The London Underground - Unsung Hero

The London Underground.  How does one go about trying to pay tribute to the oldest section of underground railway in the world which has been operating since 1863 and services 207 stations along 402 kilometers of track while transporting 1.2 billion people to and from work and play?  I offer up these photos as a small glimpse into an amazing feat of both engineering and organisation.

A drawing of the construction of London's Underground.  Image courtesy of London Historians.

This is a photo from the archives of the British Library.  It shows workers constructing a Tube tunnel.

Henry C. Beck's 1931 draft of the London Underground.  Most modern transit maps are based on this breakthrough design.

The design hasn't changed much (other than to include all the new lines) in 70 years.

The ever-trendy tube - keeping up with the times! A Jubilee line train celebrating Her Majesty.  Wonder if she's ever ridden on the Tube?  Image courtesy of the Londonist.

As you can see from the luggage, I had just arrived in London and was soooooooo excited about riding the tube.  The Bakerloo line was our trusty companion for our week's sojourn.

Tail end of the festivities for the Olympics and Paralympics.  It was nice to capture this Underground sign in the same frame as a Canadian flag.  :)

Leicester Square tube station - alight here for movie premiers with the rich and famous all glitzed and glammed.

Flats above Charing Cross tube station.  Hmmmm... wonder if they are noisy?

Piccadilly Circus tube stop is not your friend if you are afraid of gaps between the train and the platform.  Good thing Matthew was there to help me not fall down the foot-wide abyss.  I guess I now know why they have the announcement, 'Mind the Gap.'

I just really loved how all the tube stations have their own personality.

They also have their own history... even if it is fictional!

Anyone want to go pay Sherlock Homes a visit?  Evidence would suggest he lives near the Baker Line.

Close up of the Holmes outline.

The tube is not above making a few pennies off of one of its most beloved travellers.  To see my picture of Paddington Bear go here.  North Americans with a hankering for a good doughnut can satisfy their craving at the nearby Krispy Kreme. :)

So there you have it.  London can be your Oyster if you buy the card.  It did all of the work for us as we travelled about seeing the beautiful and bizarre.  A truly unsung hero that I thought deserved a nod for all its elbow grease this past century and a half.  For more amazing photos in celebration of the Tube's 150th birthday this year, the Telegraph posted some amazing shots here. And lest you think that London is all stone structures and tunnels of steel my final post in my series on London will show off some of its wildlife.

 P.S. While on my internet wanderings, I came across this site.  I don't know if it is legitimate, but it is hysterical.  It claims the phrases posted have actually been said by tube conductors.