The changing face of the London Underground



[ad_1]

These stunning images show the development of the London Underground, the innovative rail service that has allowed London to grow rapidly.

On January 10, 1863, the world's first underground railway service was set up between Farringdon and Paddington, then known as Bishop's Road. The Metropolitan Railway was the first service, followed in 1868 by the Metropolitan District Railway from South Kensington to Westminster.

The first underground tunnel of the Tower of London at Bermondsey opened in 1880 and in 1884 the Circle Line was completed.

During the first years of service, the cars were pulled by steam trains, which made the subway incredibly dirty and unpleasant, as soot and steam pbaded over the pbadengers as they were pulled behind the locomotive. .

In 1890, the world's first deep-water electric railway opened between King William Street in the city of London under the Thames – a major technical feat – and continued until Stockwell.

In 1900, the central London railway linking Shepherd & Bush to Bank opened.

Two years later, several lines merge to become the Underground Electric Railway Railway in London.

In the early 20th century, the network expanded rapidly with the addition of new lines linking Baker Street to Lambeth and Hammersmith and Finsbury Park.

New stations are built. The name "Underground" is used for the first time in 1908 – as well as the famous London Underground symbol London Underground.

Commuters in Earls Court benefit from the first escalators of the system in 1911.

In 1933, electrician Harry Beck produced his London Underground map to help commuters. Unlike a traditional map, it does not show the location of the stations to scale, but rather uses a circuit diagram to inspire. It is about clarity.

During the Second World War, many stations were used at night as anti-raid shelters, while some deeper stations were used to store invaluable artifacts from the British Museum.

In 1948, the service is nationalized.

In 1969, the Victoria Line joined the network and a decade later the Jubilee Line opened.

Each year, approximately 1.35 billion people use the 250 km network. More than 100 million people use Waterloo Station each year.

The longest tunnel in the network is nearly 20 miles long and runs from East Finchley to Morden (via Bank) on the Northern Line.

[ad_2]
Source link