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Plaque

First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Inscription

Beneath this roadway runs the world's first underground passenger railway. It was opened for public traffic by the Metropolitan Railway Company on 10 January 1863.

Erected by London Transport in 1963.

London's roads were heavily congested, the railways stopped on the fringes of the West End so some way of linking the mainline stations: Paddington, Euston and King's Cross, was needed - the tube. A celebratory banquet was held at Farringdon on the eve of the opening and the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston would have attended had he not been close to 80 and wanting "to spend as much time above ground as he possibly could".

Site: Baker Street Station & first underground railway (2 memorials)

NW1, Marylebone Road

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Subjects commemorated i

First underground passenger railway - Metropolitan

Between Paddington and Farringdon. A grand opening on the 9th preceded the op...

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Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Created by i

Transport for London / London Transport

This organisation has been a bit of a political football, often having its na...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
First underground passenger railway - LT plaque

Also at this site i

Baker Street Station

Baker Street Station

This plaque is somewhat reticent about its function which is to commemorate t...

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Nearby Memorials

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

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Franklin lived here for two extended stays between 1757 and 1775. This is the only Franklin residence that survives. Due to the street ha...

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Diplomatic Gates

Diplomatic Gates

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The spelling is probably a good indication of which country funded this memorial.

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Sir William Addison

Sir William Addison

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Sir William Addison (1905 - 1992) author, jurist and historian, ran a bookshop here. Loughton Town Council 1999

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Sidney & Beatrice Webb

Sidney & Beatrice Webb

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Sidney Webb (1859 - 1947) and Beatrice Webb (1858 - 1943) social scientists and political reformers, lived here. Greater London Council

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Admiral Duncan nail bomb

Admiral Duncan nail bomb

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In our photo the plaque can be seen, below the second 'n' of Duncan. Inside there is a memorial chandelier.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators