Huge queues at Liverpool Street

This evocative black‑and‑white scene captures a mass of well‑dressed Londoners—bowler hats, trilbies and neat overcoats—queued along Bishopsgate as double‑decker buses struggle to pick up passengers. The frontage of Liverpool Street Station stands just out of shot to the right, its commuters forced to descend the steps and wait on the kerb for the scarce bus services. Hand‑painted signs on the bus advertise limited routes, while a conductor in uniform gestures to keep the line in order.

Historical Context
Pre‑War Transport Disruption: In 1939, looming war preparations and industrial disputes often led to short‑notice transport strikes. With Underground services already stretched, a bus stoppage could leave thousands waiting in the East End’s mainline termini.

Commuter Culture: The disciplined queues reflect the era’s social decorum—men in smart collars and women carrying leather handbags—evoking a time when public transport relied entirely on manual scheduling, ticketing and sheer patience.

Urban Landscape: Liverpool Street’s Victorian façades and the massed crowds underline the station’s role as a vital gateway for suburban workers and country visitors alike, even as Europe braced for conflict.

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