150 Years of the Underground

[jbom]

I can't help noticing a divide between articles claiming that the first line of the Metropolitan Railway ran between Praed Street (modern day District platforms at Paddington) and Farringdon

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -work.html

or Bishop's Road (modern day Hammersmith and City platforms at Paddington) and Farringdon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Railway

Who is right?

[barrykas]

I can't help noticing a divide between articles claiming that the first line of the Metropolitan Railway ran between Praed Street (modern day District platforms at Paddington) and Farringdon or Bishop's Road (modern day Hammersmith and City platforms at Paddington) and Farringdon

Bishop's Road opened in 1863 with the first section of line, with Praed Street following in 1868 with the extension round to Gloucester Road via High Street Kensington.

[The Raven]

Two videos for your enjoyment of the steam train:

Ken O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsrVYYLwkB0

Farringdon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkckQ7UW9M

[Going Underground]

She looks very much at home going through there, not sure what it would look like on the Jubilee line extension though!

[Iain]

I saw the train at Earl's Court having had train problems that stopped me getting to Ken O in time to meet the Raven. From there I chased the train by going up to Picc but it got to King's Cross before me - you could tell by the smell and remaining steam - heaven alone knows what it would be like with one along every few minutes rather than just one every hour or so!

[geofftech]

Well if we're sharing videos, here's mine from last night! lovely stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WwpsOl7mCE

[tubeguru]

I've moved this topic into "Off Topic", as it isn't really about the challenge. Ta.

[Garion]

I saw the train at Earl's Court having had train problems that stopped me getting to Ken O in time to meet the Raven. From there I chased the train by going up to Picc but it got to King's Cross before me - you could tell by the smell and remaining steam - heaven alone knows what it would be like with one along every few minutes rather than just one every hour or so!

Dont forget, a lot of the sub-surface sections have been built over since it was first opened. If you travel on the Circle/District between Edgware Road and Earls Court/Gloucester Road, you notice lots of openings from above. These were to let the steam escape and vent the tunnels. However due to electric traction being introduced, multiple openings have been covered over. Look at Gloucester Road station, used to be open but now has a building on top of it. Westminster originally had open air sections. Victoria has openings at both end of the District platforms. So yeah, I'm guessing the steam and smell would have been bad but these openings/vents helped the issue to some extent

[Going Underground]

Here is a lovely link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD3wY_fp ... detailpage

[Going Underground]

I didn't realise until the other day it is also the 150th anniversary of the FA

Perhaps we could do some kind of combined challenge to celebrate both at the same time?

[The Raven]

Fantastic announcer at Farringdon for the 150th anniversary here