West Kensington: Go Peacefully Amidst the Noise

West Kensington is a station I’ve passed through countless times, but I’ve never really looked into. Time to change that.
For more on Hammersmith: • Too Many Hammersmiths
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/ jagohazzard

[@turbo.panther]

'... nothing more than curiosity.' Sounds like a perfectly good reason to me.

[@roberthill6216]

I will second that!👍

[@ionlopez5141]

The block of flats at 2:07 is where Renton lives in the film Trainspotting.

[@steved2008]

I tell people that ever time I drive past it 👍

[@DarrenBates]

Oh yes it's a beautifully converted Victorian townhoose. Ideally located on a quiet road next to the local shops and transport. Em, this one's two bedrooms and a kitchen-diner. Fully fitted in *excellent* decorative order. Lots of storage space, em, all mod cons and it's going at 320 poonds a week!

[@jayman7752]

Where they did the skag deal at the end of the film was Earls Court?

[@jayman7752]

@@DarrenBates I bet hearing that a flat was £320 a week would have shocked people in the 1990’s when this came out.

[@DarrenBates]

@@jayman7752 shocks me now!

[@rommee]

woah! Don't forget one of the most important things about West Kensington is that it's the nearest station to the TFL Training and Assessment Centre which is located just behind it and also is home to a faux tube station (West Ashfield Station) complete with a platform, tube train and tunnel inside its very modest looking office building on the 3rd floor. Reference: Ashfield House/ West Ashfield Station. Great video as always 🤩👍

[@kristofvanderauwera5739]

Ashfield House also has a direct access to the station, bypassing the gates. I always thought that the first test of any candidate for TFL being assessed was to be able to find the right Kensington station and make their way to Ashfield House in time. Ashfield House also had (when I was training there) a very intricate model railway system complete with full sized signaling equipment, opposite the simulated station.

[@ssbohio]

@@kristofvanderauwera5739 Wouldn't the direct access mean that staff journeys to Ashfield House don't get counted among the passenger figures? Maybe the station isn't as little-used as everyone thinks.

[@ssbohio]

@@kristofvanderauwera5739 Wouldn't the direct access mean that staff journeys to Ashfield House don't get counted among the passenger figures? Maybe the station isn't as little-used as everyone thinks.

[@elscrimmo]

In the buff coloured building on the right at 3:31 if I'm not mistaken. Did a software demonstration (Shoebox - diary and expenses) in there about 35 years ago.

[@leeellis2960]

Glad you mentioned this. Once a week, from my office window, I used to watch the new recruits being instructed in how to walk over the tracks. I was always nervous for them.

[@truckerallikatuk]

You got a low priority like. Perfect for a Sunday morning.

[@davidconnor2458]

One weird aspect of West Kensington’s history you didn’t mention was the fact it was also sporadically served by the Piccadilly Line! Until about 1990, there was an early morning and a late night Piccadilly Line train that ran in service to/from West Kensington (from the Barons Court direction). I’m not entirely sure why. I know that when the Piccadilly Line opened in 1906, it took over Lillie Bridge Depot from the District Railway, so (until the line was extended in the early 1930s) its trains would have regularly run through West Kensington station to get to/from the depot. My best guess is that these depot journeys ran in service - and that even after the Piccadilly Line vacated Lillie Bridge Depot in the early 1930s, a remnant of those journeys continued for over half a century.

[@JagoHazzard]

I confess that I didn’t know about that, but thanks for the info! Will have to mention it if I revisit...

[@richardpotter712]

@@JagoHazzard You've been griced!

[@paulrobinson419]

The Piccadilly trains that ran to West Ken were late night and early morning Passenger/staff trains from Heathrow/RaynersLane via the local lines from Acton Town all stations. The trains ran to West Ken because the last Districts had already gone. When the district timetables were improved, the Picc. service stopped to West kensington

[@martinheath5947]

3:45 The pub and kitchen building to the left of the station entrance used to be legendary music venue The Nashville, Lemmy's local for a number of years in the late 70s where he could regularly be spotted playing the fruit machines. Many great bands including Nine Below Zero and Dire Straits used to play there and, in its day, it was a thriving social hub.

