Okay, I know that it was not today, but 10th October 1863 saw the opening of Britain’s first underground train. This ran from Paddington station to Farringdon Street via Baker Street and then north through Angel (now Islington) to King’s Cross St Pancras.
However, not to be outdone, the first underground train – or subway train as it was chosen to be called – in the USA opened today, 1st September 1897, in Boston, Massachusetts, 34 years later. The first track covered the stations at Park Street, Public Garden and Boylston and was just over half a mile long.
However, it was not without some gruesome discoveries! At the corner of Tremont and Boylston Street on Boston Common is the Central Burying Ground, established in 1756 as Boston’s fourth cemetery. Whilst digging the tunnel, it skirted the cemetery and burials were discovered in the area adjoining it. It was reported that at least 90 bodies were found in seven tombs, which had not been previously disturbed, and 820 bodies were found scattered around in the ground, resulting in a total of 910 bodies.
However, not to be outdone, the first underground train – or subway train as it was chosen to be called – in the USA opened today, 1st September 1897, in Boston, Massachusetts, 34 years later. The first track covered the stations at Park Street, Public Garden and Boylston and was just over half a mile long.
However, it was not without some gruesome discoveries! At the corner of Tremont and Boylston Street on Boston Common is the Central Burying Ground, established in 1756 as Boston’s fourth cemetery. Whilst digging the tunnel, it skirted the cemetery and burials were discovered in the area adjoining it. It was reported that at least 90 bodies were found in seven tombs, which had not been previously disturbed, and 820 bodies were found scattered around in the ground, resulting in a total of 910 bodies.
