150th Anniversary of the World's First Underground Railway

After more than 100 years of retirement, the first steam locomotive served on the London Underground has now pulled back to Baker Street Station, London.

The antique locomotive that return to duty to celebrate 150th anniversary of London's subway transportation system that will held on January 9, 2013.

The first of London Underground
roundel logo that introduced in 1908.
(Picture from: http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/)

Metropolitan steam locomotive No. 1, which was created in 1892, will attract a Victorian carriage class that has been restored and some standard cars. On January 13, 2013, trains will serve the route around the Circle Line, from Moorgate to return to Moorgate.

Mid-December 2012, the train passed the test when it can go from Earl's Court in West London into Moorgate. The distance of this test is a little farther than the first tube that performed on January 9, 1863, which is only 5.6 miles, from Paddington to the City of London.

Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London whose brings a 120 year old's steam train, optimistic that all will go smoothly. "This is the advantage of having its own train, you do not need to ask permission," said Hendy.

The Metropolitan Railway A Class 4-4-0T Steam Locomotive No. 23. (Picture from: KORAN TEMPO 4103)

Although not need to ask permission, the Transport for London must continue to work hard, at least to clean and repair the old train cars that will be used. Before the restoration, the car was used as a chicken coop on a farm. Now the Victorian carriages has returned as the first heyday, which is equipped with luxurious teak wood frame, upholstered loveseat solid red color, skin panels, and gas lamps.

A Steam locomotive seen speeding across the Severn Valley Railway was an 1896-built train preparing to launch London Underground’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The Metropolitan Railway E Class 0-4-4T “Met 1” arrived at the railway on Tuesday, November 27, shrouded in secrecy. (Picture from: http://www.newsrt.co.uk/)

The locomotive with the number 1 that last used in 1904, a year before the last steam train stopped exploring the underground tunnels of London, while the Underground system is switched to the electric train. The steam train actually withdrawn from circulation in 1963.

This Metropolitan Railway Jubilee Carriage Number 353 and Met Loco 1 (above) will be recreating the first underground journey on Sunday, January 13th, 2013. (Picture from: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/)

To feel back the steam train's, the citizens of London had to pay 150 pounds (approximately U.S. $240 or Rp. 2.3 million) for second-class's tickets and 180 pounds (approximately U.S. $292 or Rp. 2.8 million) for first's class. Though expensive, a lot of people have been lining up for felt back the experience that thousands of the 19th century's London citizen when they enjoyed the first underground transport systems in the world at 150 years ago.

2 pounds-coin: 150th Anniversary of the
London Underground - The Train and Roundel.
(Picture from: http://www.coin-database.com/)

At that time, London experienced severe congestion, the streets filled with horses and workers walking back and forth. The subway, which is now called the Tube, a highly successful breakthrough. Only in the first six months, more than 26 thousand passengers have used the steam train that uses the underground rail. But many residents are complaining about the atmosphere in the tunnel that smelled of sulfur from the smoke and steam that collects at the station and hallway.

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

150th Anniversary of the World's First Underground Railway