Happy Birthday to the Tube

142 Years Old Today and just as fast!

Well the Metropolitan Line the world's first ever, ever Tube line opened up to the public on the 10th January 1863. The Metropolitan Line was completely screwed up this morning in order to commemorate this historic occasion.

Even at that early stage things didn't go exactly to plan:

"It appears that arrangements have been made for opening this line on the 10th [of January] for public traffic, but as the 1st of October, the 1st of November, the middle of December have been announced from time to time as the probable date of opening, it is presumed that no one will feel disappointed if a further postponement should take place." said The Times somewhat sceptically.

On the actual day of opening The Daily Telegraph reported:

"Of the general comfort in travelling on the line there can be no question, and the novel introduction of gas into the carriages is calculated to dispel any unpleasant feeling which passengers, especially ladies, might entertain against riding for so long a distance through a tunnel."

Not sure when gas in carriages has ever been particularly pleasant - perhaps it was laughing gas, of which we could all do with some on this wet and miserable Monday.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, January 10, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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