London Underground history 1860-1869

Before 1860

1870-1879
To Underground Index

Date

Line(s)

Event

1863-01-10

Metropolitan, now also Hammersmith & City and Circle (except for the western terminus)

The very first section of underground in the world opened between Paddington (Bishop's Road) (now Paddington) and Farringdon Street (now Farringdon on a nearby site). The intermediate stations were Edgware Road, Baker Street, Portland Road (now Great Portland Street), Gower Street (now Euston Square) and King's Cross (now King's Cross St. Pancras).
Both broad gauge and standard gauge track was laid. Broad gauge rolling stock and locomotive was provides by GWR.

1863-08-11

Metropolitan, now also Hammersmith & City and Circle (except for the western terminus)

GWR withdrew its rolling stock with very short notice. Metropolitan quickly borrowed standard gauge stock and locomotives from GNR, which had a connection at King's Cross.
Metropolitan also ordered their own equipment, which were delivered a few months later.

1864-06-13

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City

The independent Hammersmith & City Railway opened between Paddington (Bishop's Road) (now Paddington) to Hammersmith. The intermediate stations were Notting Hill (now Ladbroke Grove) and Shepherd's Bush. Hammersmith & City Railway had working arrangement with both GWR and Metropolitan. (Does anyone know when this company was taken over by the Metropolitan?)

1864-07-01

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed

A branch opened from Latimer Road to Kensington, the latter on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).

1865-12-22

Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City

Farringdon Street station closed, see next day.

1865-12-23

Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City

Opened an extension from a new station called Farringdon Street (the old station closed the day before) (now called Farringdon) via Aldersgate Street (now Barbican) to Moorgate Street (now Moorgate).

1866-??-??

Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City

First section of quadrupling of the tracks between Farringdon and Moorgate. This was the start of the "Widened Lines". The reason is the Great Northern trains running from Moorgate to King's Cross and then on the GN main lines. See also 1868-??-??.

1866-02-01

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City

Westbourne Park station opened between Paddington and Notting Hill (now Ladbroke Grove).

1868-??-??

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed

Kensington station renamed to Kensington (Addison Road), on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).

1868-??-??

Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City

"The Widened Lines" opened completely. Sections had opened as early as 1866. They had a connection to the Midland Railway (which had a terminus at St. Pancras) and the Great Northern Railway (which had a terminus at King's Cross). The Widened Lines followed the Metropolitan tracks eastwards to Moorgate. There was also a connection to the LCDR just east of Farringdon Street (now Farringdon) via Blackfriars and south across the Thames.

1868-04-13

Baker Street and Swiss Cottage Railway, now Metropolitan

The independent Baker Street and Swiss Cottage Railway opened between Baker Street via St. John's Wood Road (later Lord's) and Marlborough Road to Swiss Cottage. (Does anyone know when this company was taken over by the Metropolitan?)

1868-10-01

Metropolitan, now Circle and District

Opened a branch from Edgware Road to Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) via Paddington (Praed Street) (now Paddington), Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate and Kensington (High Street) (now High Street Kensington).

1868-11-30

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City

Hammersmith station closed. A new station with the same name opened the next day slightly to the south.

1868-12-16

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City

Latimer Road station opened between Ladbroke Grove and Shepherd's Bush.

1868-12-24

Metropolitan, now Circle and District

Opened an extension from Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) to South Kensington.

1868-12-24

District, now also Circle

Opened the first part of the line from Metropolitan's station at South Kensington (which opened the same day) via Sloane Square, Victoria and St. James's Park to Westminster Bridge (now Westminster).

1869-04-12

District

Extended the line west from South Kensington, via Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) to West Brompton, using Metropolitan tracks between the two first stations.

1869-11-01

Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed

Uxbridge Road station opened between Latimer Road and Kensington (Addison Road), the latter on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).

