The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How It Changed the City Forever

Hardcover, 351 pages

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Reviews

(Rated 5 out of 5)

Well researched lively and interesting history of the World's oldest and
most respected underground railway.
What amazing people the Victorians were in their vision and their incredible technological bravura.Also the many thousands of workers who built and ran the line are given due acknowledgement.
A great read.

(Rated 4 out of 5)

Christian Wolmar has produced an excellent book with a fair sprinkling of characters, politics and high finance. Anyone who is seen to take the underground for granted should be handed a copy of this book to learn just how remarkable a thing it is. Similarly, as a history of the underground, this is an excellent start.

The only disappointment is the brevity of coverage of events post 1945. The building of the Victoria and Jubilee lines are covered, but nowhere to the depth of earlier lines. Some discussion of how these lines came about would have been an interesting study in allowing politicians to run a railway.

But such criticisms are small compared to a book on railways that doesn't require an anorak to enjoy.

(Rated 5 out of 5)

This excellent and intelligent book charts the history of the London Underground from the early 1870s until the present day. Naturally the period of early development and expansion up to the establishment of Herbert Morrison's London Transport in 1933 is given most space with the Victoria Line and Jubilee Extension being briefly covered. The building of the cut and cover Metropolitan and the District Railway and the intense rivalry of their respective chairmen Edward Watkin and James Forbes is most interesting. The simultaneous relating of the story of the deep line electric railways, the technological developments and the always interesting roles of the great characters and engineers involved is the strength and pleasure of this book. The complex story is related with a speed and clarity that gives the feeling of excitement and wonder that must have existed at the time. The contribution of American technology brought over by Charles Yerkes, the station designs of Leslie Green and the later Art Deco of Charles Holden, the administrative genius of Ashfield and Frank Pick who between them formed the look of the Underground system that we now take for granted as 'naturally' correct, are all covered with immense flair in this excellent book. Read this and then rush to buy Wolmar's 'Fire and Steam'.

(Rated 5 out of 5)

Provides not only a brilliant coverage of the building of the Underground but a fascinating look into the affect of the railways on the City.

Well worth a read.

(Rated 5 out of 5)

This book deserves to be enjoyed well outside trainspotting or railway enthusiast circles. Charting the foundation and growth of one history's boldest engineering projects, it is full of fascinating revelations about London, its people, its politics, its demands and its ever-increasing needs. That sense of a secret world beneath our feet was never conveyed better. I read much of this book while travelling on the Underground itself, and emerged a good deal more appreciative of the visionary men who built it. Perhaps more commuters should do the same!