At first glance, one could be forgiven for thinking the Bakerloo Line to be one of London’s less interesting underground lines. The use of a dull brown colour to illustrate the line on tube maps serves only to accentuate this impression.
The truth is somewhat different, as revealed in The History of the Bakerloo Line by Clive Feather. This is the story of a line that was first conceived by a group of sports enthusiasts and was eventually completed by Chicago gangsters, taking in boardroom fraud and courtroom drama along the way!
The book tells the history of the line from obtaining Parliamentary permission and raising finance, through to geological issues and construction techniques. It details the line’s operations including the rolling stock, signalling, stations and signage from the beginning to the current day.
The impact of the two World Wars is discussed and some of the accidents and tragedies that have befallen the line over the years are recounted. Finally, the book describes the line’s evolution up to the present day and examines prospects for the future.
Well illustrated in colour and black & white with over 120 photographs, maps and diagrams. 160 pages.