#OnThisDay 69 years ago the fascinating Liverpool Overhead Railway closed. The LOR was the world's first electric elevated railway, the first to use automatic signalling and to use EMUs. Clip from this great video on Ruairidh MacVeigh's YouTube: buff.ly/S8UfaDk

#OnThisDay 9 years ago, the Bermondsey Dive-under was commissioned, helping to untangle train movements on the approach to London Bridge enabling higher Thameslink frequencies. Image from this post: buff.ly/4iQIj2v

#OnThisDay 50 years ago, the huge goods depot adjacent to Paddington station closed. The depot occupied the site of the original 1838 GWR terminus (the current one opened in 1854) and was rebuilt in 1927. Image sources: buff.ly/3BFmcLO buff.ly/3ZSvwE0

#OnThisDay 146 years ago one of the most notorious disasters in British railway history occurred when the Tay Bridge partially collapsed in a storm just 18 months after opening, sending a North British Railway train into the Firth of Tay with the loss of at least 59 lives

#OnThisDay 34 years ago British Rail services to Altrincham via Sale ceased prior to conversion of the route to Metrolink. A Class 304 is seen at Altrincham on the last day (Christmas Eve), the closure date was the 27th due to no service 25th/26th. Nigel buff.ly/M4eXeRt

#OnThisDay 12 years ago, a brief and unusual service commenced. Due to District Line engineering works, the Piccadilly Line served Ealing Broadway for five days, plus Ravenscourt Park, Stamford Brook, Turnham Green and Chiswick Park stations. Jason Cross buff.ly/4iNkR67

#OnThisDay 46 years ago, Tube services operated on Christmas day for the last time. It was a very limited service and as can be seen on this 1979 poster, it was free. It wasn't known at the time this would be the final Christmas, that decision was made during 1980. LT Museum Collection

#OnThisDay 187 years ago the London & Greenwich Railway extended from Deptford to a temporary Greenwich station, this handsome George Smith permanent structure followed in 1840; one of the oldest railway station buildings on earth. Image: Doyle of London buff.ly/wMBfduy

#OnThisDay 160 years ago the Metropolitan Railway opened Farringdon Street (Farringdon), Aldersgate Street (Barbican) and Moorgate Street (Moorgate). Today's Farringdon replaced the 1863 terminus, which became a goods station. Image: Gordon Edgar buff.ly/17RX3Pc

#OnThisDay 26 years ago, the dramatic rebuilding of Westminster station was complete and the Jubilee Line began calling here; the project involved excavating a 39m cavern beneath the operational District & Circle Lines. Image: D A Scott buff.ly/wrXLmNg

#OnThisDay 161 years ago, the LCDR extended from a terminus on the South Bank to Ludgate Hill via Blackfriars Railway Bridge. The cramped (and by then abandoned) station can be seen here in the distance in this 1969 image from Disused Stations buff.ly/4gMGfqp

Now devouring the superb 16th edition of the Rail Atlas of Great Britain & Ireland founded by the late S.K.Baker and now revised, edited and updated by @joebrownlondon.bsky.social You’re welcome 🧐

#OnThisDay 41 years ago there were apocalyptic scenes in The Pennines when a petroleum train derailed in Summit Tunnel and caught fire. Temperatures reached 1,500C, wagons welded to the rails, and 40m jets of flames shot out of the vent shafts. @RAIL buff.ly/LBu5GgN

#OnThisDay 79 years ago, after a wartime hiatus District Line trains returned to Kensington Olympia for exhibition traffic, the station was renamed from Kensington (Addison Road) on the same day. LT Museum Collection image by WHR Godwin from 1964, the District bay dates from 1958

#OnThisDay 135 years ago the City & South London Railway opened between Stockwell and King William Street. It was both the first successful Tube railway (the Tower Subway wasn't a success!), and the first major railway to use electric traction. LT Museum Collection: buff.ly/gqakpns

#OnThisDay 187 years ago Ealing Broadway station was opened by the GWR as 'Ealing' ('Broadway' was added in 1875). This building (LT Museum Collection 1933) was combined with the District Line building next door and replaced in 1966, which in turn was rebuilt in 2021 buff.ly/yQSkqWw

