3-028-364 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Thames Subway at Tower-Hill: omnibus carriage, 1870. Tunnel under the River Thames in London, designed by William Henry Barlow. 'The subway consists of a narrow tunnel uniting two vertical shafts...On the railway runs an omnibus conveying twelve passengers. The omnibus...is connected with a rope of steel wire...At each end of the tunnel this wire runs over a drum, worked by a stationary engine...The omnibus is provided with brakes, so that its motion is completely under the control of the man in charge. At each end of the tunnel it is received by buffers, or catches, which are connected with very strong springs of vulcanised indiarubber... When the omnibus arrives and has discharged its load, those who are waiting step in and start off for the other end. The descent of the shaft occupies twenty-five seconds, and the omnibus journey seventy seconds; so that a passenger may descend into the shaft at Tower-hill and emerge in Vine-street in a minute and three quarters from the time of his descent...The lifts, as they only carry half as many passengers as the omnibus, will make twice as many journeys; and it is intended to give priority of ascent to first-class passengers, who pay twopence, while the second-class passengers pay one penny'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.