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The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How it Changed the City Forever
Hardback
Main Details
| Title |
The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How it Changed the City Forever
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| Authors and Contributors |
By (author) Christian Wolmar
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| Physical Properties |
| Format:Hardback | | Pages:384 | | Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 153 |
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| Category/Genre | Industrialisation and industrial history
Trains and railways |
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| ISBN/Barcode |
9781843540229
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| Classifications | Dewey:388.42809421 |
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| Audience | |
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| Illustrations |
b&w line drawings, photos
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Publishing Details |
| Publisher |
Atlantic Books
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| Imprint |
Atlantic Books
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| Publication Date |
26 October 2004 |
| Publication Country |
United Kingdom
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Description
Since Victorian times, London's Underground has made an extraordinary contribution to the economy of the capital and has played a vital role in the daily life of generations of Londoners. This wide-ranging history of the Underground celebrates the vision and determination of the Victorian pioneers who conceived this revolutionary transport system and the men who tunnelled to make the Tube. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the Underground's contribution to twentieth-century industrial design and its role during two world wars, the story comes right in to the present with its sleek, driverless trains and the wrangles over the future of the system.
Author Biography
Christian Wolmar, 'Britain's most astute transport observer' (New Statesman), is a writer and broadcaster whose previous books have included Broken Rails: How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways (Aurum). His most recent book is Down the Tube: The Battle For London's Underground (Aurum, 2001) He writes regularly for The Independent, Evening Standard and New Statesman, principally on railway matters, and is a frequent broadcaster on TV and radio on current affairs and news programmes.
ReviewsKirkus Review US:The London underground, for all the frustration and downright bemusement it provokes, is often taken for granted, but the system is an essential part of the city. With it's famous roundel one of the world's most recognisable symbols, the Tube, perhaps even more than Big Ben and Nelson's column, symbolises London. Yet how did it come into being? What made a disparate collection of Victorian entrepreneurs, railway magnates, engineers and social reformers embark upon such an ambitious project? There are other histories of the Underground and countless histories of London, but none that properly combine the two. Christian Wolmar sets out to do just that, placing the development of the world's first underground railway firmly in the wider context of London history. His is an epic tale featuring business rivalries, technical troubles, audacious gambles, rows, risks and triumphs. Packed with intriguing facts, figures and anecdotes, The Subterranean Railway thoroughly engages as it shows just how influential the construction of the Underground was in shaping the London of today. In addition Wolmar's story, serves as a timely reminder of how important it is that such a great achievement is not left to suffer a legacy of sad decline. (Kirkus UK)
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