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The Metropolitan Railway (MetR) and the Metropolitan District Railway (District) were the first two underground railways to be constructed in London, starting in the 1860s, and the first of the world's Rapid transit systems. Although separate and independent companies and often fierce rivals, the histories of the MetR and District are inextricably linked through their joint construction of the Circle Line (now the Circle Line). This article charts the history of the two companies until they become part of the London Underground. The MetR was closely associated with the Great Western Railway and could be seen as a 19th century precursor of Crossrail.

The rapid expansion of road traffic into London in the first four decades of the 19th century had stimulated many proposals for railways into the central area including a number of schemes for underground routes. Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the City of London was a leading promoter of several of these schemes and in the early 1850s did much to win government approval for the construction of the first of these lines the MetR.

Metropolitan Railway The MetR was incorporated in 1853 as the North Metropolitan Railway and was re-incorporated on 7 August 1854 as a mixed-gauge line. Once capital to build the railway was largely secured, the final route was authorised by a Parliamentary Act of August 1859.

Finally the railway opened on 10 January 1863 from a junction with the Great Western Railway (GWR) main line at Bishops Road, Paddington to Victoria Street (later Farringdon, London) in the City of London. A plaque commemorating the opening is at street level outside Baker Street tube station on the north side of Marylebone Road.

Construction began in February 1860 and was overseen by John Fowler (engineer), whose use of the "cut-and-cover" method caused massive traffic disruption in north London: during the work, the Fleet Sewer burst into the diggings and flooded the partly-built tunnel. From opening the line was worked for six months by the GWR with broad gauge rolling stock, but in August 1863, after massive disagreement between the two companies, the MetR found itself having to work the line, and provide standard gauge rolling stock, at six months’ notice. With assistance from the Great Northern Railway (Great Britain) this was achieved: the broad gauge was removed in 1869.

By the turn of the century the MetR had its foot in both the main-line and in the underground system for London.

Line openings West and Central London The MetR began extending into West London and further into the City:







Metro-land Shortly after its west and central London extensions MetR began expansion to the north and north-west. Railways always had a great deal of influence on the areas through which they ran, not least in this case. In the 1920s the term Metro-land was coined by the MetR's marketing department: advertisements extolling the benefits of healthy and bracing air and a train service unequalled for frequency and rapidity ... to and from the City without change of carriage appeared; and the railway provided a broad-sheet for House Seekers. Shortly after World War I estates were being laid out (at Neasden, Wembley Park, Pinner and Rickmansworth), and places such as Harrow Garden Village came into existence. John Betjeman was a great follower of this form of suburbia and made a celebrated television documentary called Metro-land (TV) in 1973.









Aylesbury-Verney Junction The Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway (A&BR) between Aylesbury and Verney Junction was incorporated on 6 August 1860 and opened on 23 September 1868. It served intermediate stations at Waddesdon Manor (renamed Waddesdon on 1 October 1920), Quainton Road, Grandborough (renamed Granborough on 6 October 1920) Road, and Winslow Road.Dow (1965), p. 191 The A&BR was never extended to Buckingham.

In the late 1880s the MetR had plans to extend its projected Aylesbury line northwards to Moreton PinkneyDow (1962), p. 210, to make a junction with the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway#History. Instead the A&BR was amalgamated with the MetR on 1 July 1891, and it was that line which formed the northward progress of the MetR. The section of line from Moreton Pinkney to just north of Quainton Road railway station was built later as part of the Great Central Main Line of the Great Central Railway (GCR), joining the, by then, MetR tracks into London, forming the Great Central Main Line which opened for passenger traffic on 15 March 1899.

In April 1906 the MetR section from Harrow to Verney Junction was leased to a Joint Committee of the MetR and GCR: it was worked on a five-yearly basis alternately by the joint lessees.

Passenger services on the line were withdrawn between Quainton Road and Verney Junction from 6 July 1936, and the intermediate stations of Granborough Road and Winslow Road closed. The last through service, a parcels train from Verney Junction, was on 6 September 1947.

Brill Tramway For full information see Brill Tramway. North of Aylesbury, at Quainton Road railway station, a 6½-mile (10 km) branch railway ran to Brill. It started life as the Wotton Tramway built and run under the auspices of the Duke of Buckingham. The Brill Tramway closed to all traffic on the night of 30 November / 1 December 1935.

