180. Stonebridge Park

Friday 31st January 5.00pm

This has got the tiniest station building you could imagine, nestling beside the road with covered walkways to the platforms at higher level. The platforms are long, serving the Overground and national rail as well, with modern waiting rooms. But the platforms feel exposed, looking out over the surrounding areas, and I guess if it was light and you knew where to look you'd probably get a good view of Wembley stadium.

Wikipedia entry here.

179. Wembley Central

Friday 31st January 4.30pm

There are three stations serving Wembley and although it's a long time since I've been to the Arena (and I've never been to the stadium) I don't think this is one I've ever used. I may be confused as it seems to have been redeveloped and you come out of the front of the station into the middle of a sort of plaza with shops, restaurants and hotels all very nearby. It's all very modern, and busy which I guess is partly due to the station also serving the Overground and mainline train services. But it's not very memorable.

Wikipedia entry here.

178. Colindale

Wednesday 29th January 4.55pm

This sounds like it might be in Metroland but it's actually nearly at the end of the Northern Line, which somehow feels different - not so planned and speculative. The outside of it looks like it's been modernised recently, possibly in keeping with all the flats that are going up around it, which was a surprise as the walk to it is through the usual suburban streets with gardens concreted over to make room for cars and houses extended until bursting point. It doesn't seem like the kind of place that would have flats.

There's a very small ticket office with a newsagents in it then stairs down to the platform. All very familiar and practical. Nothing to suggest it was badly bombed in the war. Maybe that's something people don't like to be reminded of on their way to work.

Wikipedia entry here.

177. Burnt Oak

Wednesday January 29th 4.30pm

A fairly standard north London suburban station: island platform between the lines, stairs to the tickets hall. The ticket hall doesn't straddle the lines but is instead at right angles to the platform, which messed with my sense of direction when I left and sent me off in completely the wrong direction (as usual).

The ticket hall is a cube with some windows in the roof and a few panels of nice tiles, which might be grand if it was fancied up a bit. It was also too busy to stop in and take pictures of tiles without feeling like a madman.

Wikipedia entry here.