[@luxford60]

I've often wondered where The Nashville was. I mostly know of it from it's role as an early punk venue, but it had first become established as part of the pub rock scene of course. I'm far too young to have ever gone there.

[@andyoncam1]

Visits to the Nashville in the 70's were the only reason I ever used W Ken.

[@martinheath5947]

@@andyoncam1 I used to get off at this tube stop regularly to rehearse in the Avonmore Estate a bit up the road. The Nashville was a regular stop off on the way home :) Sadly missed and so many other great venues gone now

[@andyoncam1]

@@martinheath5947 I agree with you about vanishing venues but in more recent years I have used WK to get to Nells, a not unpleasant venue just a short walk up North End Road. Seen Van Morrison, Andy Fairweather Low twice, The Strawbs and others there.

[@martinheath5947]

@@andyoncam1 If it's still there, I hope it survived this shutdown craziness and reopens 2021 so I can check it out!

[@brianparker663]

These videos about lesser-known stations are fab, especially in areas that I rarely get over to. Please do more - and come to my local stop, West Harrow, to see a station which, while utterly trivial, has certain features that make it highly unusual and charming.

[@davidpanton3192]

"There's not a lot to say about it". I think you did pretty well.

[@jimtuite3451]

On the other side of north end road, opposite the station entrance, is a little underground oddity the video missed. An old UNDERGROUND ILLUMINATED bullseye used to sit on the railway bridge, but it disapeared a few years ago and just an iron stub is left behind

[@jaydenoliver4678]

I live around the corner from this station and I walk past this all the time and I've been wondering what it is. Thank you for answering a question I probably never would have bothered to look into haha

[@gwyneddboom2579]

Once again I seem to be one of the first nerds here!

[@pulaski1]

I'd be here sooner, but Jago uploads his videos in the middle of the night where I am.

[@michaelwest4325]

My last stay in London in 2019 we rented a flat across and up the street and this was my daily tube station. Hopefully next year another trip across the pond. Cheers!

[@Genevasplaytime]

Bet that was expensive! Next time check out Kew gardens an amazing day out and a great station!

[@E2MC2]

As I cannot visit, I love these videos. I miss London so much. So many memories. Cheers!

[@steved2008]

“Low priority episode” 😂😂😂😂

[@j2simpso]

It may be low priority but still had right of way in my watch list 🤣

[@asheland_numismatics]

I continuously enjoy these videos! 👍🐰

[@alzeNL]

[@rodnoakes5182]

Great vid. Used to commute from West Ken to Blackfriars in 1970-71. It looks like it hasn’t changed! Thank you for doing this.

[@sewing9434]

Oh, another new video by Jago! He's talking about West Kensington, and its claim to fame is... ...*** The Underground had steam locomotives into the 1970s!? ***... Some of us are old enough to remember the '70s..."Sic transit gloria mundi" indeed :)

[@mark314158]

I used the Underground extensively in the '70s. I have never seen a steam train.

[@sewing9434]

@@mark314158 It must have been a rare site to have seen one.... According to Wikipedia, "London Underground retained three steam locomotives until 1971, which were used to convey steel tyres and other heavy materials between Lillie Bridge and Acton Works until February 1971." ( Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillie_Bridge_Depot )

[@bryan3550]

Oh there's nothing quite like nameless joy, is there..? Well Done, that man! 😉

[@dikleatherdale8947]

As somebody said, there was a trackbed behind the westbound platform leading off from a junction to the west of the station. This curved round to the south (behind the present Ashfield House and led to a coalyard operated by (I think) the Midland Railway right next to lillie Bridge Depot. Obviously the coalyard is long gone but if you look on Google Earth the curve is very obvious. The sharp-eyed can also pick our Aisgill Avenue, Stanier Close and Ivatt Place on the site - names with which to conjure, certainly.

