London Underground - Bakerloo Extension - new for you, November 20 1939 - map folder 2

            When the Second World War broke out in September 1939 London Transport was well underway with its biggest capital investment plan; the 1935 - 40 New Works Plan that was instituted by the newly formed London Passenger Transport Board, better known as LT. The NWP involved huge works such as the replacement of the entire tram system by trolleybuses as well as major works on three tube lines, along with many other schemes such as station reconstructions. The tube extensions were those for the Northern line, the Central line both east and west and the Bakerloo line work to eliminate the Metropolitan's "pinch point" between Baker Street and Finchley Road stations.

The latter scheme was designed to relieve the congestion caused by the two track sub-surface tunnels north of Baker St that it proved impossible to widen, that had stations at which stopping services had a 'knock on' effect on "fast" trains and that was struggling to manage with the huge uplift in traffic caused by the various extensions of the Met over the years and that included the 1932 Stanmore branch. The "Met Raiway" had long had aspirations, usually around a deep tube tunnelled solution of sorts, but after 1933, with LT in charge, the decision was made to construct a tunnel along with new platforms at Baker St to allow for a second northern branch of the Bakerloo  line and two new stations, at St John's Wood and Swiss Cottage to replace the sub-surface stations or the same name.

The work was also allied to a vast programme of works on the "Met main line" north of Finchley Road that over time and years would see quadrupling, reordering of 'fast and slow" lines and eventual electrification beyond Rickmansworth. That work, as it happened, was destined to take until the early 1960s to complete. However, by mid-1939 the main works to allow the Bakerloo to extend and to take over the Met's Stanmore branch was in place and, despite the war, these works opened on 20 November 1939. This is a double sided map folder introduced to sell the changes and new travel opportunities.

It is of interest for various reasons. The use of the 'brush stroke' lettering on the cover (and matching posters) is unusual, even on the roundel bar that was often sacrosanct in terms of Johnston lettering. The points to remember are also fascinating as they show the impact of war. The information for 'air raid shelters' and also the "re-opening of stations" paragraph. In mid-1939 a programme of works to strengthen the central area of the tube lines from possible flooding  if the sub-Thames tunnels were breached by bombing, was put in place. Such cross-river services and stations were suspended whilst work to fit flood gates and detectors went ahead. This list shows the intended dates to reintroduce services.

The maps show fares details (including cheap day returns to the outer reaches of the Met that woudl in time be handed over to the LNER/BR as well as Southend on Sea!) and bus connections with tune trains. These were of great importance to the commuting traffic LT wanted and included through ticketing. The maps also show some other railways of interest such as the soon to be lost "Middle Circle" line via Addison Road station.

The final note of interest is in the "stations to be closed" note. There's Swiss Cottage but - there's Lords station. After years of campaigning by cricket authorities and fans St John's Wood (Met) station was re-named Lords on 11 June 1939 only to close on 19 November 1939! The new Bakerloo station was named St John's Wood and remains so to this day. It is, I think, the shortest lived station name in existance on the Underground.

Taken on: November 22, 2020

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20 November 1939

Stanmore

Mike Ashworth Collection « less

Sets appears in: • London books and maps • London Transport

Groups appears in: • Public Transportation • Vintage Advertising more » • Lost London • That Old Timey Feeling • Transport Timetables Leaflet and Ticket SCANS. • Public Transport Around the World • Vintage Typography • London Maps • LNER • London Midland and Scottish Railway • * L O N D O N - T R A N S P O R T * • Transport Map Covers from around the world • Vintage Infographics • London Books & Their Illustrations • Old London • Classic Transport • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY • Vintage Logos • Vintage Railway Publicity, pre-1980 • Travellers' Tails • PLANET EARTH VINTAGE ADVERTISING « less

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