BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Rome's Metro network (which uses overhead) opened in 1955...........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_Metro

["METROPOLITANA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London's famed Underground has long fascinated me; I have a number of books dealing with the history and operation of "the tubes", as well as rolling stock the history is indeed rich and most fascinating:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground

Service began in 1863, utilizing steam locomotives; in 1890, the City & South London Railway ushered into underground electrification, utilizing small electric locomotives.

The first MU equipment entered service in the 1900s; some of the rolling stock was built BY ACF, and shipped to Britain (later, ACF built its own plany near London)

Interestingly, the Underground comprises of two separate "subways", if you will.

The "sub-surface" lines utilize trains that are more atkin to ours, in terms of overall dimensions; the "deep level tube" rolling stock have always been quite squat, and still are today (an interesting side-by-side comparison photo is also on this page)

"NYO"

["EDGEWARE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When it opened in 1890, the "City & South London Railway" was the first underground railway in the world powered by electricity; this line was indeed quite futuristic for its day.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_and_South_London_Railway

["EUSTON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London's 1906 "gate stock" were among the earliest MU rapid transit equipment.

Each train had several "trailers" flanked by a motor car at each end.

Even after the replacement of the gates with automatic doors, the general profile of the motor cars (where all electrical gear was on the floor level, instead of carried under the underbody) through the 1920s.

The famed "Red Trains" (the 1938 stock) were the first "tube" trains to have all electrical gear under the car body, greatly increasing passenger capacity.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_1906_Stock

["HENDON NON-STOP"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting page on the iconic Underground 1938 stock (aka the "Red Trains"); these trains were in service were many decades, and secveral examples are now in preservation.

These once-familiar trains served generations of Londoners.

British toy train manufacturers BASSETT-LOWKE and HORNBY-DUBLO once offered toy replicas of these trains.

In the early 1950s, EVERYREADY (the battery company) offered a plastic "OO" ("HO") version of these trains, operated by battery.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_1938_Stock

["HIGHGATE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London's "Standard Stock" pre-dated the 1938 stock; these trains, as mentioned earlier, utilized motor cars (at each end of a consist) with all electrical gear at floor level.

The first such trains entered service in the 1900s; in later years, the "gate stock" were converted to automatic doors, and later "Standard Stock" were of a more modern design, also with automatic doors.

A number of these solid, hard-working units ran until the 1960s............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_Standard_Stock

["BAKERLOO"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The 1959 (London) stock were indeed quite sleek and silvery when they first entered service.

These trains (which, in fact, sounded much like the older prewar trains that they replaced) were also the first production-model "tube" stock to be furnished with florescent lighting.

Interestingly enough, a few of the older "Standard" stock were modified to run with the 1959 stock.

These once up-to-date trains survived into 2000; they were also the last "tube" stock to utilize both a motorman and a guard (conductor)............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_1959_Stock

["COLINDALE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When the Victoria line opened in the later 1960s, it was the first London "tube" line to open in 50 years.

The original trains ran until 2011.................

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Line

["OXFORD CIRCUS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Until 1952, London had its own streetcar (tramway) subway; this was the Kingsway Subway, which once served several routes.

The Subway was originally built for single-deck cars, but was later rebuilt for the operation of double-deck cars, which served until abandonment in 1952.

This Subway, interestingly, was the only "streetcar" subway used by double-deck cars

At one time, there has been talk of replacing the trams with trolleybuses in the subway, but these proposals never got beyond the talking stage........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsway_tramway_subway

["HOLBURN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London's "METROPOLITAN" line has a rich and fascinating history; many interesting types of rolling stock have served the line through the decades.

In 1863, it was the first underground railway in the world; electrification arrived in 1905................

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Line

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro-land

["ALDGATE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In London, "DISTRICT" line trains were originally steam-hauled; electrification was introduced in 1903, and MU stock began operation in 1905.

Like other London Underground lines, the District line has a long and rich history...............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_line

["EARL'S COURT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are interesting pages (w/many photos) of vintage "subsurface" stock ("O"/"P"/R") classes, which served Londoners for decades.

Note also the unusual flared skirting of the car bodies..........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_R_Stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_O_and_P_Stock

["HAMMERSMITH & CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In Berlin, several sets of restored historic "U-BAHN" trains often run on fan trips, or are brought out for special events.

These "A-1"-class cars are reminiscent of some of the Paris Metro's earliest rolling stock............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56442

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56412

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56411

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?104262

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?104251

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["U"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This nostalgic early 1960s photo depicts one of the "U-BAHN" trains of the 1930s.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57745

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

This photo makes for an interesting contrast to the cars operating in New York during the 30s.

Note:

No anticlimber

No safety chains or pantograph gates.

A preserved train of these cars is now part of the "U-BAHN's" historic fleet

Also, note unusual coupler.........

["U-BAHN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is an excellent photo page on the "ghost" U-Bahn stations which are today dimly-lit, echoing, haunting reminders of a divided Berlin................

https://atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-forgotten-ghost-stations-of-a-once-divided-berlin

["Potsdamer Platz"]