I wish Molly Dineen had done a follow up "where are they now" programme for the 20 year anniversary. I often wonder about what Mr Simms (Lift Operator) is doing these days. He should have been given his own late night discussion show on the BBC exploring such questions as "Time is not linear" and suchlike.
i worked at the station back then when they filmed this although i wasn't on duty when they filmed. The foreman was a guy named Ray Stocker and the manager sat at the desk was Jerry Gold. Working there was a nightmare, every day knowing the lifts would break down and you would get nothing but abuse but it was good times all the same back then. Still working for LU today but just not at the Angel.
@@eddyk2016 Ray Stocker died not long after, Jerry Gold is still alive and working and comes through East Finchley Station each day. I'm not sure about any of the others.
The London Underground has had a ridiculously large amount of money spent on it since this was filmed which is why it seems so different today. The problem is many other parts of the country haven't really changed very much since 1989, which is why there's a lot of resentment towards London from the rest of Britain. For example I know a town centre near where I live which looks almost exactly the same as it did in the 1970s from the photos I've seen. No money spent on it at all since then. My local train station hasn't got a lift for disabled people and people with luggage, etc. People have been asking for one to be installed for about 30 years. I think they're finally going to build one this year.
Amazing that this was around 1990. Terrible the way the public transport was left to get so run down back then. Sort of reminds me a bit of how the New York subway is, all grimy and old.
If you ranted how much you hated your job today in front of TV cameras. You’re guaranteed to get sacked within a week. Although it clearly showed how low morale was back then if you worked for the Tube.
My goodness we are doing a videocast on Christmas Day called the “Hidden London Hangout” from the disused lift passages and tunnels at Angel. Will be on RUclips Xmas Day 2021 from 6pm. Have a watch to see how it all looks now
Good old years the Angel, I remember the old station building and island platform very well, spent many years using those lifts and (spiral staircase which rebuilt for safety reasons).
Me too 7 years of my life until it reopened in 92, that dangerous narrow platform was bad at rush hour, and memory of those lifts not working, having to walk up that emergency stairwell.
LTM's Hidden London Hangouts visited this station in 2021, S4E18 - Angel (available on RUclips), all the scenes in this documentary are still there and disused
You're right: rose tinted glasses hide a myriad of shite. I'll say this though, things were no better back then, but at least you were left alone to do your thing. Technology has made society feel very intrusive since.
It did up until the 90s I believe, then they filled the other side in. There are two stations in Clapham (both on the Northern Line) which still have island platforms and as far as I know are the only deep level stations to still have them. Lots of people complain they're quite dangerous, especially during peak hours. I also notice that Angel station still had original lifts (like those at Aldwych) at the time (seen at 3:46).
@@stephthestar90 I think the island platforms at the two Clapham stations are not quite as narrow as the one at Angel used to be, although I'm not sure.
He said he'd been working for 45 years. This was filmed in 1990. Assuming he started working aged 15 after school (in 1945!), that makes him 60 in 1990, and he'd be 92 now. So I guess he could still be alive!
@@thecornedbeefcouncil9792 The clue is in the final phoneme. But for the life of me, I can't discern a 't' in that regard. Edit: Ah, it is kind of there.
@@MeansofIntrigue I must have seen this fascinating documentary 50 times, I always thought he said ‘Angel Chicken Shop’ which puzzled me…but when you really listen you can hear the word ‘ticket’. Funnily enough, I never picked up on “all the brest” until reading it in this comments section 😂 I’d love to know if these guys are still alive.
These days they'd just shut down the whole station, to avoid claims for heart attacks on the way up, and you've have to walk from the next station...and fund your own heart attack.
See how much Angel station had changed since been rebuilt to single platforms. Only Clapham Common and Clapham North stations are still island platforms.
Why was an ugly facade added in front of the original station? Perhaps the ticket office man would have been happier if he hadn’t been staring at it whenever he looked out of the window.
Miserable gits. "Lifts out, you'll have to walk" classic British customer service standards, now largely gone. It really hurt to say "sorry", didn't it.