[@WalkWithMeRich]

I hate them usage figures. They unfortunately don’t include at least 30% of users. The LUL staff entrance/exit is the opposite end to the publics and doesn’t have an Oyster card reader. Ashfield house is where all of LU’s training takes place and is a very busy building. And... what about west Ashfield 😄

[@rommee]

I said exactly the same thing as you. 'West Ashfield Station' on the 3rd floor of Ashfield House 🤩👍

[@Themclachlans]

I remember occasionally seeing a Pannier Tank at Rickmansworth Station, I think in connection with some non-electrified sidings at Croxley Moor (for ballast?). West Kensington Station reminds me of Croxley, covered stairs down to the platforms and generally quiet and old fashioned. (Metroland born and bred)

[@johnmurray8428]

I remember about 1971 on a Sunday (sorry I cannot be more precise) LT as it was then ran the last Pannier tank with a bunch of breakdown trucks and an LT brake van in a sort of ceremonial good bye to steam. I saw it in as it pass going through Farringdon enroute to Kings Cross, I believe that the Pannier went to a GWR preservation group after that event. In LT service they were painted what I would describe as dirty red and London Transport inscribed on either side of the tank. Presumably so it could not be stolen.

[@richardmcgowan6383]

@@johnmurray8428 It seems it was 6th June, 1971. I believe there's a pannier tank preserved in LT livery on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh - maybe that's the one you saw. There's a film of that last train on KZbin. I posted the link higher up the page in case anyone's interested. Who knows, you might be in it!

[@johnmurray8428]

@@richardmcgowan6383 Thank you, I will have a look. Long long and the Atlantic Ocean in between.

[@Themclachlans]

I think the Pannier featured in at least one of the Steam on the Met days that my mum attended at Ricky Station, I only ever saw it from a distance.

[@jeremytravis360]

I used to live in West Kensington before I moved to Earls Court. It was nice to see the house where I had a bed sit before I moved.

[@jordanweir7187]

I love the idea of the piccadilly line just seeing west kensington and going LOLNOPE

[@yosolo5797]

Travelled to West Kensington a fair bit prior to the pandemic to watch football matches over a pint at the famous three kings....definitely one of my favourite underground stations

[@darranfaulkner3011]

The tall building next to the station is called Ashfield House and is a London Underground building.

[@ianmoseley9910]

A group called "The First Class" had a song with a line "All the best cowboys come out of West Kensington, sing of Wyoming where they've never been"

[@peter9180]

It looks a classic station with cast iron pillars supporting a wooden canopy with trim. Long may it stay unchanged, loved and looked after.

[@4KExplorer]

Imagine if they'd taken that gentrification-by-association naming scheme further. Shepherd's Bush would be West Notting Hill. Wales would be West England etc...

[@highpath4776]

At one time Notting Hill was regarded as a down at heel place ,

[@2H80vids]

That would make England ~ South Scotland then.

[@Genevasplaytime]

@@2H80vids Edinburgh is england as they say and thus gets the most tourism in scotland.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Nice to know that even 150 years ago people were optimistically renaming areas after a much nicer place that's not actually that close by 😁

[@chrisamies2141]

The Brook Green area - West Kensington Park. Not a park, and not in Kensington.

[@Leonard_Smith]

Here's to the nameless joy that you are being filled with...

[@JamesAFCWFC]

The pub next door used to show 3pm Premier League games, packed every Saturday, great times

[@joncurtis199]

Must have been breaking some covid guidelines to do that...

[@joncurtis199]

But yes, Famous Three Kings is a favourite of mine. If pricey, even by London standards. With Covid I never had chance to visit in 2020, hopefully this year though!

[@colourandsound]

My station! So happy you did a video about it. I usually wait for my train at the far end of the westbound platform looking back at it and wondering about its history. Thank you!

