Stop & Examine London Transport Museum gems.
the interview with London Transport Museum Director Sam Mullins OBE in RAIL 906, we wanted to be able to focus on some of the fascinating gems in the museum collection that we just didn’t have space for last issue.
With more than 450,000 items in its collection, the LTM is home to everything from tickets, badges and uniforms, up to trains, buses and trams. Here’s just a small selection of some of our favourites.
1. Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive No. 5
John Hampden, 1922
This is one of 20 locomotives delivered to the Metropolitan Railway in 1922-23. They transported passengers between Metroland ( the name given to suburban areas in the north west of London) and the City until 1961.
Most were named after famous people associated with Metroland. No. 5 was named
John Hampden, after the famous 17th century parliamentarian from Buckinghamshire. The locomotives’ bronze nameplates were removed during the Second World War, but 15 were renamed in the 1950s.
2. Pocket Underground map by Henry C Beck, 1933
This is the first pocket edition of the diagrammatic style of Underground map designed by Henry C Beck (better known as Harry).
The main features of this diagram are the use of 45° angles and diamonds to illustrate interchange stations. All the lines are shown in their entirety except the District Line, which is only shown as far as Mile End. The rest of the stations eastbound are listed to Southend.
3. Model of Metropolitan Railway A class 4- 4- 0T steam locomotive No.23, by Francis Rummens, 1945- 63
This 1:16 scale model is of Metropolitan Railway A class 4- 4- 0T steam locomotive No.23. Hand built from brass, copper and stainless steel, on the front you can see an inscription that reads ‘Baker St’.
The full- sized steam locomotive was used on the Metropolitan and Metropolitan District railways for over 80 years. It was one of the original locomotives that pioneered the early development of London’s Underground trains.
4. Cap badge, 1952-72
‘Gold’ supervisory staff cap badge with supporting griffins with yellow enamel circle and ‘London Transport’ inscribed in blue on bar. Gold signified it was issued to senior supervisory staff. This badge has an additional laurel wreath feature within a circle, indicating it was most likely issued to a Railway Senior Station Master. It is 52mm high and 70mm wide.
5. Power - the nerve centre of London’s Underground, poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1931
This striking poster was commissioned by the Underground Electric Railway Company in 1931. The modern design, by the prolific American artist Edward McKnight Kauffer, underlines the impact that electric rail travel was having on urban life in the 1930s.
The bold image unites man and machine as the powerful driving forces behind London’s Underground with the depiction of the largest power station in the world at the time, Lots Road. As well as the technological progression of the era, this poster illustrates contemporary developments in art and design. The geometric design suggests the influence of Futurism and the prevalent Art Deco style.
6. The Londoner’s transport throughout the ages, by Richard T Cooper, 1928
This amazingly detailed poster was commissioned to mark the centenary of Shillibeer’s omnibus service.
The multi-tiered panorama shows modes of passenger transport dating from 327AD to 1927. The first tier starts with Shanks’ pony (using one’s own legs). The next present buses, trams and trolleybuses. The chronology culminates with the Underground railway.