London Undergroundhistory and curiosity about a hidden megastructure

Summary

● Features● History and techical challenges

first underground train opened 147 years ago

● Technologybuilt near historical building without damaging them

● Curiositywhy only north of the river ?why is it closed during the night ?

Features

● The world's longest metro system● About 3 million riders a day● 270 stations● 11 lines● 400 km

History (1)

● 1850: London too crowded● Charles Pearson: train underground

● 1860-1863: Metropolitan railway (2,5 miles)

- a bold project (no previous experience)- trains with steam engines- tunnels digged from the ground: huge traffic disruption

The dummy houseLeinster Garden

History (2)

● 1900: electric trains from Germany● Battersea power station

steam turbines, large amount energyFinanced by Charles Yerkes (Chicago)

● 4 binaries trains

History (3)

● Other lines needed● Without traffic distruption

tunnel technique

● Water problems near the rivernew technology with steam

● System very expensiveNetwork expanded out of central London,into the suburbs.House built near the stationsCentral London attractive: cinema, circus,entertainment, mass publicity

History(4)

● Network expanded1868: Victoria… Northern, Circle, Central...1906: Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. 1968: Victoria.1979: Jubillee line

● Used as refuge during the second World War- August 40 - July41: 40000 bomb explosions- underground life: sleeping on elevators, train with food, factories, ...- security problems

Technology

● Most of the train lines built over 100 years agomaintenance expensive

● Jubilee line- enormous achivement-built near historical building (lack foundations)- 7000 electronic monitors placed- near the river- problems with gas, tube lines, etc...

Curiosity (1)

● Why the underground is mainly built north of the Thames ?

Clay- solid- easy to perforate- impermeable to water

perfect for tunnels !

NorthSouth

Curiosity (2)

● Tube map First version Second version (1931)

Double number of riders after few months

Curiosity (3)

● Found remains of a Roman house(during London bridge station construction)

● Found rest of a monastery(Stratford station construction)

End