Metropolitan - The First Underground Line

 

 

The first underground line in the world began operating in London on Saturday the 10th of January 1863. You can still enjoy the original route between Paddington and Farringdon Station, although at many stations the platforms have been moved.

 

During the 19th century London grow fast and become the largest city in history. Around 2,500,000 people lived in London 1850. The enormous number of people caused a lot of problems. Travelling on the streets of London was getting worse all the time. This got some people to start thinking about creating an underground railway.

 

The early underground railways were built using a technique called cut-and-cover. Simply put cut and cover means, dig a hole, install the tracks and then cover the hole again. In order to avoid demolishing buildings (or rather having to buy them in order to be able to demolish them), most of the track was built underneath the streets. This explains why the early underground lines have some extra twists and turns. It was simple too expensive to take the straight way, following the streets saved money and avoided legal battles with house owners.

 

One advantage of the cut and cover technique is that the tracks are just below street level. This was important in the early days before escalators, giving passengers easy access to the platforms. But more important, since steam engines were used in the beginning, ventilation was needed and wherever possible the cuts were not covered. This both saved money and provided for ventilation.

 

The name of the company building and operating the first underground railway, the Metropolitan Railway Company, has been used in many languages. Shortened to metro, the word means underground in many languages.

 

Of course there are no views in the underground. And unfortunately, if you take the journey from Paddington to Farringdon Station today, now part of the Hammersmith Line, there is no information telling you about the historical significance of this track. Many of the original platforms are no longer in use at the stations but apart from that, the route today is the same as at the opening back in January 1863. 

 

If you are in London, you should also have a look at the false facade built by the Metropolitan Railway Company when it built its part of the Circle Line. The address is 23-24 Leinster Gardens, Paddington W2. Instead of leaving a gap between the houses after demolishing the house at 23-24 Leinster Gardens, the company decided to build a facade that matched the neighbouring houses. Unless you know that it is a dummy, it is easy to get fooled.