20 treasures for 20 years

1. Decorative entrance arch High Street Kensington

One of the first things you'll see in the Depot when you arrive for an Open Weekend is this decorative wrought iron entrance arch from High Street Kensington station. This ornate Victorian style arch was created in 1900.

2. 'Garden seat' type horse bus

This horse bus was operated by the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) from 1880-1911. It was the lightest and strongest vehicle of its type in the world and could carry 28 people at nearly 8mph.

3. Underground and Metropolitan Railway enamel map

This vitreous enamel map shows the Underground network dates from circa 1910. If you zoom in, you can see some of the old station names which changed around the time: Bishopsgate (Liverpool Street) and Gower Street (Euston Square).

4. Brightest London poster

This poster was voted as your favourite poster from the last 150 years in our Poster Vote in 2012. The artwork for this poster is one of the stunning pieces you can see on a tour of our art and poster stores.

5. Prototype Routemaster - RM1

The red Routemaster is internationally recognised as an icon of London. This bus, RM1, was the first of four prototypes for the Routemaster, and made its first appeareance in 1954 at the Earl's Court Motor Show.

6. Johnston wood letter type

In 1913, expert calligrapher Edward Johnston was commissioned by Frank Pick to design a new typeface for the Underground. This cabinet of wooden printing blocks was used for decades by printers to produce the text and captions for Underground posters and signs.

It remains TfL's exclusive font to this day.

7. B-type motor bus B340

The B-Type was the first mass produced motorbus in the world. In 1912, 20 were built per week. By 1919 B-types had replaced all horse buses and most motor buses in London. In the First World War, over 900 B-types were used by the army on the Western Front, some of which were converted into lorries. This one transported wounded troops around London from 1914 to 1916. It then returned to regular bus work before being withdrawn in 1924. This particular bus was one of the first buses to be retained for preservation.

8. Aldwych roundel

This bronze framed sign used to hang at Aldwych station. The station was never as heavily used as originally intended and closed in 1994. It is now used for filming as well as our own Hidden London tours.

9. London Underground R49-stock

The R-stock ran on the District line until 1983. It was the first stock on the Underground with fluorescent lighting! This car was constructed in aluminium alloy to reduce the weight, and was left unpainted to save costs.

10. LT time recording clock

Bus routes have traditionally been supervised by inspectors at the side of the road - but this wasn't efficient for remote or infrequent services. To solve the problem, clocks like this were installed at termini and turning points.

11. Cycle Hire scheme bicycle No. 00001

This is bicycle number 00001, from the TfL/Barclays cycle hire scheme. Launched in 2010, the scheme allows Londoners and visitors to make short journeys in the capital by bicycle. Bicycle 00001 was put aside by TfL for our permanent collection.

12. Christmas pudding wrapper

From the late 1940s all the food used in London Transport (L.T.) canteens and mess rooms was produced at the London Transport Food Production Centre. Staff could also buy certain products including Christmas puddings like this one.

13. Sherlock Holmes motif tile

You can find these Sherlock Holmes motif tiles on the platform of Baker Street Underground station, on the Bakerloo line. The tiles were designed by Michael Douglas and printed by Pamela Moreton.

14. London Zoo poster

This poster from 1976 depicts a tiger made up of different shapes, including a roundel. Take a tour of our poster store to see all kinds of iconic posters from London Transport's history!

15. Gibson ticket machine

First introduced in 1953, the Gibson ticket machine became the most widely used of all those used on London Transport vehicles. This is the last ever Gibson machine officially used by L.T.; it issued the last ticket on 21 August 1993.

16. Metropolitan Railway milk van No. 3

This railway van was designed to carry milk directly from dairy farms in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire into London. The vans were attached to fast passenger trains and each carried many large churns of milk.

17. Beck map

Among the many maps you can see on the sign mezzanine at the depot is one of the first diagrammatic-style maps of the Underground - a style which is now recognisable around the world.

18. Spiral escalator

This section of a spiral escalator was found buried at the bottom of a lift shaft. Ahead of its time, it was installed at Holloway Road in 1906. It's likely that safety concerns prevented it ever being used.

19. Power poster

Our Director's favourite object, this striking poster designed by the prolific American artist Edward McKnight Kauffer, underlines the impact electric travel was having in urban life.

20. Q stock

The Q38 stock was as part of a major modernisation scheme that began in 1935. The modern cars had stylish windows and distinctive flared sides, which were partly to stop people riding on the outside of cars. Used on the District line from 1939 to around 1970, the new cars were often combined with older stock.

Our volunteers are currently restoring some of the older Q stock cars, which you can see at the Depot. Check out our Restoring the Q stock story to find out more!