So this card tells us of the arrival of electrification, which happened on January 1st, 1905. However, as the reverse of this card tells us, they had needed to secure an act of Parliament first, allowing for this to take place, and that Act was passed in 1898. It was not electrified all at once either - first was what is referred to as "the stretch" between Earls Court and Kensington High Street, but it was only one stop. However by March, 1905, the line was electric from Baker Street right to Harrow. And after that the whole line was converted.
Now I am confused as to why they needed the Act, because there was already an electric underground railway in London, namely The City and South London Railway. That opened in 1890 and it covered almost four miles, from Stockwell to King William Street, which is near to today`s Bank station.
This set appears in our original Churchman Reference Book (RB.10, issued in 1948) where it is revealed that there are also two sets of twelve large sized cards. These are catalogued as :
86. January 1931. 50. LANDMARKS IN RAILWAY PROGRESS. (titled series). Size 2 11/16" x 1 x 7/16" or 67 x 36 m/m. Numbered 1-50. Fronts printed by letterpress, 4-colour halftone process. Backs in dark green, with descriptions. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall.
87. January 1932. 12. LANDMARKS IN RAILWAY PROGRESS. (titled series). Similar format to item (86) but size 3 5/16" x 2 x 9/20" or 80 x 62 m/m.
88. March 1932. 12. LANDMARKS IN RAILWAY PROGRESS. Inscribed "2nd Series of 12". Other detail as (87) but different subjects.
The three are described a lot more concisely in our World Tobacco Issues Index, as just :
LANDMARKS IN RAILWAY PROGRESS. Nd.
A. Small (50)
B. Large - (1) "1st Series of 12" (12) - (2) "2nd Series of 12" (12)