London Underground Station Indicator
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
London Underground Station Indicator
A new invention on the Underground Railway in London. After a train leaves a station, a bell rings and the name of the next station appears, keeping passengers informed of their location. Date: 1896
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14157913
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1896 Bovril Colmans Indicator Invention Passengers Tube Underground Advertisments
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this photograph from 1896, we witness an intriguing innovation on the London Underground Railway: the station indicator. As the first electric trains began to replace steam-powered trains on the Metropolitan and District Railways, the Underground's passengers were presented with a new means of staying informed about their location as they traveled through the labyrinthine network beneath the city. The station indicator, a simple yet groundbreaking device, was designed to keep passengers engaged and reassured as they journeyed through the darkened tunnels. After a train departed from a station, a bell would ring, and the name of the next station would appear on a board, illuminated by an electric light. This not only helped passengers to prepare for their upcoming stops but also added a sense of excitement and anticipation to their commute. The photograph, taken in 1896, captures the station indicator in action at an unidentified London Underground station. The vintage design of the indicator, with its ornate font and intricate detailing, stands in stark contrast to the industrial surroundings of the station. The station's dimly lit platform, adorned with posters for various products such as Bovril, Jeyes, and Colman's, further emphasizes the historical significance of this moment in transportation history. As we gaze upon this image, we are transported back in time to an era when the London Underground was a marvel of modern engineering and a symbol of the city's forward-thinking spirit. The station indicator, a seemingly small yet essential invention, played a crucial role in shaping the Underground's reputation as a reliable and efficient means of transportation, paving the way for the iconic Tube system we know today.
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