==Metropolitan District Railway==The District was incorporated ten years later than the MetR, on 29 July 1864. As noted above, it was set up to complete the "Inner Circle".

Line openings The core section of the District commenced at the MetR's South Kensington tube station station and extended in stages to Mansion House tube station. Sections were opened as follows with the District also running westwards over the MetR's tracks to Gloucester Road tube station and High Street Kensington tube station: From this core, the District began extending branches to reach new population centres, mainly in the west:

This completed the Metropolitan District Railway system.

Steam locomotives Concern about smoke and steam in the tunnels led to new designs of locomotive. In 1861 (before the line opened) trials were made with the experimental "hot brick" locomotive nicknamed John Fowler (engineer). This was unsuccessful and the first public trains were hauled by GWR Metropolitan Class Steam locomotive condensing apparatus 2-4-0 tank engines designed by Daniel Gooch. The above were broad gauge. They were followed by standard gauge Great Northern Railway locomotives and then by the Metropolitan Railway's own standard gauge locomotives:



Electrification Electrification had been considered by the MetR as early as the 1880s, but such a method of traction was still in its infancy, and agreement would need to be reached with the District because of the shared ownership of the Inner Circle. Experiments were later carried out on the Earl's Court-High Street Kensington section, and a jointly-owned train of six coaches began a passenger service in 1900. As a result of those tests a MetR/District committee in 1901 recommended overhead Alternating current traction on the Ganz three-phase system. This was accepted by both parties but when an United States lead group, the Underground Electric Railways Company (UER), took control of the District there was disagreement. The group was led by Charles Yerkes, whose experience in the United States led him to favour direct current, with third-rail pickup similar to that in use on the City & South London Railway and Central London Railway. After arbritration by the Board of Trade the latter system was taken up and the railways began electrifying the routes, using multiple-unit stock. Services on the "Extension line" in the open remained steam-hauled for some years, necessitating change of locomotives: Two branches were built with electric traction from the outset:

Later history The MetR and District were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, becoming the Metropolitan and District Lines of the London Underground.

The section north of Aylesbury closed in 1936, though services did get to Quainton Road again between 1943 and 1948. In the same year a Metropolitan Line service extension from Whitechapel to Barking was implemented along the District Line tracks.

In 1939 the Bakerloo Line was extended in new deep-level tunnels from Baker Street to the surface at Finchley Road. The Bakerloo then took over the slow lines and stations from Finchley Road to Wembley Park and thence the Stanmore branch, while Metropolitan Line trains ran non-stop on the fast lines to Wembley Park. In its turn that section from Baker Street to Stanmore became the northern section of the Jubilee Line.

Although much of the line was electrified, steam-hauled passenger trains ran beyond Rickmansworth until 1961 and maintenance trains beyond Amersham as late as 1971. In addition, an annual "Steam on the Met" event ran until 2000, when it was suspended prior to the reorganisation of London Underground in readiness for the introduction of the new Public-Private Partnership maintenance contracts for the network, though the London Underground Railway Safety Case does permit running future specials.

Preserved Metropolitan Railway carriages The Vintage Carriages Trust has three preserved MetR Dreadnought carriages.

The Bluebell Railway has four of the older MetR Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company Ltd and Cravens Carriages, and a fifth, built at Neasden, is at London's Transport Museum.

The Spa Valley Railway is home to two later MetR London Underground T Stock carriages.

Notes

References

External links



The Metropolitan Railway (MetR) and the Metropolitan District Railway (District) were the first two underground railways to be constructed in London, starting in the 1860s, and the first of the world's Rapid transit systems. Although separate and independent companies and often fierce rivals, the histories of the MetR and District are inextricably linked through their joint construction of the Circle Line (now the Circle Line). This article charts the history of the two companies until they become part of the London Underground. The MetR was closely associated with the Great Western Railway and could be seen as a 19th century precursor of Crossrail.

The rapid expansion of road traffic into London in the first four decades of the 19th century had stimulated many proposals for railways into the central area including a number of schemes for underground routes. Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the City of London was a leading promoter of several of these schemes and in the early 1850s did much to win government approval for the construction of the first of these lines the MetR.

Metropolitan Railway The MetR was incorporated in 1853 as the North Metropolitan Railway and was re-incorporated on 7 August 1854 as a mixed-gauge line. Once capital to build the railway was largely secured, the final route was authorised by a Parliamentary Act of August 1859.