[@frglee]

My nearest station in the 80s when I lived around here. It wasn't a bad area to live if you didn't mind the traffic on the Cromwell Road. You could still buy a flat in the nicer part of West Ken for £35K in those days. The station was never all that busy out of rush hours.

[@highpath4776]

Wish I had looked more in 1986 for places now.

[@iankr]

Thank you. Have fond memories of working in and around West Ken in the 80s.

[@vincentkohlumcfan22]

wow when Hazzard mentions step-free aww im honoured to hear that

[@SimonRML2456]

Another really good video, shame that the historic train shed at Lillie Bridge Road is to be demolished..

[@HHM706]

I have fond memories of West Kensington station. I worked at the then West London county court in North End Road in 1988. Met my ex wife at the Court. I also remember sharing the platform one day with the biggest rat I have ever seen! Happy Days!!! 🤣

[@mrnoah53]

Lovely video. Always good to know more.

[@mrRsil1]

Thank you for the accompanying to my morning tier 4 coffe !

[@misterthegeoff9767]

Is a tier 4 coffee one where you're only allowed a maximum of 2 in any one place? I made coffee part of my support bubble to get around this.

[@Andrea-sg7qp]

My old neighbourhood! I preferred to use Barons Court station when I could but West Ken was more convenient if I needed to go to the shops on the way back from somewhere. I'm shocked at how little the area around the station has changed in the 13 years since I've been there, I'm delighted to see the Chicken Cottage where I often ended up after the pub is still there. Thank you for this lovely bit of nostalgia.

[@freddyaraujo3094]

I really love your videos. Thanks

[@stevenflebbe]

Ahhhhh... My first coffee of the morning and Tales From the Tube. It makes me not even mind the snow falling gently outside.

[@shauntodd7123]

All your episodes are High Priority for me Jago.

[@hammerfan752]

I stayed at an airbnb nearby during my last trip to london, it was a very peaceful area, but almost every time we walked to Barons Court for the piccadilly rather than going to west ken accross the street

[@TheMichaelTaskerChannel]

The few times this station is packed is when King’s College London students swarm to get to Olympia to sit exams! Seeing as the District never really runs to Kensington Olympia itself it’s madness for those few days!

[@billthomas8205]

The lobby of the pub to the station's left!!!!! What amazing curves!!

[@CharlieFlemingOriginal]

West Ken station is a lovely station. Like you say it is very quite despite the noise above.

[@Ibis117]

So that's where it is! Been through it dozens of times, and ridden past (on the A4) hundreds of times. Never knew where it was. Thank you.

[@MrGreatplum]

Another station, I’ve never visited but it certainly has its charm - I love covered footbridges like the one the station has.

[@richardberechula2942]

Brilliant! Simple but effective - AND addictive. An essay so short, yet perfectly conveying the very essence of the message, reflects a mastery of production with this media and leaves the viewer waiting for their next daily "fix."

[@Settledinyorks]

Another cracking video. I used to live in Hammersmith and am loving reliving memories.

[@adamhenley8295]

I used to live near Earls Court in the 80s - not surprised by the commuter numbers now or then

[@unpoppablebubble]

You know, every video we get closer to Jago starting a video in Southall telling us about the steam trains there 😅

[@unpoppablebubble]

Another great video anyhow, pretty cool to have some fun facts in the most unlikely places, thanks again Jago!

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video jago, very interesting, steam trains running right up until the 1970s, amazing 😃👌👍

[@bobwallace2629]

West Ken holds a bit of nostalgia for me - King's College London's holds their exams in the Olympia building near the station. Distinctly remember taking the tube to west ken at 7 in the morning on a train packed with other students all stressed about their exams. Good times :)

[@hamzahalasadulloh7779]

I’ve been in and out of this station a few times and yes, it’s quite charming!

