The Great Tube Naming Debate of 1926: What Almost Was!
Back in 1926, London was abuzz with a most pressing question: what to call the newly expanded tube line? After years of construction and merging the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway with the City and South London Railway, plus new extensions to Edgware and Morden, a catchy moniker was desperately needed. The Daily Express, with its usual flair, declared the “whole civilised world” was “gnawing its nails in a very fever of excitement” over the matter. Clearly, “CCE&HR + C&SLR + E + M” wasn't going to cut it.
The public, ever opinionated, threw out a wild array of suggestions. Inspired by the “Bakerloo” portmanteau, one dreamer offered “Edgemor,” hoping for historical grandeur. Pioneer aviator John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, perhaps ironically, proposed “the Test Tube,” seeing it as a trial run for future lines. Another almost coined “Superloop” a century before it became a bus service! There was even a playful dig at UERL Chairman Lord Ashfield, suggesting “The Dashfield line.” The Sporting Times, meanwhile, went for a rather un-snappy “the one that a fellow we know called it after he'd been delayed twenty minutes owing to a breakdown”—a name that thankfully didn't stick, especially since, as we all know, the Northern line *never* breaks down today!
Other gems included the “N.E.S.T. line” (Northern, Eastern and Southern Tube) with a rather clunky “Fly to your rest by N.E.S.T.” slogan, and the earnest “Balhamstead Railway.” But perhaps the most delightful ideas came from J.B. Morton's ‘Beachcomber' column, suggesting poetic house names like “Como,” “Capri,” or “The Larches.” Imagine asking for “The Larches (Bank Branch)” today!
Ultimately, the line opened without a flashy name, settling on the rather dull “Morden-Edgware line” until 1937, when it was officially christened the “Northern line.” A bit of a misnomer, considering its abundance of stations south of the river. Now, with talks of decoupling its two branches, perhaps those whimsical names like ‘Capri' and ‘Como' might finally get their moment in the sun.
Today's iconic Tube system remains a beloved tube london attraction, but few realize how different station names nearly emerged from heated 1926 discussions.
The naming controversy even affected recruitment efforts, as tube government jobs advertisements had to specify which proposed system names to reference.
Today's tourists who visit London tube stations might be surprised to learn they nearly had completely different names following the heated 1926 debate.
The london museums tube debate emerged when transportation officials considered renaming several Underground stations to honor the city's most prestigious cultural institutions.
Students studying in london tube stations today might be surprised to learn their beloved Underground almost had completely different station names.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/transport/a-century-ago-what-to-call-the-northern-line)
