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

Hounslow Town Station

Hounslow Town Station

Former London Underground station. It was first opened by the District Railway (precursor of the District Line), as the terminus of an extension from Acton Town. It was intended to continue the lin...

Building, Transport

1 memorial
South Eastern Railway Company

South Eastern Railway Company

Originally formed as a line running from London to Dover. Branch lines were later added to other destinations in Kent. The company also operated a number of ships to the Continent. It was abolished...

Group, Transport

1 memorial
King's Cross Station

King's Cross Station

Designed by Lewis Cubitt.  Took the name from the area which had taken it from a statue of Geoge IV that once stood at the junction of Pentonville Road, Euston Road, Gray's Inn Road and Caledonian ...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
National Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum

One of a trio of Greenwich museums, the others being the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House.

Group, Armed Forces, History, Museums / Libraries, Transport

3 memorials
West Ham tram and bus depot

West Ham tram and bus depot

Situated in Greengate Street, West Ham, this tram depot opened in October 1906, then housed trolleybuses from June 1937 until April 1960. Motorbus operation commenced in November 1959 until October...

Building, Transport

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Communities and Local Government

A department of the government of the UK. From Victoria Cross commemorative paving stones: "In August 2013, the UK government announced a campaign to honour Victoria Cross recipients from the First...

Group, Politics & Administration

70 memorials
Civilian deaths in London caused by enemy action

Civilian deaths in London caused by enemy action

This page brings together all the memorials that we have for civilians killed in London by acts of war, including terrorism. It is related to a very interesting campaign for a Citizens Memorial "to...

Group, Tragedy

109 memorials
Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group

Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group

Founded to focus attention on the historic environment of the borough and to record, preserve and enhance its historic buildings.

Group, Architecture, Community / Clubs, History

15 memorials