would take you all day. Farringdon? Kensington Olympia? King's Cross Thameslink (there's a disused station video for you unless you've already done one - please send the link if you have).