Baker Street

In the late fifties, early sixties, my friend and I worked at Selfridges. We used to walk to and from Baker Street Station and often after work would have a sandwich from a little mobile stand to the left of the staircase to platform 1 met line. There was no packaging, just piles of sandwiches which the man would make fresh.

We loved looking out for the engines, John Lyon, Sarah Siddons, Disraeli and if I remember rightly there could have been John Hampden and Churchill.

We often travelled in the guards van or the ladies only carriage.

I once left my handbag on the train, which contained my money and train pass. I reported it and next morning tried to travel without a ticket, as I had no money, luckily the inspector was sympathetic, checked my story with Willesden Green Station and let me off. Also I got my bag back and had to pay a fee to lost property.

We moved to Dollis Hill right next to the station and was kept awake at night by work on the track and used to watch them working on the line. Eventually we got used to the noise.

On getting married Neasden became and still is my local station. There are some nice gardens there, as there also are at Preston Road. Another interesting station is Barons Court. Have you seen the old seats there?

Back tracking we also used to have tea in a little café at Baker Street, against the wall behind the ticket barriers when you come from the met line.

Sorry I have nothing more interesting to tell.

Irene Ottway