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Post by southfieldschris on Jul 29, 2014 7:54:56 GMT
Some mentioned Wimbledon Park and East Putney previously, but I'm going to have to choose Southfields. From a station staff viewpoint the accomodation is much better, having been modernised and expanded fairly recently. Makes a big difference when you have to spend 8 hours or more there!
All my favourites have already been mentioned !
I wanted to vote for Southfields, for the obvious reason, except that all that staff accommodation means there is no waiting room on the platform at a station which can be very cold and damp in winter. So, of the two former "twin sisters", my vote has to go to Wimbledon Park.
That vast cavern leading down to the Jubilee at Westminster is wonderful.
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Post by theblackferret on Jul 29, 2014 10:43:40 GMT
Hi Chris M
I can't speak from experience about any of those you listed.
Just to add that on each of my last 4 visits to Canary Wharf, I've had at least one request from another person asking where the DLR station is.
Even more amazingly, only one of those was from a tourist, and they were Australian.
Even more astoundingly, I wouldn't consider myself as someone who walks around looking as if they know how many beans make five, but wherever I am, I get asked, so I must have some aura of certainty emanating from me! 
I should also confess the first time there, I had a heck of a job to find it, but not on subsequent visits. |
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Post by manorborn on Jul 29, 2014 10:55:36 GMT
I was rather taken with Willesden Junction which I visited for the first time a few months ago. One line passing directly underneath the platforms of another, all in the open. A sort of neo-brutalist industrial landscape, emphasing the huge impact of the railways 170 years ago.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Jul 29, 2014 10:58:13 GMT
As an ex LUL employee my favourite station has to be the one where I had to do least work LOL. That has to be Moor Park. Seriously my favourite Stns have to be Chorleywood and Chesham on the Met for the reason already stated. Then Waterloo as I if was using it it meant I was as a youngster on the way to somewhere by the sea Probably Isle of Wight or Weymouth. The same reasons make Waterloo my favourite London Terminus. Favourite BR stn outside London has to be Berney Arms as it's in my favourite county and so remote.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 11:38:11 GMT
Mine must be Notting Hill Gate. I started and finished my LUL career there (with several stations, a few offices, a spell at RTC & four lines along the way). From a staff perspective the smaller stations or even less busy Central stations like Chancery Lane & St Pauls had a good crowd. Stations on the old East London line were interesting to work, but were a bit too quiet for my liking. I preferred the hustle and bustle of a busy station. Tottenham Court Road was like a continuing episode of Hill Street Blues. Whichever way you turned - something off beat was going on!
Worst was probably Baker Street & Oxford Circus. Both were a bit clicky, you either fitted in or you didn't! And I didnt.
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Post by PiccNT on Jul 29, 2014 14:24:24 GMT
Already been mentioned but mine has to be Mill Hill East. Used to spend half of my life there in my teenage years waiting for my Mum to arrive there from work. Spent many a happy hour chatting to the Station Foreman (Lloyd Michael) and even used to help out in the ticket office when it was upstairs on the platform for a while. Getting to know the train crews (mainly from East Finchley) got me a decent amount of cab rides! I used to enjoy telling the crews that the stick was off (NQ7 no more)and they eventually shuffled off not always before the automatic telephone started to ring!
Least favourite were on the old Northern City Line such as Essex Road and Old Street. Damp, dreary and a bit eerie. However, is it Platform 9 at Moorgate where they had the signal operator? Used to enjoy pulling the odd lever in there too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 14:40:44 GMT
Always happy to have doubles, people will have their own reasons and their own memories and a +1 is always nice anyway if you're trying to formulate any kind of wish list |
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Post by wimblephil on Jul 29, 2014 15:59:02 GMT
Well, you've certainly inspired me to want to go out and check out some stations at the weekend!!
Now, where to visit. Plenty of suggestions above...! Hmmmm
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 16:45:37 GMT
My mate ran all the underground lines and DLR last year (in 20 runs in that winter) and he swears by Barons Court and any station with a public toilet. Must go to Barons Court one day instead of just passing through to see if he is right.
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gantshill
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Post by gantshill on Jul 29, 2014 17:25:37 GMT
My favourite is not Gants Hill - I grew up there and used it regularly so it just seems normal to me. (Sorry)
I think my favourite is West Kensington - it has an old fashioned air about it and has flower beds and a set of points leading off away from the through tracks.
Gloucester Road (GN&PB platforms) also have a nice atmosphere too.