Nothing wrong with British C'S! Much prefer it to the fake saccharine 'Have a nice day' guff; you can tell staff are now drilled 'Must ask customer how they are!' when a] they don't really want to know, why would they & b] I don't want to tell them or have to invent a reply. Baffling..
I worked near Angel for a while in the 70s. The lift conked out for about a week one (very hot) August. I have never forgotten those bloody stairs!
the first time I used those stairs made me quit smoking
I wish Molly Dineen had done a follow up "where are they now" programme for the 20 year anniversary. I often wonder about what Mr Simms (Lift Operator) is doing these days. He should have been given his own late night discussion show on the BBC exploring such questions as "Time is not linear" and suchlike.
One of the finest films I've ever seen.
I'm never miserable, I've just got that sort of face!
i worked at the station back then when they filmed this although i wasn't on duty when they filmed. The foreman was a guy named Ray Stocker and the manager sat at the desk was Jerry Gold. Working there was a nightmare, every day knowing the lifts would break down and you would get nothing but abuse but it was good times all the same back then. Still working for LU today but just not at the Angel.
Are they still alive?
@@eddyk2016 Ray Stocker died not long after, Jerry Gold is still alive and working and comes through East Finchley Station each day. I'm not sure about any of the others.
@@bobsmith9990 Amazing that you knew this time. I was born this year, 89. This is one of the finest films I'v seen. Say hi to Ray from me.
@@candidaprout2401It's a fantastic documentary. They don't make 'em like that anymore!
Fantastic insight into the 'misery line' at its depth! Thanks for uploading!
Great memories of nights out, loads of lovely girls and lovely beer in Islington.
This looks like a different world to now!!!
@@ajs41 angry gammon alert
The London Underground has had a ridiculously large amount of money spent on it since this was filmed which is why it seems so different today. The problem is many other parts of the country haven't really changed very much since 1989, which is why there's a lot of resentment towards London from the rest of Britain. For example I know a town centre near where I live which looks almost exactly the same as it did in the 1970s from the photos I've seen. No money spent on it at all since then. My local train station hasn't got a lift for disabled people and people with luggage, etc. People have been asking for one to be installed for about 30 years. I think they're finally going to build one this year.
And have they actually put the lift in?
and today london transport is bankrupt due to corruption
Amazing that this was around 1990. Terrible the way the public transport was left to get so run down back then. Sort of reminds me a bit of how the New York subway is, all grimy and old.
Brilliant. The opening shots...
If you ranted how much you hated your job today in front of TV cameras. You’re guaranteed to get sacked within a week. Although it clearly showed how low morale was back then if you worked for the Tube.
I don't think they would have got sacked for talking like this, it was probably normal.
This is my grandad the foreman of this station.
Hi Ruby Driver, how long did he work for LUL?
My goodness we are doing a videocast on Christmas Day called the “Hidden London Hangout” from the disused lift passages and tunnels at Angel. Will be on RUclips Xmas Day 2021 from 6pm. Have a watch to see how it all looks now
Really good - thanks for this
Good old years the Angel, I remember the old station building and island platform very well, spent many years using those lifts and (spiral staircase which rebuilt for safety reasons).
It was dubbed the misery line but but apart from the actual job I never had more fun working there. It was hilarious every day.
Many times I walked those stairs! Now all new Angel but still holds a special place in my heart
Me too 7 years of my life until it reopened in 92, that dangerous narrow platform was bad at rush hour, and memory of those lifts not working, having to walk up that emergency stairwell.
before it transform from a Narrow platform station into a station with the longest escalator on the network
LTM's Hidden London Hangouts visited this station in 2021, S4E18 - Angel (available on RUclips), all the scenes in this documentary are still there and disused
Yup great video, Alex nearly has a heart attack when he sees all the old passages preserved behind locked doors. Proper time capsule.
Alex DID nearly have a heart attack. 😂 Thanks for giving it a mention! Link to Christmas episode here: ruclips.net/video/8B-uzaSO3BY/видео.html
Ah the good old days when nothing worked, nobody cared, customers were just a nuisance and God help you if you were disabled. I remember those stairs!
You're right: rose tinted glasses hide a myriad of shite. I'll say this though, things were no better back then, but at least you were left alone to do your thing. Technology has made society feel very intrusive since.
