The London Underground is a treasure trove of curiosities, with many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Among these is Stamford Brook, a little-known station on the District Line in Chiswick , which boasts some fascinating quirks. Named after a lost river - the Stamford Brook - one of the many tributaries of the Thames that once flowed through London but have since been covered over, this station holds a special place in Tube history.
In January 1964, Stamford Brook became the first station on the London Underground network to install an automatic ticket barrier. This was a significant milestone for the Tube, seen as crucial in managing the increasing passenger numbers. READ MORE: The London Underground station with the longest platform on the network Initially, the machine was basic, scanning a code on printed tickets and costing just £1,000 to install.
However, the trial soon expanded to other stations like Chiswick Park and Ravenscourt Park, paving the way for the future of the Underground. Stamford Brook station also boasts a unique history. It began as one of the few Underground stations with an island platform, serving one District line track on each side - east and west.
However, when Piccadilly line trains were introduced, the eastbound District line track was converted into the westbound Piccadilly line track, and a new platform was built for the eastbound District Line. This is why today, there's just one island platform and one side platform serving three track.