Finally the railway opened on 10 January 1863 from a junction with the Great Western Railway (GWR) main line at Bishops Road, Paddington to Victoria Street (later Farringdon, London) in the City of London. A plaque commemorating the opening is at street level outside Baker Street tube station on the north side of Marylebone Road.

Construction began in February 1860 and was overseen by John Fowler (engineer), whose use of the "cut-and-cover" method caused massive traffic disruption in north London: during the work, the Fleet Sewer burst into the diggings and flooded the partly-built tunnel. From opening the line was worked for six months by the GWR with broad gauge rolling stock, but in August 1863, after massive disagreement between the two companies, the MetR found itself having to work the line, and provide standard gauge rolling stock, at six months’ notice. With assistance from the Great Northern Railway (Great Britain) this was achieved: the broad gauge was removed in 1869.

By the turn of the century the MetR had its foot in both the main-line and in the underground system for London.

Line openings West and Central London The MetR began extending into West London and further into the City:







Metro-land Shortly after its west and central London extensions MetR began expansion to the north and north-west. Railways always had a great deal of influence on the areas through which they ran, not least in this case. In the 1920s the term Metro-land was coined by the MetR's marketing department: advertisements extolling the benefits of healthy and bracing air and a train service unequalled for frequency and rapidity ... to and from the City without change of carriage appeared; and the railway provided a broad-sheet for House Seekers. Shortly after World War I estates were being laid out (at Neasden, Wembley Park, Pinner and Rickmansworth), and places such as Harrow Garden Village came into existence. John Betjeman was a great follower of this form of suburbia and made a celebrated television documentary called Metro-land (TV) in 1973.









Aylesbury-Verney Junction The Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway (A&BR) between Aylesbury and Verney Junction was incorporated on 6 August 1860 and opened on 23 September 1868. It served intermediate stations at Waddesdon Manor (renamed Waddesdon on 1 October 1920), Quainton Road, Grandborough (renamed Granborough on 6 October 1920) Road, and Winslow Road.Dow (1965), p. 191 The A&BR was never extended to Buckingham.

In the late 1880s the MetR had plans to extend its projected Aylesbury line northwards to Moreton PinkneyDow (1962), p. 210, to make a junction with the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway#History. Instead the A&BR was amalgamated with the MetR on 1 July 1891, and it was that line which formed the northward progress of the MetR. The section of line from Moreton Pinkney to just north of Quainton Road railway station was built later as part of the Great Central Main Line of the Great Central Railway (GCR), joining the, by then, MetR tracks into London, forming the Great Central Main Line which opened for passenger traffic on 15 March 1899.

In April 1906 the MetR section from Harrow to Verney Junction was leased to a Joint Committee of the MetR and GCR: it was worked on a five-yearly basis alternately by the joint lessees.

Passenger services on the line were withdrawn between Quainton Road and Verney Junction from 6 July 1936, and the intermediate stations of Granborough Road and Winslow Road closed. The last through service, a parcels train from Verney Junction, was on 6 September 1947.

Brill Tramway For full information see Brill Tramway. North of Aylesbury, at Quainton Road railway station, a 6½-mile (10 km) branch railway ran to Brill. It started life as the Wotton Tramway built and run under the auspices of the Duke of Buckingham. The Brill Tramway closed to all traffic on the night of 30 November / 1 December 1935.

==Metropolitan District Railway==The District was incorporated ten years later than the MetR, on 29 July 1864. As noted above, it was set up to complete the "Inner Circle".

Line openings The core section of the District commenced at the MetR's South Kensington tube station station and extended in stages to Mansion House tube station. Sections were opened as follows with the District also running westwards over the MetR's tracks to Gloucester Road tube station and High Street Kensington tube station: From this core, the District began extending branches to reach new population centres, mainly in the west:

This completed the Metropolitan District Railway system.

