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

Ernest George Neighbour

Ernest George Neighbour

The photo shows Ernie with his wife Lily on their wedding day before he went to war. He was captured in Singapore in 1942. From the Picture source: "Mr Neighbour grew up in the Caledonian Road area...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport

War served, WW2
1 memorial
White Horse Cellars at Hatchett's Hotel

White Horse Cellars at Hatchett's Hotel

This building is still at 66-68 Piccadilly, on the north-east of the junction with Dover Street.  Architect: Weatherley and Jones. From British History (written in 1878, just 10 years before Selby...

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink, Transport

1 memorial
Handley Page V1500 bomber crash

Handley Page V1500 bomber crash

The aircraft had taken off from Cricklewood Aerodrome. At an altitude of approximately 700 to 800ft, all four of the engines were heard to stop, sending it crashing to the ground and catching fire....

Event, Tragedy, Transport

1 memorial
Palmer Tyre Company

Palmer Tyre Company

From Car History: In June 1892 John F. Palmer (American) obtained two US patents for a “thread-fabric” bicycle pneumatic tire. Shortly afterwards he moved to England; registering the Palmer Tire Co...

Group, Industry, Transport

1 memorial
City and South London Railway / Northern Line

City and South London Railway / Northern Line

The world's first underground electric railway, the world's first deep tunnel railway, and the first purpose-built railway tunnel under the Thames. This became what we know as the Bank branch of th...

Group, Transport

4 memorials

Previously viewed

TAG (T-Rex Action Group)

TAG (T-Rex Action Group)

TAG is the legal leaseholder of the site of the Marc Bolan Shrine.  They arranged for the steps to be laid in 2000 and have continued to maintain and upgrade the site ever since.  They also maintai...

Group, History, Music / songs

7 memorials
Ronald Derek Keep Edwards, JP, Deputy

Ronald Derek Keep Edwards, JP, Deputy

Commoner on the City Lands & Bridge House Estates Committee, 1994.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Princess Alice Disaster - mural

Princess Alice Disaster - mural

IG11, River Road, Creekmouth Open Space

{Four plaques to the right of the mural:} Creekmouth Heritage Project About this site: Creekmouth Open Space The Creekmouth Heritage Pro...

3 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Councillor H. W. Littler

Councillor H. W. Littler

Member of the Electric Lighting and Tramways Committee, West Ham, 1905. This Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health, West Ham, 1909 gives more of his name, referring to 'Alderman H. W. Lit...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Finsbury war monument

Finsbury war monument

EC1, Rosebery Avenue, Spa Green Garden

The statue represents winged Victory on orb, lightly draped and holding a laurel wreath in extended left hand. There are bronze crossed l...

5 subjects commemorated, 1 creator