Global Granary

09/01/2014 – Today is the 151 years anniversary of the London Underground!

On 9th January 1863, The world’s first underground passenger train pulled out of  Industrial Revolution (West London) and made its maiden 3.5 mile (5.6km) journey to Faringdon, East Central London.

London’s subterranean train system is known as London Underground, Underground or the Tube (due to the tube-shaped deeper tunnels). Other countries refer to their underground train systems as Metros or subways.

London led the way with developing and running a viable city-wide underground train network, of course the first trains then were not electric but steam-powered.

England and Britain also led the world in steam engine technology, as witnessed in the Industrial Revolution, which dramatically changed the world of industry, transport  and manufacturing. The first Underground train line was built by the Metropolitan Railway Company. The line relieved  overground main line trains and road traffic congestion  between Euston, King Cross and  Paddington.

The first underground railways in London, the Metropolitan Railway (MR) and the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR), used purpose-built steam locomotives to haul their trains through shallow tunnels which had many ventilation openings to allow steam and smoke to clear from the tunnels. It was impossible to use steam locomotives in the small un-vented tubular tunnels of the deep-level lines an alternative to steam had to be found.

Electric locomotives were first used on the London Underground after the world’s  first deep-level tube line, the City and South London Railway (C&SLR), was opened in 1890. The trains began running between Stockwell (Northern Line today) and King William Street.

Londoners found it a novelty to travel underground and long queues formed at the stations with 25,000 passengers using the system in the first six months. Today the Underground   carries approx 3.5 million passengers on weekdays between 270 stations and 250 miles of track of which 45% is underground. In 2012 over 1 billion passengers used the Tube.

During World War 2 1939-1945, some of the deeper tunnels and stations were used as air raid shelters by thousands of Londoners, some were kitted with bunk beds.

Driving a Tube Train

The driving controls of a tube train have grown in sophistication over the years. The most well known control is the so called  ‘dead mans handle’ a safety switch/pedal on a piece of machinery, such as a train, that allows operation only while depressed by the operator so if the driver is incapacitated, the train wil automatically stop.

Tube Driver Robyn and her more modern driving controls 2013

From about 1987 the new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has driverless trains controlled by computers. A Passenger Service Agant (PSA) AKA a Train Captain patrols the moving train, checking tickets/fares and can take manual control of the train if there are problems. Plans are being put forward to extend driverless trains throughout the London Underground. with fierce opposition from the militant transport  unions. Technical and safety issues of adopting such trains on the much more complex and heavily used main underground networks, means that this is some time away.

Train Guards

Up to 1984, the tube trains had a guard located in the end carriage. The guard ensured that passengers got &  off the train safely and judged when to close,  operated the electric sliding doors, lights to each carriage and informed/signalled the driver when to depart a station when all passengers were on board after closing the doors. Seeing this as a cost saving exercise by Tube companies which could compromise passenger safety, the union dominated tube staff managed to delay removal of guards from 1973. Tube train drivers benefitted with a large increase in salary as they operated the doors etc. It has to be said that having a guard on a  tube train did offer reassurance to passengers, particularly those travelling late at night.

The London Tube  is the world’s second largest metro system in the  in terms of route miles, after the Shanghai Metro.

In high summer, the tube trains can get very hot almost unbearable during rush crush hour!

Air conditioned trains are now being introduced on some lines.

It is more problematical to get air conditioning on deeper tunnel lines  like the Northern Line, but engineers are looking at this.

Over recent years, major engineering work on upgrading very old tracks  signalling, trains and stations has been underway.

Since the early 1960s, as a child, I have used the Tube going on outings with my parents.  So far, for the past fifty years, I’ve continued to use the Tube every day to commute to work and for travelling generally in London, I remember the inside of the carriages(cars) having wood effect panelling and domestic type light bulbs, which would go out for a few minutes as we entered the tunnel, plunging the car into utter darkness 🙁 Nowadays the lighting is more stable!

 

Around 19 000 people work at the London Underground and after the Tube stations close in the early hours , an army of engineers, maintenance workers  and cleaners descend the depths to work overnight to make the system ready for commuters and travellers by 5-6am every day.

I  like the underground and the stations, there is a buzz and vibrancy, generally friendly and helpful staff. I can feel the history of using the world’s oldest underground train system, some of the stations have unique atmospheres even their own ghosts!  Many movies and TV shows such as BBC’s ‘Dr Who’,  have used the Underground.  The latest James Bond Movie ‘SKYFAL’L features an exciting action sequence on the Tube!  Dedicated moves have been made on the Tube,  horror movies ‘Death Line’ and’ Creep’!

The Tube fares are among the highest in Europe however some discount can be obtained using the innovative prepaid ‘ Oyster’ cards.

Another recent innovation is the ability to use bank debit cards on Oyster fare machines to save queueing and paying at ticket offices.

On Sunday 13th January, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, dignitaries &  international VIPs will travel  in coaches pulled by an 1898-built steam engine, known as Met Locomotive No 1. to recreate that first historic underground journey.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the travellers TUBE!

Sketch made in 1863 of the world’s first city underground train system at Baker Street

 

Steam trains on the early London Underground in the 1860s

First electric tube  train circa 1890