#OnThisDay 91 years ago Queensbury station opened on the Metropolitan Line's Stanmore branch (later Bakerloo, now Jubilee). The name was created especially for the station, it's a nod to neighbouring Kingsbury. Futuristic roundel totem outside: Ian Wright buff.ly/tOy8KQr

#OnThisDay 1 year ago the Northumberland Line reopened from Newcastle to Ashington via Seaton Delaval; Newsham and Blyth Bebside opened this year (Bedlington and Northumberland Park in 2026): a huge success surpassing forecasts. Still from allan5919 video: buff.ly/T1QAg7t

#OnThisDay 189 years ago, London Bridge station (initially simply 'London') was opened by the London & Greenwich Railway replacing a temporary terminus on Bermondsey Street. Rebuilt several times, nothing remains of the 1836 original. Geoff Henson buff.ly/49RbfUd

#OnThisDay 16 years ago, the full Southeastern Railway high speed 'Javelin' Class 395 service between St Pancras and Kent commenced. This was also when Ebbsfleet International's domestic platforms were first regularly served (...the international platforms remain 'temporarily' disused).

It’s still not too late to treat the ones you love to a book about trains! #trains

#OnThisDay 37 years ago at 08:10, three trains collided south of Clapham Junction resulting in the loss of 35 lives and almost 500 injuries. The cause was faulty signalling due to human error aggravated by poor training and supervision, and fatigue through overwork. Image: BBC

#OnThisDay 15 years ago, Lillie Bridge Depot went full circle and became a District Line stabling point again. Built by the District Railway in the 1870's, in 1906 it became the Piccadilly Line Depot, then after 1932 engineering use only. Julian Gajewski buff.ly/3BsGB6v

#OnThisDay 19 years ago Stratford to North Woolwich closed to the public including permanent closure of Silvertown and North Woolwich (pictured). A 'special' for Silverlink staff and guests on the first day of 'closure' sets off detonators (Nick Catford) www.disused-stations.org.uk/n/north_wool...

#OnThisDay 18 years ago, Kings Cross Thameslink station closed, replaced by St Pancras International low level platforms as part of the Thameslink upgrade. This very 1980's Badry Mostafa mosaic mural still survives behind the boarded-up station facade to this day.

#OnThisDay 78 years ago LMS 10000 was presented to the press. Designed by H G Ivatt for the LMS and built at Derby, the loco and its sibling 10001 were the first mainline diesel locos in the UK. Image from here: buff.ly/i1x43Ud Recreation society: lms10000.com

#OnThisDay 156 years ago Marc and Isambard Brunel's revolutionary Thames Tunnel opened to rail traffic, 26 years after opening as a foot tunnel. Today it forms part of the Windrush Line. More info: buff.ly/2XSYjYr Image: David Humphrey buff.ly/3CY0LGd

#OnThisDay 99 years ago, Grade II listed Charles Holden-designed Balham station opened on the Northern Line interchanging with the existing mainline station; the rest of the Morden extension had already opened 3 months beforehand. Poster from the LT Museum collection buff.ly/3OJLDys

#OnThisDay 98 years ago the Post Office Railway opened to parcels traffic between Paddington and Mount Pleasant (there had been a ceremonial opening two days before). This 10km, driverless, 2ft gauge system traversing Central London closed in 2003. Image: buff.ly/qXI41oW

#OnThisDay 79 years ago the Central Line was extended eastwards from Liverpool Street to Stratford with a new station at Bethnal Green and cross-platform interchange with the District & Metropolitan Lines at Mile End. Hans Schleger poster from the LT Museum collection buff.ly/3Zwixc7

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#OnThisDay 114 years ago Ravenscourt Park to Turnham Green was quadrupled, segregating the LSWR and District Railway. The LSWR tracks closed 5 years later, the middle of the formation used since 1932 by the Piccadilly Line. LT Museum collection poster marking the arising timetable uplift 11/12/1911

#OnThisDay 20 years ago the DLR King George V branch opened with new stations at West Silvertown, Pontoon Dock, London City Airport (pictured) and King George V. Is the latter the only UK station with a roman numeral in its name? Image by @tubemapper.bsky.social buff.ly/aNC8oLk

#OnThisDay 160 years ago, my local station Peckham Rye opened. A hidden gem within the impressive Charles Henry Driver building is the waiting room, later used as a billard hall then abandoned. I visited in 2018 for the 'Open House' weekend, it will hopefully see more use soon.

