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London Underground's 150th anniversary
On 9 January 2013, London Underground celebrated 150 years since the first underground journey took place between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway. London Underground, in partnership with London Transport Museum is celebrating with a range of events and activities throughout 2013. The events will explore the Tube's history and look at the role it will play in the future - both in the lives of Londoners and the economy of the City and the UK.
On 9 January 1863 the world’s first underground train pulled out of Paddington station to make the first passenger journey - 3½-miles under the streets of London from Paddington to Farringdon and into the record books. The original Underground line was built and financed by the Metropolitan Railway, a private company which had been formed in 1854 to undertake the project to link the mainline stations at Paddington, Euston and King’s Cross with the City centre business district to the east. Travelling on the new railway was a novelty that thousands of Londoners were eager to experience and on the first day of public service – long queues formed at every station. The line was a huge success with 26,000 passengers using the railway each day in the first six months. Photo Nico Spilt, London Transport Museum, June 1986. |
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Designed by Sir John Fowler and built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester, the Metropolitan Railway 4-4-0Ts were given names like 'Apollo', 'Cyclops' and 'Mars'. The basic design was highly successful and remained in service for thirty years. Pictured in a typical London Metropolitan Railway setting, complete with enamel signs and long dresses, is No. 47. Because of the problem of steam and smoke in the long tunnels of the underground system, a condensing apparatus for the exhaust steam from the two cylinders was built into the side tanks. Running on 5ft. 9in. driving wheels and developing 11.600 lbs of tractive effort from a boiler pressure of 130 lbs a similar tank engine was used by the District Railway. By electrification in 1905, some of the 4-4-0Ts had been given proper cabs. The Metropolitan - the first underground city railway in the world when it was opened in 1863 - introduced an express 4-4-4 tank engine as late as 1921. Eric Bottomley. Tom Thumb, History of Britain's Railways, Card No. 6. Zie ook het thema over vuurloze locomotieven. |
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Buses, Trolleys & Trams. Chas. S. Dunbar. Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1969. Dit boek doet mij denken aan ons bezoek aan het London Transport Museum. |
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Zie ook: |
Website: Een groot deel van de collectie bevindt zich in het depot in Acton. Dit is alleen op bepaalde dagen toegankelijk. |
London Transport Museum
