Metropolitan line (1933–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
London's Metropolitan Railway (MR) amalgamated with other underground railways, tramway companies and bus operators on 1 July 1933, to form the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB); the MR became the Board's Metropolitan line.
The LPTB cut back services to Aylesbury, closing the Brill and Verney Junction branches, and invested in new rolling stock and improving the railway between Baker Street and Harrow-on-the-Hill, including the extension of the Bakerloo line which took over the Stanmore branch. The outbreak of the Second World War saw these works suspended, and it was not until 1948 that Harrow-on-the-Hill station was enlarged to six platforms.
Steam locomotives were used north of Rickmansworth until the early 1960s, when they were replaced following the electrification of the tracks to Amersham and the introduction of new electric multiple units. London Transport withdrew its service north of Amersham at this time.
In 1988, the route from Hammersmith to Aldgate and Barking was re-designated as the Hammersmith & City line, and the route from New Cross and New Cross Gate to Shoreditch as the East London line; this left the Metropolitan line as the route from Aldgate to Baker Street and northwards to stations via Harrow, and that designation continues to this day.