Opening of the world's first metro
The idea of building an underground railway, which would connect the center of London with its outskirts, appeared in the 1830s. But it began to be realized only 20 years later, when a critical transport situation developed in the two millionth capital of the British Empire because of the large passenger traffic.
Charles Pearson’s proposal, expressed in 1846, about the underground railway was supported only six years later, when a municipal company was established to build a line. She was supposed to connect Paddington and Kings Cross stations to the Farringdon suburban station.
Financially and technically, this project was supported by the Great Western Railway Railway Company, which owned railroads in western England and Farringdon station.
In January 1853, she hired an authoritative specialist in railway infrastructure, John Fowler, as a chief engineer. He developed a method for building tunnels in soft soils — a railway track lay at the bottom of a 10-meter-deep ditch, after which it was covered with a brick arch. His trial began in 1855 in the city of Kibblesworth in the north of England, where the geological features of the soil were similar to those of London.
Due to the participation of Great Britain in the Crimean War, funding for the construction of the Metropolitan Railway underground railway was resumed only in March 1860. For three years, a 3.75 miles long line was built with seven stations.
The opening of the world's first metro took place at 6 am on January 10, 1863. From Paddington station, 6 trains with 4 cars each departed at 15 minutes intervals using kerosene lamps lit up. A total of 120 trips were made during the first day and 38,000 passengers were transported.
Charles Pearson’s proposal, expressed in 1846, about the underground railway was supported only six years later, when a municipal company was established to build a line. She was supposed to connect Paddington and Kings Cross stations to the Farringdon suburban station.
Financially and technically, this project was supported by the Great Western Railway Railway Company, which owned railroads in western England and Farringdon station.
Photo © jnsm.com.ua
In January 1853, she hired an authoritative specialist in railway infrastructure, John Fowler, as a chief engineer. He developed a method for building tunnels in soft soils — a railway track lay at the bottom of a 10-meter-deep ditch, after which it was covered with a brick arch. His trial began in 1855 in the city of Kibblesworth in the north of England, where the geological features of the soil were similar to those of London.
Due to the participation of Great Britain in the Crimean War, funding for the construction of the Metropolitan Railway underground railway was resumed only in March 1860. For three years, a 3.75 miles long line was built with seven stations.
The opening of the world's first metro took place at 6 am on January 10, 1863. From Paddington station, 6 trains with 4 cars each departed at 15 minutes intervals using kerosene lamps lit up. A total of 120 trips were made during the first day and 38,000 passengers were transported.
