Farringdon Station opened on 10 January 1863 as the terminus of the world’s first underground steam-engine-hauled passenger railway, the Metropolitan Railway. The original line connected Farringdon to Paddington.
The Metropolitan Line cut the commuting time into the City of London by around eighty per cent. Despite its relatively high ticket price, and the reluctance of some to travel underground in open carriages, it was a surefire success from the moment it opened.
During construction, workers accidentally breached and flooded the River Fleet. This resulted in the station being moved slightly to its present location and rebuilt when the Metropolitan Railway extended to Moorgate in 1865. The new structure was designed by the railway’s engineer, John Fowler.
Steam traction was replaced with electric trains in 1905, eliminating smoke hazards and significantly increasing efficiency.
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Photographs ( c) Essential History