[@SportyMabamba]

West Ken is super convenient for attending staff training in Lilliebridge depot behind the station ;)

[@FF-so3su]

Excellent narration🙂👍

[@thegreybeard3441]

Ahhh good old Ashfield. Lost count of the times there for training and courses. Few years ago there was talk of selling the building to a hotel chain. That may of led to a refurb for West Ken. Quaint station though

[@whyyoulidl]

Thx Jago, another one for me to explore, albeit virtually on google maps :-)

[@michaelwilson6584]

Nicely quaint - like me. I liked that last bit with the train clattering over the rails. As an exiled North Londoner my earliest memories of the tube was listening in the park to the Standard, mixed* and then 1938 stock rushing downhill after East Finchley station to enter the tunnel to Morden. If I was lucky, I’d get another train exiting the Highgate depot and in the distant memory haze, even a steam hauled freight train heading to the dairy. *by that time (late 1950’s/early ‘60’s) except for the odd full rake of Standard stock, most Northern Line stock was 1938 with one Standard trailer car with six ‘modern’ cars. I used to annoy Gran by insisting we went in the Standard car on our trips “Up West”. Ho Hum.

[@trainsonthebrain]

Another nice little ‘jam’ on the District Line. Would love to have seen the steam trains still going in the early 70’s - can imagine a lot of enthusiasts coming out to catch glimpses of them once they left the main network. Really enjoyable watch 😃

[@iangoldsworthy5307]

The brown tall building seen from the Station is London Underground Training Centre. There is a mock full size station, train carriage, model railway, etc etc. Ashfield House. Station called West Ashfield. Look up West Ashfield Station on you tube. Would be worth you doing a video about this. I used to work there.

[@steves5172]

How to make the mundane interesting? Ask Jago of course! Another good ‘ un young fella!

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@boohaka]

Very interesting as always. I worked about 100 yards from there in the mid 80’s and passed the station every day on my way to school. Only ever passed through it if I happened to be on the district line rarely, as the Piccadilly was usually quicker. It’s an odd station for sure. Always wondered why it was called West Kensington as it really didn’t live up to the Kensington name. Now I know....thank you!

[@kinkisharyocoasters]

I find West Ken interesting because when I first saw it on the map I had already seen the map before but not noticed the station because it the station name was squished in a corner. Also it's weird how you don't see it from the Piccadilly line. It also kinda has the feeling of a suburban station despite being close to zone 1. As you said with Lambeth North, this could also be an "in between" station. West Acton, Bermondsey, Plimico, and Hatton Cross could also be examples

[@dannyboy12244]

My future wife was living in west ken when I first met her, so will always have fond memories for me!

[@chrisdowling8094]

Used to use West Ken. regularly in the early eighties because my friends' band used a rehearsal studio just around the corner most weeks. Memories of taking LSD and return journeys to Ealing Broadway on the tube. What a trip that was!

[@nigelsimeone9966]

I love West Ken station precisely because it feels so quiet, even on a busy weekday (when such things were a thing). Thanks for this video - 'low priority' maybe, but full of interesting things. Incidentally, across Cromwell Road from the station is a fascinating part of West London - the main part of Avonmore Road is very attractive (Elgar lived there for a time, and has a blue plaque), and there is a rather charming pathway (pedestrians only) that gets you back from there to Cromwell Rd without having to deal with any traffic.

[@logwhitley]

I use to live near the West Kensington station. It was always such a nightmare the platform thronged with tourists coming to see the station.

[@valvlog4665]

(tourists coming to see the station.) So they got off and asked, "where are the museums?"

[@luxford60]

Only ever having passed through, I hadn't noticed before, but it bears a surprising physical resemblance to Leyton Station, including the Charkes Holden frontage on a much older station building, the wooden staircases and the platform canopy fringe.

[@neilbain8736]

3:43 Pub and Kitchen. There is a pub in Berwick on Tweed on the high street with exactly the same funnelled glass frontage and doorway. Nice rhythm at the end.

