May 2025
We started by riding on a clean, fast, airy Elizabeth Line to Paddington where we looked at the station architecture and also learnt a bit about how the original Metropolitan line was constructed.
The early cut and cover construction for the railway may have been cheaper but they were too enthusiastic with the covering element so there was nowhere for the smoke to go – it must have been really unpleasant with the sulphur smells from the coal, the smoke and the hot steam.
From the approximate location of the original station (now the Hammersmith and City line platforms) we travelled to Baker Street to look at the original platform architecture and see where the ventilation shafts from the platform would have been. Whilst there we explored the platforms constructed for the link to Metroland and noted some of the old shop signage.
A gentle walk along the route took us to Great Portland Street where we went back underground to travel beyond the end of the first line to Barbican. That enabled us to see the site of the proposed Grand Central station – roughly where Smithfield market is – and learn about the sidings under the meat market.
Finishing at Farringdon, many of us adjourned to a local Wetherspoons before the Elizabeth line
home.