Me and my son had a lunch date with our two girls in the centre of town and as usual, the tube was delayed, so I went off taking some photographs of the North Harrow tube station.
You can see down the south bound platform and since we are on a branch line, there are the fast speed trains passing down the side, leaving us in the (metaphorical) dust.
The entire rail bed is built up on a raised embankment which you will see in another photograph. So to level it off, the two platforms are on pillars and raised above ground. Good points? damp and extensions are easy. Bad points, the underneath of the platforms collects garbage like crazy and requires frequent clearing and cleaning.
The entire rail bed is built up on a raised embankment which you will see in another photograph. So to level it off, the two platforms are on pillars and raised above ground. Good points? damp and extensions are easy. Bad points, the underneath of the platforms collects garbage like crazy and requires frequent clearing and cleaning.
New benches installed and here's the rest of the family.
Can you see the raised rubbery brownish strip? This fulfills many purposes. It is for blind people to know where is the edge of the platform. It helps people disembark from the trains when the platforms are wet, the raised knobs give you better grip and finally, it is uncomfortable to stand so it forces people to stand even further back from the yellow line which is the absolute edge where people can stand.
Can you see the raised rubbery brownish strip? This fulfills many purposes. It is for blind people to know where is the edge of the platform. It helps people disembark from the trains when the platforms are wet, the raised knobs give you better grip and finally, it is uncomfortable to stand so it forces people to stand even further back from the yellow line which is the absolute edge where people can stand.
More customer help points. Mind you, I have never seen anybody use this, never in the past so many years..., but then, there you go. Nice idea, mind you. You could have put in more buttons and have automated voice overs for local history, or perhaps a BBC news update. Small video screens for more data, etc. etc.
The map of the tube.
You can see the reflection of the second story of the buildings around the tube station, just illustrating how the platforms are on the raised embankment.
and this time, focusing on the map itself, this map is iconic and perhaps one of the best known maps of any underground railway system in the world. And you can see the shopping streets of Bond and Oxford Street, Hyde Park Corner - the iconic location of free speechers, the technology wonderland of Tottenham Court Road and the famous Eros statue and Piccadilly Circus place.
But before you think this is all wonderful, Shepherd's Bush is closed.
But before you think this is all wonderful, Shepherd's Bush is closed.
Here is a locked box full of salt and grit for the cold and freezing days when the platform is iced in. It is bloody dangerous to walk out on the open platform, specially wearing formal shoes.., god send stuff.
I was looking a bit bewildered around after spotting this. What auto telephone? And what's the point of putting up a board so far away? One of those artifacts which have been put up and forgotten.
I was looking a bit bewildered around after spotting this. What auto telephone? And what's the point of putting up a board so far away? One of those artifacts which have been put up and forgotten.
This is what it says on the tin, station announcement box.
which is surrounded by some more electricity boxes, but notice the corrugated and perforated box at the bottom.
So right below the station announcement box and the perforated box is a pile of pigeon poo. Those bloody feathered rats should be all poisoned and made into pigeon pie for us to eat. Poxy dirty birds.
That's the other end of the Metropolitan Line.
That's the other end of the Metropolitan Line.
The rubbish bins. You know what is the story behind them, yes? During the IRA Campaign, rubbish bins were removed because of the terrorist threat. And then they were thinking about bringing them back when the bloody Islamists took off and started blowing us up on the tube. So, typical British engineering, put in transparent plastic bag bins, when its full, just take it off, dump the whole thing and just replace with another clean bag. Nice and tidy, no? Very nice.
Can you see the netting on the top? That's to make sure those bloody feathered rats do not fly around in the platform and the spikes on the top of the waiting room sign is to make sure that they do not perch on top of the sign.
A closeup of the electronic sign and also you can see the anti pigeon spikes on top of the bar which carry the video camera.
Ah!, here's our train.
Ah!, here's our train.
And now I have to leave you unfortunately, off to our date. Bye!!!
Full slide show here.
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