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© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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Trial trip of first Metropolitan Railway Electric train on 13 December 1904 - the service commenced 1 January 1905. View showing the rear of the train with various members of Metropolitan Railway staff.

Unknown photographer, 13 Dec 1904

Image no: Ukn

Inventory no: 1998/61311

20th Century London caption: This photo, taken on the trial trip of the first Metropolitan Railway electric train on 13 December 1904, shows the rear of the train and various members of Metropolitan Railway staff. The press were also invited. 'The Times' reported the next day, '[we are] celebrating the beginning of a new era in the history of the old Underground railways from which smoke, dirt and discomfort will be nearly banished.' The public service started on 1 January 1905 between Baker Street and Uxbridge. The primary purpose of electrification was to exclude steam locomotives from the tunnels of the inner London area. The steam locomotives' drivers and firemen were retrained as motormen.

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