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pitdiver
No longer gainfully employed
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Post by pitdiver on Jul 29, 2014 20:31:25 GMT
Mine must be Notting Hill Gate. I started and finished my LUL career there (with several stations, a few offices, a spell at RTC & four lines along the way). From a staff perspective the smaller stations or even less busy Central stations like Chancery Lane & St Pauls had a good crowd. Stations on the old East London line were interesting to work, but were a bit too quiet for my liking. I preferred the hustle and bustle of a busy station. Tottenham Court Road was like a continuing episode of Hill Street Blues. Whichever way you turned - something off beat was going on! Worst was probably Baker Street & Oxford Circus. Both were a bit clicky, you either fitted in or you didn't! And I didnt. I must agree. You were either a part of the clique or you weren't. I found that at Moorgate. I worked there just after qualifying as a BC2. I also agree with the statement about TCR there was always something going on, as an SS2 I didn't normally work at TCR was rostered at Goodge St. However one Sunday I stepped up and worked there. What an experience. I was glad to get back to Goodge St the following day. |
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Post by superteacher on Jul 29, 2014 21:29:00 GMT
I don't really have a favourite station as such. I think that the sheer diversity of the system means that are so many things to like in so many levels. I agree with so much of what has already been said. My least favourite station has to be Moorgate though; it's so hard to be there and not think of the 1975 accident. I also agree with the person who mentioned Essex Road. It does have an eerie feel which must have been a lot worse in the days of tungsten lighting.
Even in the 80's, the Underground was a far more dingy place than nowadays. And that was with flourescent lighting.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2014 19:41:05 GMT
Sorry for the bump.
Some of my favourite stations include the following:
East Finchley - One of the very first stations I remember from my childhood. For a few years this was our local station when we were living in the area. I remember always looking out the window for the iconic Archer statue and station architecture.
Maida Vale - Love the entrance building and mosaics
Notting Hill Gate - Love the large roof over the District & Circle line platforms.
Chalk Farm - Leslie Green's classic architecture, also have memories of going to Marine Ices as a child.
Southgate - Love the elegant escalators and wide open feel of the entrance.
Piccadilly Circus - Bakerloo line platforms and circular concourse.
Clapham North - Love the look of the island platforms, yet ironically I always feel very uncomfortable during rush hour due to the lack of platform space.
Clapham Common - As above, also like the pavilion entrance.
Kilburn Park - Love the entrance building <3, and glass dome too.
Queen's Park Station - Very special as I love passing through the carriage shed, also like the platform roof too. However hate the station entrance.
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Post by Indefatigable on Nov 2, 2014 20:15:02 GMT
Indeed, very occasionally 95 stock comes in to Platform 3 mysteriously bearing the destination of Moorgate! ;-) Do you go on them? My favourite stations have to be Waterloo - It has a depot UNDERGROUND what is there not to like? South Kensington - Staff there are great in an emergency such as one I had back in Feb this year Earls Court - Like stepping back into time with all that metal work Heathrow Terminal 5 - like the inside of a spaceship Embankment - stand on the Circle and District Platforms and you hear the amusing noise of water running underneath! Aldwych - just because its so awesome |
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Post by londonstuff on Nov 2, 2014 20:20:37 GMT
Sorry for the bump. Chalk Farm - Leslie Green's classic architecture, also have memories of going to Marine Ices as a child. <totally off-topic> I was passing Chalk Farm the other day having waked from St John's Wood and Primrose Hill and Marine Ices have moved! Apparently just down the road but I didn't see it. As much an institution as Nardini's in Largs. </on topic> |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2014 20:22:29 GMT
Sorry for the bump. Chalk Farm - Leslie Green's classic architecture, also have memories of going to Marine Ices as a child. <totally off-topic> I was passing Chalk Farm the other day having waked from St John's Wood and Primrose Hill and Marine Ices have moved! Apparently just down the road but I didn't see it. As much an institution as Nardini's in Largs. </on topic> Oh had no idea. They made absolutely lovely ice cream and sorbets. |
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Post by brigham on Nov 3, 2014 13:13:30 GMT
...Or Cookes Pie and Mash shop; the only reason to alight at Goldhawk Road!
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Post by Indefatigable on Nov 3, 2014 13:50:40 GMT
What about High Street Kensington? Go out of the station and cross the road - right into McDonalds... handy if you're cold and waiting for an Olympia train
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