Before 1860

1870-1879
To Underground Index

This page updated 1998-12-22

Date	Line(s)	Event
1863-01-10	Metropolitan, now also Hammersmith & City and Circle (except for the western terminus)	The very first section of underground in the world opened between Paddington (Bishop's Road) (now Paddington) and Farringdon Street (now Farringdon on a nearby site). The intermediate stations were Edgware Road, Baker Street, Portland Road (now Great Portland Street), Gower Street (now Euston Square) and King's Cross (now King's Cross St. Pancras). Both broad gauge and standard gauge track was laid. Broad gauge rolling stock and locomotive was provides by GWR.
1863-08-11	Metropolitan, now also Hammersmith & City and Circle (except for the western terminus)	GWR withdrew its rolling stock with very short notice. Metropolitan quickly borrowed standard gauge stock and locomotives from GNR, which had a connection at King's Cross. Metropolitan also ordered their own equipment, which were delivered a few months later.
1864-06-13	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City	The independent Hammersmith & City Railway opened between Paddington (Bishop's Road) (now Paddington) to Hammersmith. The intermediate stations were Notting Hill (now Ladbroke Grove) and Shepherd's Bush. Hammersmith & City Railway had working arrangement with both GWR and Metropolitan. (Does anyone know when this company was taken over by the Metropolitan?)
1864-07-01	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed	A branch opened from Latimer Road to Kensington, the latter on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).
1865-12-22	Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City	Farringdon Street station closed, see next day.
1865-12-23	Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City	Opened an extension from a new station called Farringdon Street (the old station closed the day before) (now called Farringdon) via Aldersgate Street (now Barbican) to Moorgate Street (now Moorgate).
1866-??-??	Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City	First section of quadrupling of the tracks between Farringdon and Moorgate. This was the start of the "Widened Lines". The reason is the Great Northern trains running from Moorgate to King's Cross and then on the GN main lines. See also 1868-??-??.
1866-02-01	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City	Westbourne Park station opened between Paddington and Notting Hill (now Ladbroke Grove).
1868-??-??	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed	Kensington station renamed to Kensington (Addison Road), on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).
1868-??-??	Metropolitan, now also Circle and Hammersmith & City	"The Widened Lines" opened completely. Sections had opened as early as 1866. They had a connection to the Midland Railway (which had a terminus at St. Pancras) and the Great Northern Railway (which had a terminus at King's Cross). The Widened Lines followed the Metropolitan tracks eastwards to Moorgate. There was also a connection to the LCDR just east of Farringdon Street (now Farringdon) via Blackfriars and south across the Thames.
1868-04-13	Baker Street and Swiss Cottage Railway, now Metropolitan	The independent Baker Street and Swiss Cottage Railway opened between Baker Street via St. John's Wood Road (later Lord's) and Marlborough Road to Swiss Cottage. (Does anyone know when this company was taken over by the Metropolitan?)
1868-10-01	Metropolitan, now Circle and District	Opened a branch from Edgware Road to Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) via Paddington (Praed Street) (now Paddington), Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate and Kensington (High Street) (now High Street Kensington).
1868-11-30	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City	Hammersmith station closed. A new station with the same name opened the next day slightly to the south.
1868-12-16	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now Hammersmith & City	Latimer Road station opened between Ladbroke Grove and Shepherd's Bush.
1868-12-24	Metropolitan, now Circle and District	Opened an extension from Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) to South Kensington.
1868-12-24	District, now also Circle	Opened the first part of the line from Metropolitan's station at South Kensington (which opened the same day) via Sloane Square, Victoria and St. James's Park to Westminster Bridge (now Westminster).
1869-04-12	District	Extended the line west from South Kensington, via Brompton (Gloucester Road) (now Gloucester Road) to West Brompton, using Metropolitan tracks between the two first stations.
1869-11-01	Hammersmith & City Railway, later Metropolitan, now closed	Uxbridge Road station opened between Latimer Road and Kensington (Addison Road), the latter on the same site as today's Kensington (Olympia).