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Collection of London Transport Museum
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Full length portrait of Charles Tyson Yerkes (1837-1905) sitting in his office, at a writing bureau. There is a calendar on top of the desk displaying the date 17 November. Yerkes, an American, was an unorthodox transport speculator who nonetheless succeeded in developing London's Edwardian Underground.

Unknown photographer, 17 Nov 1900

Image no: Ukn

Inventory no: 1998/57854

20th Century London caption: Charles Tyson Yerkes sitting at his desk 17 November 1900. He was an American, was an unorthodox and colourful transport speculator who succeeded in developing London's Edwardian Underground system by financing and constructing three Underground lines: the Bakerloo, Piccadilly, and Northern lines. He also financed the conversion of the District line from steam to electric power. Having raised the capital and obtained parliamentary authorisation for this new company made up of these four lines, Yerkes created the Underground Electric Railways of London (U.E.R.L.). U.E.R.L, the biggest Underground company, took over the Central London and the City & South London Railways and the London and General Omnibus Company in 1912. These companies created the pre-1914 London Traffic Combine, which paved the way for the final amalgamation of 1933 that formed the London Passenger Transport Board.

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