January 10, 1863: London Underground Opens as World's First Subway

On January 10, 1863, the London Underground opened as the world's first underground railway. Steam locomotives hauled wooden carriages through tunnels beneath London streets. Despite warnings that tunneling underground would cause buildings to collapse and passengers to suffocate, 30,000 riders packed the trains on opening day.

Why Victorians Thought the Underground Would Kill Them

Newspapers warned that traveling underground defied God's will. Doctors claimed lack of sunlight would drive passengers insane. Critics predicted tunnel collapses would bury riders alive. The Times dismissed it as absurd. These fears evaporated when thousands survived unharmed and demanded more routes.

Steam Engines Belching Smoke in Tunnels

Steam locomotives filled tunnels with choking smoke and soot. Engineers tried condensing the steam to reduce smoke, but it barely helped. Passengers emerged covered in coal dust. Despite the pollution, ridership exploded because the Underground cut journey times from hours to minutes. Londoners accepted dirty air for speed.

The Cut and Cover Chaos That Tore Up London

Builders used the cut and cover method, digging enormous trenches along streets, building brick tunnels, then covering them back up. Construction ripped up major roads for years. Businesses went bankrupt. Sewers and gas mains constantly burst. Workers died in cave ins. Londoners hated the disruption but recognized they were witnessing engineering history.

How the Underground Transformed London Forever

Before the Underground, only the wealthy could live away from their workplaces. The Underground let ordinary people live in suburbs and commute affordably. This created the modern commuter lifestyle. The city grew from 3 million to 6.5 million residents between 1860 and 1900 because the Underground made expansion possible.

The Worldwide Subway Revolution It Sparked

London's success inspired cities globally. Budapest opened the first electric underground in 1896. Paris launched the Metro in 1900. New York's subway opened in 1904. Today, over 200 cities operate underground rail systems. London proved moving people underground was essential.

Why People Still Call It the Tube

Londoners call it the Tube because deep level lines built after 1890 used circular tunnels that looked like tubes. The original 1863 line used rectangular tunnels. The nickname stuck. The iconic Tube map designed in 1933 became a symbol recognized worldwide.