150 Years of the Hammersmith & City

There are more than 20 libraries in ‘Triborough’ (the combined library services of the City of Westminster, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham).

Usually the easiest and fastest way to get to each of them is to use the London Underground, as many libraries are close to a station. The Hammersmith and City Line for instance, runs through all three boroughs and conveniently serves 6 libraries. Do you which ones they are?

Normally trains run every few minutes and use the Underground’s newest air-conditioned S stock, introduced to the line in 2013. Last Saturday however, it was possible to travel in somewhat different style, as London Underground celebrated 150 years since the line opened between Paddington and Hammersmith – only a year after the original section of the Underground from Farringdon to Paddington.

A special train ran ‘top and tailed’ with steam locomotive Metropolitan No.1, built in 1898 and 1920s electric loco No.12 Sarah Siddons.  Coaches included coach 353, restored for the London Underground 150 celebrations last year and the Chesham set coaches, normally based on the Bluebell Railway. The train started from Northfields depot, Acton then ran to Moorgate via High Street Kensington. There were then three non-stop return journeys to Hammersmith and back before the train returned to Northfields.

If you missed it, don’t worry – the special trips will be repeated again this coming Saturday 9 August. For details of timings and tickets see www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on

As to the six libraries served by the Hammersmith and City Line… they are (east to west):

• Marylebone Library (Westminster) = Baker Street station
• Church Street Library (Westminster) = Edgware Road station
• Paddington Library (Westminster) = Royal Oak station
• North Kensington Library (Kensington & Chelsea) = Ladbroke Grove station
• Shepherds Bush Library (Hammersmith & Fulham) = Shepherds Bush Market station
• Hammersmith Library (Hammersmith & Fulham) = Hammersmith station

How many have you visited?
Your library card is valid for all libraries in the three boroughs.

[Malcolm]