Event    From 10/1/1863 

First underground passenger railway - Metropolitan

Categories: Transport

Event

Between Paddington and Farringdon. A grand opening on the 9th preceded the opening to the public on Saturday 10 January 1863.

“That afternoon Hetta trusted herself all alone to the mysteries of the Marylebone underground railway, and emerged with accuracy at King’s Cross. She had studied her geography, and she walked from thence to Islington.” This description of an early underground journey, by a woman alone, comes from the 1875 ‘The Way We Live Now’ by Anthony Trollope (p.385 in vol.2, Penguin 2001). Living in Welbeck Street Hetta probably got on at (Great) Portland Street.

See Metropolitan Railway Company for more information.

It's interesting that, in 1829, George Shillibeer had launched the first omnibus service on a quite similar route: Marylebone Road to the Bank. Both services were catering to the middle classes who lived to the west and worked in the City.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
First underground passenger railway - Metropolitan

Commemorated ati

Baker Street Station Restoration

The walls of both platforms are adorned with information boards giving the hi...

Read More

First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

London's roads were heavily congested, the railways stopped on the fringes of...

Read More

First underground railway - red plaque

Metropolitan Railway The world's first underground railway opened from Paddin...

Read More

Regents Park Station

Great Portland Street  is a London Underground station on the Circle, Hammers...

Read More

Other Subjects

Gravesend Pier

Gravesend Pier

Designed by William Tierney Clark. During its early years it was used by millions of passengers, but by the turn of the century, it had fallen into disuse owing to the arrival of the railways. A Gr...

Building, Transport

1 memorial
Thames and Medway Canal

Thames and Medway Canal

Also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal. It was originally 11 km (6.8 miles) long and cut across the neck of the Hoo Peninsula, linking the Rivers Thames and Medway. It was first intended a...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
Geoff Harrison-Mee

Geoff Harrison-Mee

Director of transport systems in Ireland, Qatar and the much reviled Connex rail company in South-East England.

Person, Transport, Ireland

1 memorial
Viscount Wakefield of Hythe, Charles Cheers

Viscount Wakefield of Hythe, Charles Cheers

Businessman. Born Liverpool. His brand name being Castrol he was very successful and set up in the City of London. Lord Mayor in 1915-16. Promoted and funded pioneering aviation and motor sports. 1...

Person, Aviation, Commerce, Lord Mayor, Transport

2 memorials
Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Pedestrian tunnel under the Thames designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, linking Greenwich town centre in the south with Island Gardens Park in the north. It is 1,215 feet (370.2 m) long and 50 feet (1...

Building, Engineering, Transport

3 memorials