[@peterdavy6110]

If I have learnt one thing from your videos, it is that the District Railway was broke.

[@blondon1050]

In addition to Lille Bridge, it also connects to Ashfield House (named after Lord Ashfield) that is still one of the main training centres for LU staff but as you mentioned it will be redeveloped by 2024. Great video as always.

[@FloralGardener]

I can remember the steam trains passing through Ravenscourt Park station, this would have been early 1950s to late 1960s. I always wondered why they were there and where they were going. Now I know :)

[@kierenlucas3337]

Loving these videos, watching all the way from Australia

[@GTM_]

your videos are so therapeutic.

[@LosWielebniakos]

you saved my morning hours in the office ;)

[@chazzyb8660]

West Kensington? As a kid I suppose I used mainly South Kensington, Earl's Court and Fulham Broadway, depending on which direction we were heading off in. I guess West Kensington was a little too close to need, a little too far to walk to. I may have used it as an alternative to Olympia, when that line wasn't running, but really, why bother? Though we used to do North End Road market quite a lot, don't ever remember needing the tube to get home. Thanks Jago for making me think about it.

[@joncrawford3485]

Got something you could make a Tube video out of, Jago. Explain the following: "Same thing day after day- tube - work - dinner - work - tube - armchair - TV - sleep - tube - work - how much more can you take? - one in ten go mad, one in five cracks up."

[@stevebrizzle]

My new favourite channel 😊

[@umm_rm]

Thank you for saving my sanity this morning!!

[@Andrewjg_89]

Goes to show how London went from a hamlet to now the Capital City of the UK. And London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, National Rail, Elizabeth Line, Buses and PAYG Santander Cycle is transport that London relies on. I really do like your videos of London transport and the history of London.

[@chrisamies2141]

I lived nearby for 20+ years, and the main reason for not using West Ken is that Barons Court isn't far away and Barons Court also has the Piccadilly Line. West Ken being 'just' the District is going to be less useful by comparison.

[@57bananaman]

West Kensington Station seems to be the West London equivalent of Bow Road Station, on the East London end of The District Line .... it has the same architecture and old-fashioned feel, it's not really "anywhere", but it is handy for a couple of decent Pubs.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

Didn't know there was a 'West' Kensington. I only knew of the 'Olympia' bit.

[@mischaprice]

Wait there were steam trains on the district line into the 1970s? Now that’s a tale I’d love to hear

[@highpath4776]

Ballast ones - one chap ex neasden depot has written on the internet of his experiences with them, he was glad to see the back of them.

[@rayfisher3921]

@@highpath4776 Had an overnight cab ride on a pannier Lillie Br - Neasden and back in 1970. Great memory!

[@DavidShepheard]

I've been to West Kensington once. I wasn't trying to go to West Kensington. I took a Wimbledon train from Earl's Court and realised I wasn't at West Brompton so I got off and walked over the bridge to the Eastbound platform and got the next train back to Earl's Court. I did have a quick look around, while I was there. I did not go outside. And I think the outside of the station is dire. How could Charles Holden and Frank Pick give the people of West Kensington something that looks so bland?

[@matthewgartell6380]

Jago. Please do some content on the Elizabeth line. Cross rail is beautiful and fascinating

[@PtolemyJones]

Four minutes! A new personal best, and already 17 likes!

[@stephenpegum9776]

One of the many Tube stations that I've passed through on countless occasions but never had any reason to alight there. Cheers for yet another interesting video - oh & happy New Year Jago.

[@GeorgeChoy]

thank you for another informative and enjoyable video

[@danwoodhouse9290]

and the odd Piccadilly Line train goes to West Ken - in times of very bed service disruption of course

[@MattDavis_BeechingsGhosts]

Behind the advertising spaces at 1:56 is the area where the lifts were to be installed, cancelled by London Mayor Boris Johnson. West Kensington has four entrances/exits!

