OPENING OF THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.
from The Illustrated London News (1863)
The inaugural ceremony connected with the opening of the much-talked-of and long-projected Metropolitan Railway was celebrated on the 9th inst. [Jan 1863] by an experimental trip and a subsequent banquet at the Farringdon-street station. It is now eight years ago since the first practical steps towards the realisation of the idea, the success of which was thus honoured, were taken, and to the late Mr. Charles Pearson, the solicitor for many years to the Corporation of London, belongs the credit of first originating it. Although the present underground railway is not the precise scheme which Mr. Pearson proposed, it is the offspring of his original project, and therefore to his name must the credit attach of the undertaking, which he did not live to see completed. The early struggles of the company were enormous, and more than once the scheme was almost abandoned as hopeless. Perhaps it would have been abandoned for ever had it not been for the well-founded and universal outcry at the impediments to circulation in London arising from the mighty tide of traffic passing through it. It was this consideration that induced the Corporation of the City to subscribe £200,000 towards the line, and this support, with the aid of the Great Western and Great Northern Companies, enabled the present company to begin the work with a fair prospect of success. Even then the preliminary difficulties were only overcome. There remained the great and novel task of burrowing under ground for between three and four miles, of undermining streets and houses, of working in the midst of water-pipes, gaspipes, sewers, mains, and ditches. Those who may use the line will never be able to appreciate, from what they see, the vast labour and the stupendous resources which were exerted in this part of the undertaking. The engineers and contractors alone can have an adequate conception of the difficulties which were encountered in this under ground world of London. In Mr. Jay's part of the contract the Fleet ditch had to be crossed four times, and the bursting of that formidable barrier after heavy rains during the progress of the works was one of the causes which delayed the opening of the line so long. The great undertaking is, however, accomplished; and, for the first time in the history of the world, men can ride in pleasant carriages, and with considerable comfort, lower down than gaspipes and water-pipes, and besides sewers and mains.
The preliminary trial was made on the 9th inst., about 650 invited passengers, started from Paddington about one o'clock and proceeded along the line to Farringdon-street, inspecting the various stations on the way. The trip was most satisfactory, and sanguine hopes were expressed as to the success of the undertaking.
THE BANQUET.
At the Farringdon-street terminus a banquet had been prepared, and was partaken of by the guests. It was held in a large room specially erected for the occasion adjoining the station. This room was 250ft, long and 50 wide, and constructed to accommodate 700 persons, for which number tickets were issued. It was lined throughout its entire length with red and white cloth, and banners of all nations were suspended from the ceiling and side walls. The bands of the City police were in attendance, and as the trains came into the station they struck up some enlivening airs. Amongst those present were the chairman of the company, Mr. Wilkinson, who also presided at the dinner; Lord Harris; the Lord Mayor, M.P., Mr. Lowe, M.P., Mr. W. Wood, M.P., Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Sir S.M. Peto, M.P., Mr. H. Lewis, M.P., Mr. S. Beale, M.P., Professor Owen, Sir Rowland Trill and Lady, Colonel Sir J. Hamilton, Bart., Mr. Malins, M.P., Mr. Sheriff Jones, Aldermen Sidney, M.P., Humphery, Challis, Abbis, Dakin, Wilson, Moon, Carter, Neyle, Gibbons, and Mr. Scott Russell. Several interesting speeches were made, some of them containing valuable information in connection with the railway. Mr. Fowler, the engineer of the company, in replying to a toast, said he certainly felt somewhat proud at the result of that day's proceedings. They had accomplished a journey from Paddington to that place, and thereby showed that they had brought to completion that line, which might be regarded as the first section of the Metropolitan Railway— a great work of a novel character, and of which a large share of the responsibility in one department devolved on him. He called it the first section of the line, for its permanent terminus would be in Finsbury-circus, and not where they were now assembled. Having referred to the early struggles of the promoters of a metropolitan line, he said it was at first contemplated to work the trains by atmospheric traction; but, having to consider that system, he reported against its adoption. The ordinary locomotive could not be used, and it was necessary to have a new one. He prepared the model of an engine that had no firebox and carried no fire, and an engine made upon that model, with some slight modifications of detail, was working on the line. He believed it would be found that it worked with facility, while it gave out no steam and no smoke. The object accomplished, he believed, was worth all the difficulties encountered; and they were not few nor slight, for it would afford not only the means of relieving the traffic of the city of London and connect the railway lines on the north side of the Thames, but would connect the north with the south by means of the London, Chatham, and Dover line. He must say, on behalf of the directors, that they had placed a generous and unbounded confidence in him. He had received valuable assistance from Mr. Johnson, the resident engineer, and was well supported by the contractors. The result was, that the stoutest unbelievers must now be convinced of the practicability of the line. Mr. Parson, the deputy-chairman of the company, in proposing “The health of the Lord Mayor, and success to the Corporation of which he was the principal officer,” said:— The company felt that they were under a deep debt of gratitude to the Corporation for their munificent subscription of £200,000 towards the construction of an undertaking so novel in its nature. He hoped they would be recompensed by a good return on their money. He could not let the opportunity pass by of saying how deeply he regretted that his friend Mr. Charles Pearson had not lived to see the completion of the idea of which he was the originator. In speaking of Mr. Pearson, he thought he was justified in correcting an idea which seemed to prevail—namely, that he had been remunerated by the Metropolitan Railway Company for his services. Now, Mr. Pearson never asked for, and never received, the slightest recompense or compensation of any kind from the Metropolitan Railway Company. And when, after it was put on its legs through his exertions, Mr. Pearson was asked how they could compensate him for his labour, his reply was:—“I am the servant of the Corporation of London: they are my masters, and entitled to all my time and services. If you have any return to make, you must make it to them.” Among the other speakers were Lord Harris, the Lord Mayor, Mr. Lowe, Sir M. Peto, and Mr. Jay, one of the contractors.
The Metropolitan Railway was fairly opened to the public on the 10th inst., and it was calculated that more than 30,000 persons were carried over the line in the course of the day. Indeed the desire to travel by this line on the opening day was more than the directors had provided for; and from nine o'clock in the morning till past midday it was impossible to obtain a place in the up or Cityward line at any of the mid stations. In the evening the tide turned, and the crush at the Farringdon-street station was as great as at the doors of a theatre on the first night of some popular performer. Some lightening of the pressure was obtained by the Great Western lending some of their engines and carriages supplemental to the rolling stock of the company. Notwithstanding the throng, it is gratifying to add that no accident occurred, and the report of the passengers was unanimous in favour of the smoothness and comfort of the line.