I'm in it! 1.45 , bloke in shirt chewing a pen!
i'll make sure to say hi when i travel back to that time period
Lol
You must be ancient 😂
Saw you Martin, I used to use that old station, Mr Sims on that lift, wonder where went too.
1:45
What an amazing video! Didn't realise Angel used to have island platforms
It did up until the 90s I believe, then they filled the other side in. There are two stations in Clapham (both on the Northern Line) which still have island platforms and as far as I know are the only deep level stations to still have them. Lots of people complain they're quite dangerous, especially during peak hours. I also notice that Angel station still had original lifts (like those at Aldwych) at the time (seen at 3:46).
@@stephthestar90 I think the island platforms at the two Clapham stations are not quite as narrow as the one at Angel used to be, although I'm not sure.
How lucky was she to get this ? I suppose the lifts hadnt worked properly in years
A customer with a capital K
Haha
Does anyone know if the ticket office man is still alive
He said he'd been working for 45 years. This was filmed in 1990. Assuming he started working aged 15 after school (in 1945!), that makes him 60 in 1990, and he'd be 92 now. So I guess he could still be alive!
Hi sorry for late reply he worked there aprrox 16 years ago and unfortunately he passed away a few years after this video was made
+White Snake. Hi. Maybe it was longer than then I'm forgetting how old I am lol. I'm 25 and I think he might of retired when I was a baby ?
Your grandad was a interesting character!
Lovely time .I just started work and there was money to be made .
3:57 a proper Londoner
"Angel Chicken Shop?"
Hahaha, I thought that the first time I saw it but he actually says “Angel Ticket Shop”
@@thecornedbeefcouncil9792 The clue is in the final phoneme. But for the life of me, I can't discern a 't' in that regard.
Edit:
Ah, it is kind of there.
@@MeansofIntrigue I must have seen this fascinating documentary 50 times, I always thought he said ‘Angel Chicken Shop’ which puzzled me…but when you really listen you can hear the word ‘ticket’.
Funnily enough, I never picked up on “all the brest” until reading it in this comments section 😂
I’d love to know if these guys are still alive.
I Thank You
These days they'd just shut down the whole station, to avoid claims for heart attacks on the way up, and you've have to walk from the next station...and fund your own heart attack.
See how much Angel station had changed since been rebuilt to single platforms. Only Clapham Common and Clapham North stations are still island platforms.
The same spiral stairs are still there!
+linuxducky I'd love to see them. Do you know if they do tours?
Can you still use the stairs?
@@ajs41 they're bricked up in the old part of the station which is behind a door
If it had some music, it would be a Adam Curtis documentary.
'All the breast'
Why was an ugly facade added in front of the original station? Perhaps the ticket office man would have been happier if he hadn’t been staring at it whenever he looked out of the window.
7.39 mins in, "I've worked this out all by myself."
And that's why you work on the Underground, mate.
The Earth; flat, round, or pear-shaped?
How come you ask David ?
all the breast haha
90p for a fare on the tube wish it was the same price now!!
Have you taken inflation into account?
About £2.30 in 2018.
Now, Angel to Kentish town (zone 1 to 2) is £2.60. 90p is equivalent to £2.18 as of Nov 22, so it's gone up more than inflation
Back in the days when the Northern line was nicknamed The Misery Line because of poor and unreliable services.
I still call it by that moniker.
2:51
Miserable gits. "Lifts out, you'll have to walk" classic British customer service standards, now largely gone. It really hurt to say "sorry", didn't it.
TheClunkingFist when was this filmed looks like 1970s
1989
andy mottley the documentary is from 1989. Angel station not long after changed completely and now has some of the widest platforms on the underground
Nothing wrong with British C'S! Much prefer it to the fake saccharine 'Have a nice day' guff; you can tell staff are now drilled 'Must ask customer how they are!' when a] they don't really want to know, why would they & b] I don't want to tell them or have to invent a reply. Baffling..
There were grumpy but at least they were British.
i maintained the northern line trains and they also ran like shit.
Did Angel station not have escalators before it was rebuilt?
No, the escalators opened in 1992, along with the new entrance .
No. The escalators only got fitted when the station was substantially enlarged.