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.

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

Croydon Canal

Croydon Canal

It ran from a junction with the Grand Surrey Canal near New Cross Gate to a basin on a site now occupied by West Croydon station. With 28 locks grouped into two flights, and numerous swing bridges,...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
Metropolitan Railway Company

Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Paddington to Farringdon via Baker Street Station on 10th January 1863. IanVisits has reproduced an Illustrated London Ne...

Group, Transport

7 memorials
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
British Motor Cab Company

British Motor Cab Company

Former public transport company, about which we can discover virtually nothing.  Its premises appear in an old photo "Pickets outside the British Motor Cab Company's Garage" but the location is no...

Group, Transport

1 memorial
Keith Hill

Keith Hill

MP, In 1999 Minister for London bringing London's Red Route Network into full operation.

Person, Politics & Administration, Transport

1 memorial