Skip page header and navigation Closed, reopens at 10:00 Book Donate Enewsletter Home Collections Stories War London's transport at war Stories Engineering under fire: Vernon Robertson Vernon Robertson was a senior engineer in the transport sector whose career was punctuated by war. Learn how he served as London Transport’s most senior engineer, overseeing the company’s engineering activities during the Blitz. London Transport’s Dad’s Army in 10 objects During the Second World War Britain formed the Home Guard, a secondary defence force in support of the Army. Learn how around 1.5 million men volunteered to serve part-time, often alongside their civilian role. Ellen Bulfield: a clippie’s war During the First World War, around 18,000 women took on roles in London’s transport companies, helping keep the city moving. Read about Ellen Bulfield, one of the very first female conductors to join the LGOC. The secret wartime history of Down Street station After opening in 1907, Down Street was a little-known Underground station on today’s Piccadilly line. Read how Down Street was discretely repurposed for an essential and secretive wartime use. From buses to bombers: the London Aircraft Production Group During both world wars, Britain had to re-purpose much of its industry to the manufacture of weapons, munitions and other vital materials. Read how London Transport adapted its manufacturing capacity for the war effort during the Second World War. Charles Lee: a driver and his bus go to war London bus driver Charles Lee was one of the first drivers to serve in the First World War along with his bus. Read his story and how London buses were requisitioned for wartime use overseas. Evacuation As the Second World War became increasingly likely, Britain began to prepare for devastating bombing raids. A key part of this was an evacuation scheme. Read how London Transport was tasked with quickly moving people to the countryside or for onward travel. Plessey: The Tube’s secret wartime underground factory During the Second World War, Plessey defence electronics company built a secret factory in newly constructed Underground tunnels at the eastern end of the Central line. Read more about the factory within the Central line tunnels. Jim Woodards: a bus driver goes to war James Woodards, known as Jim, was a 28-year old bus driver with the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) when the First World War broke out in August 1914. Read his story here. To Arms: 10 Underground posters of the First World War In the years leading up to the First World War, posters were used as a vital tool to promote the network. But as soon as the war broke out in 1914, Underground posters were also rapidly produced to publicise the war effort. View ten Underground posters from the First World War. Seeing it through: 10 London Transport posters of the Second World War At the time of the Second World War, London Transport (LT) had a reputation as a commissioner of high-quality posters. Learn how the outbreak of war in 1939 changed how posters were produced to support the war effort. David Langdon’s Billy Brown of London Town wartime posters Discover David Langdon's Billy Brown of London Town - a smartly dressed cartoon character who showed people how to behave and stay safe when travelling around the city during the Second World War. Shelter in wartime In both world wars, the London Underground network provided much needed shelter from the horrors of air raids. Read about sheltering during wartime and how thousands of Londoners found shelter in Tube stations. 10 ways London's transport helped during wartime At the heart of one of the world’s great cities, London’s transport performed a vital role in both world wars. Here we explore ten ways in which London’s transport contributed to the British war effort. They also serve: women in London’s transport in the two world wars In both world wars, women actively and readily filled the gap created in London’s transport services when men joined the forces in large numbers. Read all about the variety of roles women undertook during the two world wars. ‘It takes time’: celebration, remembrance and rebuilding after war The end of each of the two world wars was met with a complex mix of emotions across Britain. London’s transport companies remembered lost friends and colleagues, commemorated their wartime contribution and got on with the business of moving people around the city. Keeping London moving in wartime In both the First and Second World Wars, London was at the heart of two huge war efforts. The city needed a functioning transport network, yet this had to be achieved with fewer vehicles, an altered workforce and with bombs raining from the sky. Going to war Like all countries involved during wartime, Britain had to mobilise people and material very quickly for the fighting fronts. London’s transport played a major part in this process in both world wars. Read all about the preparations needed in going to war. London buses between the wars Learn how competition fostered further developments in the story of London buses between the wars, 1918 – 1939. London buses during the First World War When the First World War broke out, the era of the horse bus drew to a close. London’s largest bus operator, the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC), had replaced all its horse buses with motor buses by 1912. Learn how London buses played an important role during the First World War. Other stories Collections close-up: Metropolitan Railway steam locomotive, 1866 Our Metropolitan Railway steam locomotive dates from 1866. Read more about the only surviving steam locomotive from the early years of the world’s first Underground. A short history of the Cycle Hire scheme From 'safety bicycles' in the late 1800s to the familiar red Santander cycles on the roads today today, discover the history of cycling in London Next slide Next slide Browse by category Design Engineering Transport People Opening times Museum galleries and Shop Every day 10:00 - 18:00 Last entry 17:00 Canteen open 11:00 - 15:00 More About Contact us Enewsletter Blog News Opportunities Our supporters Governance Awards and recognition Our policies Friends Learning Programmes Climate Crossroads Commercial Filming and photography Venue Hire Image licensing Corporate partnerships Membership Sponsorship Dinner & Auction Interchange Payroll giving Arts Council England Transport for London Facebook icon Twitter icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon Pinterest icon YouTube icon Terms and conditions Privacy & cookies Website accessibility © 2021 London Transport Museum, all rights reserved. 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