3-011-712 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Metropolitan Underground Railway, 1862. Stations of the world's first passenger-carrying designated underground railway. 'Paddington Junction; Chapel St. Edgeware Rd.; Baker Street; Portland Road; Gower St. Euston Rd.; signal man's station at King's Cross; King's Cross, interior; signal man's station at King's Cross - interior; King's Cross, exterior; Farringdon Street...the great idea of burrowing beneath what may be called the venous system of London - that is, its reticulation of gas, water, and sewage pipes - and creating a huge artery along which a stream of traffic should constantly flow, has been realised...The line commences at the terminus of the Great Western Railway, at Paddington...and its termination south is at Farringdon-street...passengers...will find a distance accomplished in from fifteen to twenty minutes which has hitherto...[taken up] to an hour and a quarter...Trains are to run every quarter of an hour throughout and to stop at each station...[However] expectation of the opening of the line has been raised only to be disappointed. At one period it was fixed for May last; then it was positively promised for the 1st of October; and, finally, the 1st of January next was stated to be the ultimatum'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.