[@seanchitson8287]

Used it a lot when I saw group's at the Nashville next door.

[@crayzmarc]

2:07 pretty similar to the shot of it in Trainspotting and perhaps a subtle hint in the dialogue for the intiated? As that film was shot at the end of the 20th century when the area was shabby. And sick boy and begby apparently stay here when renton puts them in a flat supposedly in the top right. Last time I checked it was on the market to rent rencently. Imagine getting the tour and those two jumping out of a cupboard!

[@imranzazai7404]

Wow very nice.

[@amethyst7084]

I love West Kensington Station! ❤🚉

[@Tobytrainspotting13]

In terms of the usage - it would be more for LUL workers as there is a direct link to TfL's Ashfield House which is one of the LUL training centers

[@rommee]

Agreed. And also access for staff to 'West Ashfield Station' on the 3rd floor of Ashfield House (hee-hee) 😄

[@sirrliv]

Looking forward to the continuation of this series until you've visited and told stories of all 270-odd stations on the Tube network. Also, a story about steam on the Underground, both the history and the more recent anniversary special, would be fun.

[@Aengus42]

... and the technical details of running steam in tight tunnels please!

[@highpath4776]

@@Aengus42 Only the cut and cover had steam, the Tube network used that new fangled electric stuff.

[@highpath4776]

I suppose a visit to the Cathedral that was Lots Road should be in your capacity to make a video, if not done so Jago should rectify the situation

[@Aengus42]

@@highpath4776 Looks like they had the exhaust steam going into the pannier tanks. They'd've been full of cold water to condense the steam just like condensing steam engines started out doing when they started out pumping water out of mines in Cornwall. Or condensing tumble dryers today. I'm sure condensing engines, a Coke hat & a steely gaze would've been fine underground proper!

[@sirrliv]

@@Aengus42 That certainly helped, and kept the smoke down when they were running through tunnels, but you wouldn't want to do that for too long as it also kills the drafting, meaning not as much air can get through the firebox so the coal doesn't burn as efficiently and doesn't give as much heat. By and large though, High Path is right; large stretches of the old cut-and-cover sections of the Underground network, including those that used steam, are open air trenches rather than proper tunnels. Apart from the necessary ventilation, it was also a lot cheaper to not build tunnels where you didn't have to, so much of the network was run between houses and buildings out of the way; if you've been around this channel awhile you'll surely have noticed the number of locations Jago's visited that are on the Underground lines, but not actually underground. That's why: cheaper, and better ventilation for the steam engines. By the time deep level tubes started to come about in the 1890's electric locomotives took over, able to run in the deep tubes since they made no smoke (all going well, of course; it wouldn't surprise me if Jago did a special on the Paris Metro Fire of 1903 to show when these early systems went catastrophically wrong). Steam was retained on sections where it was in the open air, like the outer suburban lines past Rickmanswork, and at points where they only needed to be underground for a short time, like the GWR meat trains to Smithfield Market, but never on the deep level lines; the deep tubes were too small in any case, you couldn't fit any but a specially built steamer in there, and no one ever did. All that being said, even on the underground parts of the old lines, the smoke problem was well understood and all precautions for ventilation possible were taken. As an example of this, in the lead-up to the LU150 celebration and the running of a vintage steam-hauled train on the Metropolitan Line for the first time since the 70's, LT brought in a preserved Beattie Well Tank, similar to the old Met steamers, and parked it at Baker Street for a few hours, even running it back and forth a couple times, to see how serious the concern about smoke filling the stations would be. The conclusion was "Nah, it's fine" with much of the Victorian ventilation still intact augmented with modern additions meaning smoke levels never reached anywhere close to threatening. Thus the celebration was allowed to proceed with Metropolitan No.1 and electric Sarah Siddons top and tailing a rake of vintage wooden met stock borrowed from the Bluebell Railway and restored by the Ffestiniog Railway's Boston Lodge Works especially for the event.