The London Underground is one of the systems that shaped much of the city today. This brief article looks at the Tube from the beginning up to World War 2.

By the early 1800s, London had become the largest city in the world. There were already more than one million people living in the city. But it was the rapid growth over the next 100 years would require the city to adopt an ambitious solution to their transport problems. The solution is now known as the London Underground.

London Underground – The Beginning

Tunnel-blazing

By the 1850s, there were nearly 2.5 million people living in London. Its center was congested and getting worse as a result of the growing number of workers travelling into the city each day. Many of them would arrive by train at King’s Cross station to the north of the city, but had no efficient way of getting around the city once in. As such, the Metropolitan line was envisioned and began construction in 1860. It was opened in 1863 and carried 40,000 passengers per day. It was also the first underground railway station in the world. With the success of the Metropolitan line, by 1874 a second line was built along the Thames. Subsequently, in 1884, the circle line was opened.

The first routes were built just below the ground surface. Trains would literally pass right under your feet. Then cam lift (elevator) technology. While the United States was starting to use lifts in skyscrapers, in London, it allowed for the option of tunneling deeper railways.

Soon after electricity was becoming more main-stream, the railway companies began to push for electrification of the underground lines. London would be the first to have underground electrified rail. And by 1905, the three existing lines would be electric.

The London Underground – brought to you by the Americans

Two Americans played a key role in the Underground at the turn of the century. It wasn’t until 1908 that the Underground officially became “The Underground”. What is all part of one system today was actually a mix of different railway companies before. An American, Charles Yerkes, bought up the underground railway companies at the beginning of the 1900s and began the process of integrating the system as one. 6 years later, Albert Stanley would become the Chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London. Under him, there would be a heavy focus on branding. Branding which led to the famous Underground logo.

Famous map

The London Underground had so many lines and stations that people were getting lost. The map was dense and confusing. In 1933, that all changed. The lines were colour coded and a electric “circuit diagram” map was used. It’s now a method used for transit mapping all over the world.

World War II

The London Underground was very useful. During WWII, bombings from German Blitzkreig forced many from their homes. The Underground was used as a shelter from the bombings. It was also used for industrial purposes to support the war. During that time, over 17,000 women took on jobs in arms factories that were underground.

Today, there are subway systems in hundreds of cities across the world. But it all started at King’s Cross Station.

VIDEO – Documentary about the London Underground