#OnThisDay 118 years ago Aldwych ('Strand' until 1915) station opened at the end of a one-station branch from Holborn. The origin of this curiosity is the fact that the Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway (Piccadilly Line) was 3 proposals amalgamated by Yerkes 🧵1/4

#OnThisDay 184 years ago the LSWR opened a branch from Eastleigh (then Bishopstoke) to Gosport via Botley and Fareham, a ferry connecting to Portsmouth. Fareham to Gosport closed to passengers in 1953, but William Tite's building survives: Michael Coppins buff.ly/8hX7ixF

#OnThisDay 1 year ago Merseyrail's Class 507 bowed out after 46 years service to Merseyside. Unit 507001 had a nod to BR blue & grey livery applied in late 2023 and was withdrawn January 2024, now preserved by the Class 507 Preservation Society and seen here at The Greatest Gathering this summer.

#OnThisDay 158 years ago 'Low Leyton' station became plain 'Leyton', seen here in a rural setting on this 25 inch Ordnance Survey map surveyed 1863-1867 (NLS maps) buff.ly/3YTYe6X Fun fact: Leyton's etymology is 'settlement on the River Lea', the same as 'Luton'

#OnThisDay 170 years ago, Victoria Docks' opening resulted in diversion of the North Woolwich line via a new station at Custom House; the swing bridge on the original route was too disruptive to rail traffic. The 1847 route remained in use for freight as the 'Silvertown Tramway'.

#OnThisDay 64 years ago, High Street Kensington goods yard closed. Opened by the Midland Railway in 1878, the yard was reached via platform 4, with 3 reversals required as the yard was at a higher level. Aerial image buff.ly/3CwHMCi second image buff.ly/3Z98M3q

#OnThisDay 146 years ago the Metropolitan & St Johns Wood Railway was extended from West Hampstead to Willesden Green with an intermediate station at Kilburn. Unrecognisable from its current 1925 form; here is the 1879 Willesden Green station (LT Museum collection) buff.ly/48RxMzo

#OnThisDay 42 years ago, the sleeper train from Penzance hauled by 50041 Bulwark derailed at Paddington, fortunately no lives were lost. My dad passed it on an Underground train and described it to the 6 year old me, so I promptly drew it! David Keogh: buff.ly/J9NMMo8

#OnThisDay 184 years ago, Cheshunt station was opened by the Northern & Eastern Railway. The original station was on Cadmore Lane and closed after around 6 months, the current station opened 1846 and is seen here in 1890 shortly before rebuilding, source: buff.ly/4fNJlKd

Another satisfied customer 🙂 ‘Baker’ 16th edition reprint now back in stock after a reprint crecy.co.uk/product/rail...

#OnThisDay 77 years ago, extensions at both ends of the Central Line saw Greenford to West Ruislip added to the London Transport Executive network in the west, and Woodford to Loughton / Hainault via Chigwell in the east. LT Museum collection poster by Tom Eckersley commemorates the opening

#OnThisDay 26 years ago the Jubilee Line extension was connected to the original line, resulting in closure of the 1979 Charing Cross platforms to the public. Here's me there on the Hidden London tour in 2019, where we organised a special run for the line's 40th birthday.

#OnThisDay 102 years ago the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway (now Northern Line) opened an extension from Golders Green to Hendon Central (pictured here on opening day), with an intermediate station at Brent (Cross). LT Museum collection buff.ly/4fuFimz

Ashfield House in West Kensington: for decades it’s been London Underground’s main training school… always brings memories flooding back! Helping to recruit tomorrow’s Supervisors today, from the recent external campaign. Wearing my District moquette scarf in tribute 😄

#OnThisDay 68 years ago LT electrified Epping to Ongar on the Central Line, ending the bizarre situation of steam passenger services on a deep tube line. Seen at Epping four years earlier, a steam service for Ongar waits alongside a tube service: LT Museum collection buff.ly/3CueZyl

#OnThisDay 124 years ago the City & South London Railway extended from Moorgate to Angel with intermediate stations at Old Street and City Road. Evocative image of the pre-1992 rebuild Angel and its island platform by Kevin Lane. Highly recommended viewing 'Heart of the Angel': t.co/D91hraLlhZ