The Northern Line: Another World First
Learn more about the first electric tube railway in the world - not that we're boasting or anything!
The Northern line joins north and south London to the West End and the City.
Map of Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead and the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railways (1905-06-15) by Underground Electric Railways CompanyTfL Corporate Archives
Its origins are in 2 early tube railways – the City & South London Railway (C&SLR) and the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR)
The City & South London Railway opened in 1890 and was the first electric tube railway in the world. It’s circular, iron lined tunnels were shield driven through the London clay at a deep level. When the line was opened it operated a 5 minute service, and the windowless carriages with upholstery reaching almost to roof level, became known as ‘padded cells’. In its first 11 days it carried 165,000 passengers.
King William Street
The line was short, 3.5 miles, with stations at King William Street, Borough, Elephant & Castle, Kennington, Oval and Stockwell
An extension of the line, from Borough to Moorgate and then Angel, Islington, was opened in 1900, and in 1907 the line was extended north to Euston.
Charing Cross, Euston, and Hampstead Railway
Opened in 1907, from Charing Cross to Golders Green, with a branch from Camden Town to Highgate
It was opened by David Lloyd George, and was c.8 miles long, comprising 16 stations, which were designed by Leslie Green
Chalk Farm and Hampstead Underground stations, displaying typical Leslie Green architecture and design features
Diagram of Lots Road Generation And Distribution System (1948-03-24) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Power was supplied by the Lots Road generating station
The signalling was automatic and operated by electrical track circuits where possible. Signalmen were only provided at termini and junctions, where train routeing decisions were needed
First Sods being Dug of Northern Line Edgware Extension (1922-06-12)TfL Corporate Archives
Extensions
In 1915, the CCE&H (at this point known as the Hampstead Line) was extended to Embankment. Work on an extension from Euston to Camden Town started in 1922
Edgware Station (1924-06-15)TfL Corporate Archives
Edgware Station
In 1924, the CCE&H reached Edgware
The junction at Camden Town included multiple grade separated junctions to reduce conflict between merging lines
Camden Town Junction Signal Box (1924-05-15)TfL Corporate Archives
Camden Town Junction Signal Box
Map of Underground Railways of London Showing the Extension from Clapham Common to Morden (1926-08-18) by Underground Electric RailwaysTfL Corporate Archives
Extension from Clapham to Morden started in 1923
During the construction, as many as 18 shields were in use simultaneously. The line was opened in 1926, the same year as the Charing Cross to Kennington link
The stations on this new extension were built in a style conceived by Charles Holden
It was around this time too that the joint Hampstead Line and C&SLR became termed the Edgware, Highgate and Morden Line, and later the Morden-Edgware Line. In 1937, it became known as the Northern line.
More Extensions
In 1939, it was extended from Archway to East Finchley, and in 1941 to High Barnet. This extension involved the taking over of several stations from the London and North Eastern Railway
The Archer of Finchley
Atop East Finchley station sits the 'Archer', designed by sculptor Eric Aumonier
Diagram of Angel Station Escalator (1987-04-15)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1988, work started on a £55m rebuilding of Angel station
The new station opened in 1993 with the Underground network's longest escalator. It has a rise of 27 metres and a length of 61 metres
Battersea Power Station Roundel Install (2020-02-10) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
New Stations
The Northern line route remained unchanged until September 2021
Northern Line Extension Stations on Tube Map (2021-09-01) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
Kennington to Battersea Power Station
A new extension from Kennington to Nine Elms and the redeveloped Battersea Power Station, was the first major extension to the Underground this century. It added 3km to the line
Did you know? Despite its name, the Northern line doesn’t go to the most northerly station on the network. However, it does serve the station furthest south – Morden!
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
This story has been enhanced using material from the collections of the London Transport Museum. All enquiries regarding this video should be made directly to that institution.
