T.O.T. Staff Magazine : Vol. 1 , No. 1 : October 1922 : T.O.T. Benevolent Fund : Underground Electric Railways Company of London : 1922 : cover
For many years within what was, in 1933, to become London Transport the initials T.O.T. were to be seen particularly in connection with Staff social and welfare issues. It stands for "Train Omnibus Tram" and it encompasses the operational interests of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London - the UERL - that was from 1902 until 1933 the main holding company for the many subsidiary and jointly-owned concerns connected with the "Underground". As well as the various 'tube lines' that consisted of the four 'original' members of the UERL, that were the District, the Bakerloo, Charing Cross Euston & Hampstead and the Piccadilly, were added in 1913 the Central London and the City & South London; the London General Omnibus Company, acquired in 1912, and through the jointly owned London & Suburban Traction Company, the Lonodn United, the Metropolitan Electric and South Metropolitan Tramways in 1913. Here you have the basis of the Train - Omnibus - Tram.
The TOT Fund had its origins in World War One when it was set up to aid the dependents of staff who had left and who were later drafted into the armed forces; the Fund "was ready to aid their dear ones when trouble knocked at the door". In post-war years it was decided that the "spirit of goodwill and co-operation" should not be allowed to lapse and so, in 1922, the T.O.T Benevolent Fund was set up. Membership, at 1d a week, was voluntary but the UERL promised to match every subscription in equal and the Fund was to provide "advice and assistance or both" to members and dependents. It is worth recalling that at the time the 'safety net' for many workers was close to non-existent and the T.O.T. was useful alongside employees' funds for sickness and retirement. In time, and before widespread nation assistance, the UERL and then London Transport were increasingly active in issues such as staff health services, sick pay and pensions.
The Staff Magazine seen here has some interesting articles, such as from Lord Ashfield, the chairman, information on new developments such as the Edgware extension of the Underground and snippets from various staff and sporting associations; the LGOC Horticultural & Fanciers Society (yes, we had our own Live Stock Shows back then), Camera Clubs and the London Electric Railway's Billiards and Football sections. In time London Transport was to have an amazing organisation of sports grounds, staff clubs and facilities all of which have slowly vanished over the last few decades.
The cover of Vol. 1, No. 1 shows the range of the "Combine's" reach - from city to suburban, from tram to tube to 'bus - and remarkably when I started work with London Transport in the early 1990s the pre-1933 common title of the UERL, the Combine, was still to be heard being used by some old-timers. The drawing also shows that co-ordination of services, by way of connections and through fares, were already being heavily promoted by the Group across their transport modes.
T.O.T. Staff Magazine : Vol. 1 , No. 1 : October 1922 : T.O.T. Benevolent Fund : Underground Electric Railways Company of London : 1922 : cover
For many years within what was, in 1933, to become London Transport the initials T.O.T. were to be seen particularly in connection with Staff social and welfare issues. It stands for "Train Omnibus Tram" and it encompasses the operational interests of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London - the UERL - that was from 1902 until 1933 the main holding company for the many subsidiary and jointly-owned concerns connected with the "Underground". As well as the various 'tube lines' that consisted of the four 'original' members of the UERL, that were the District, the Bakerloo, Charing Cross Euston & Hampstead and the Piccadilly, were added in 1913 the Central London and the City & South London; the London General Omnibus Company, acquired in 1912, and through the jointly owned London & Suburban Traction Company, the Lonodn United, the Metropolitan Electric and South Metropolitan Tramways in 1913. Here you have the basis of the Train - Omnibus - Tram.
The TOT Fund had its origins in World War One when it was set up to aid the dependents of staff who had left and who were later drafted into the armed forces; the Fund "was ready to aid their dear ones when trouble knocked at the door". In post-war years it was decided that the "spirit of goodwill and co-operation" should not be allowed to lapse and so, in 1922, the T.O.T Benevolent Fund was set up. Membership, at 1d a week, was voluntary but the UERL promised to match every subscription in equal and the Fund was to provide "advice and assistance or both" to members and dependents. It is worth recalling that at the time the 'safety net' for many workers was close to non-existent and the T.O.T. was useful alongside employees' funds for sickness and retirement. In time, and before widespread nation assistance, the UERL and then London Transport were increasingly active in issues such as staff health services, sick pay and pensions.
The Staff Magazine seen here has some interesting articles, such as from Lord Ashfield, the chairman, information on new developments such as the Edgware extension of the Underground and snippets from various staff and sporting associations; the LGOC Horticultural & Fanciers Society (yes, we had our own Live Stock Shows back then), Camera Clubs and the London Electric Railway's Billiards and Football sections. In time London Transport was to have an amazing organisation of sports grounds, staff clubs and facilities all of which have slowly vanished over the last few decades.
The cover of Vol. 1, No. 1 shows the range of the "Combine's" reach - from city to suburban, from tram to tube to 'bus - and remarkably when I started work with London Transport in the early 1990s the pre-1933 common title of the UERL, the Combine, was still to be heard being used by some old-timers. The drawing also shows that co-ordination of services, by way of connections and through fares, were already being heavily promoted by the Group across their transport modes.