Plaque

First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Inscription

Beneath this roadway runs the world's first underground passenger railway. It was opened for public traffic by the Metropolitan Railway Company on 10 January 1863.

Erected by London Transport in 1963.

London's roads were heavily congested, the railways stopped on the fringes of the West End so some way of linking the mainline stations: Paddington, Euston and King's Cross, was needed - the tube. A celebratory banquet was held at Farringdon on the eve of the opening and the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston would have attended had he not been close to 80 and wanting "to spend as much time above ground as he possibly could".

Site: Baker Street Station & first underground railway (2 memorials)

NW1, Marylebone Road

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Subjects commemorated i

First underground passenger railway - Metropolitan

Between Paddington and Farringdon. A grand opening on the 9th preceded the op...

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Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Created by i

Transport for London / London Transport

This organisation has been a bit of a political football, often having its na...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Also at this site i

Baker Street Station

Baker Street Station

This plaque is somewhat reticent about its function which is to commemorate t...

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Nearby Memorials

Sanders House - WW2 bomb

Sanders House - WW2 bomb

N1, Great Percy Street, 51, Sanders House

We have also found this lovely insignia at Claremont Close.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
John Le Mesurier

John Le Mesurier

W14, Gliddon Road, Baron's Keep

The plaque is located on a block of flats at the far end of a 'gated' estate. Even our longest lens setting could not produce a reasonabl...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Willie Rushton

Willie Rushton

NW1, Hampstead Road, Mornington Crescent Tube Station

Unveiled by other members of the 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' team.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Henry Wellcome

Sir Henry Wellcome

NW1, Gloucester Gate, 6

English Heritage Sir Henry Wellcome, 1853 - 1936, pharmacist, founder of the Wellcome Trust and Foundation lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Chelsea Temperance Society - Dillon

Chelsea Temperance Society - Dillon

SW3, Pond Place, 23

There are two stone plaques either side of the entrance, low on the wall, and two, rather classier, plaques in the entrance lobby. Readi...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators