I've passed this virtually every day but it was taken me a little while to do so with the camera...It's the on-station post-box - now sealed up - for staff letters!
Yep, that's right - on West Hampstead (jubilee line) station platform there is a room currently used as the waiting room (pic left below) and in the wall is a brass letter box - nice patination! - for STAFF LETTERS.
I noticed another since which if I recall correctly was on either Finchley Road or Kilburn platforms too.
It just struck me as quite quaint really - I guess it dates from the 30's (possibly 50's) but also might post to a level of knowledge and contact between travellers and staff that we would dream of now...
Supermarkets went through a phase of notice boards saying who was who and for a time it looked like public transport might follow suit. But that fad has now passed and it's hard enough to get the name of the station manager these days - but they will prosecute if you assault them...Perhaps this little sealed letter box points to a happier age and interaction from which TfL could take a pointer or two?
But did you notice that TfL are removing the old (bronzed) analogue clock over the centre of the platform? Pity really, it adds character to the place.
ReplyDeleteI actually think this is more likely to have been for the staff internal mail system within LT
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