The Metropolitan Railway between Paddington and Farringdon, in London, England,
opened in 1863 and was the first, urban, underground railway in the world.
The train carriages constructed of timber, had lighting provided by candles.
The steam locomotives also
created a permanent fog below ground.
The underground railway carried 9.5 million passengers in the first 12 months.
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| An inspection of the Metropolitan Railway underground, London, by engineers in May 1862, before it opened to the public |
The oldest London Underground station, Aldgate, in East London, was built on a "plague pit’.
Bubonic plague swept through the City of London between 1664 and 1666, and one fifth of London's
inhabitants are believed to have died, making it one of the deadliest pandemics.
The Underground network, nicknamed the “Tube", has grown to 272 stations and 11 lines
travelling into the suburbs and beyond.
Baker Street station has expanded and today has more platforms than any other London Underground station. But the
original pair of 1863 platforms remain in
use, and though updated, are well-preserved.
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| Baker Street station, London, has expanded and nowadays has more platforms than any other London Underground station. But the original pair of platforms remain in use, and though updated, are well- preserved |