Steam locomotives Concern about smoke and steam in the tunnels led to new designs of locomotive. In 1861 (before the line opened) trials were made with the experimental "hot brick" locomotive nicknamed John Fowler (engineer). This was unsuccessful and the first public trains were hauled by GWR Metropolitan Class Steam locomotive condensing apparatus 2-4-0 tank engines designed by Daniel Gooch. The above were broad gauge. They were followed by standard gauge Great Northern Railway locomotives and then by the Metropolitan Railway's own standard gauge locomotives:



Electrification Electrification had been considered by the MetR as early as the 1880s, but such a method of traction was still in its infancy, and agreement would need to be reached with the District because of the shared ownership of the Inner Circle. Experiments were later carried out on the Earl's Court-High Street Kensington section, and a jointly-owned train of six coaches began a passenger service in 1900. As a result of those tests a MetR/District committee in 1901 recommended overhead Alternating current traction on the Ganz three-phase system. This was accepted by both parties but when an United States lead group, the Underground Electric Railways Company (UER), took control of the District there was disagreement. The group was led by Charles Yerkes, whose experience in the United States led him to favour direct current, with third-rail pickup similar to that in use on the City & South London Railway and Central London Railway. After arbritration by the Board of Trade the latter system was taken up and the railways began electrifying the routes, using multiple-unit stock. Services on the "Extension line" in the open remained steam-hauled for some years, necessitating change of locomotives: Two branches were built with electric traction from the outset:

Later history The MetR and District were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, becoming the Metropolitan and District Lines of the London Underground.

The section north of Aylesbury closed in 1936, though services did get to Quainton Road again between 1943 and 1948. In the same year a Metropolitan Line service extension from Whitechapel to Barking was implemented along the District Line tracks.

In 1939 the Bakerloo Line was extended in new deep-level tunnels from Baker Street to the surface at Finchley Road. The Bakerloo then took over the slow lines and stations from Finchley Road to Wembley Park and thence the Stanmore branch, while Metropolitan Line trains ran non-stop on the fast lines to Wembley Park. In its turn that section from Baker Street to Stanmore became the northern section of the Jubilee Line.

Although much of the line was electrified, steam-hauled passenger trains ran beyond Rickmansworth until 1961 and maintenance trains beyond Amersham as late as 1971. In addition, an annual "Steam on the Met" event ran until 2000, when it was suspended prior to the reorganisation of London Underground in readiness for the introduction of the new Public-Private Partnership maintenance contracts for the network, though the London Underground Railway Safety Case does permit running future specials.

Preserved Metropolitan Railway carriages The Vintage Carriages Trust has three preserved MetR Dreadnought carriages.

The Bluebell Railway has four of the older MetR Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company Ltd and Cravens Carriages, and a fifth, built at Neasden, is at London's Transport Museum.

The Spa Valley Railway is home to two later MetR London Underground T Stock carriages.

Notes

References

External links



Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways - Wikipedia, the free ...
The Metropolitan Railway (MetR) and the Metropolitan District Railway (District) were the first two underground railways to be built in London, creating the world's first metro ...

Metropolitan line - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... the original name of the Metropolitan Railway, which railway had been empowered, with the Metropolitan District Railway to complete an Inner Circle of railways in London.

RUNNING POWERS INVOLVING METROPOLITAN AND METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ...
RUNNING POWERS INVOLVING METROPOLITAN AND METROPOLITAN DISTRICT RAILWAYS NOT EXERCISED by Dilwyn Chambers The Minutes of a meeting held at the Railway Clearing House on 6 September ...

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METROPOLITAN & DISTRICT: Price: £19.95 ... British Railways Mousemat: Price: £4.95 ... Hammersmith to Whitechapel Whitechapel to Ealing ...

South Kensington Station, Metropolitan and District Railways, 2003
Home —> Science —> Technology —> Railways] South Kensington Station, Metropolitan and District Railways. Photograph 2003 by George P. Landow.

High Street Kensington Station, Metropolitan and District Railways ...
High Street Kensington Station, Metropolitan and District Railways (now London Underground lines). Photograph 2008 by George P. Landow. [another view] You may use this image ...

INEX: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Metropolitan and Metropolitan ...
Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways ... Table of Contents. 1 Metropolitan railway. 1.1. Line openings; 1.2. "Metroland" 1 ...

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Metropolitan District Railway (Library of Railway History) ... This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but ... Trains & railways: general interest Railways i.e., each ...

Signal Boxes of the Metropolitan District Railway
Photographs and information on signal boxes of the Metropolitan District Railway ... The Metropolitan District Railway became part of the London Electric Railways ...

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... A roads Leeds Metropolitan District Boundary Settlement Pattern 5 miles 10 km 1:175 000 Leeds Metropolitan District Railways Motorway A roads Leeds Metropolitan District Boundary Settlement ...

 

Metropolitan And Metropolitan District Railways



 
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