On the 13th of May, 1924, the London Underground witnessed something truly extraordinary unfold 23 metres beneath the streets: a baby made its grand entrance right in the confines of a Bakerloo line carriage. Luckily, there was a doctor on board who played midwife as the mother went into labour. Meanwhile, a group of city typists (returning home from work), formed a human barrier, shielding the newborn’s arrival from inquisitive eyes as the cry of a healthy baby girl pierced through the blackened tunnels.

Now, the big question: what to name this underground-born wonder? Suggestions flew left, right, and centre. Some suggested «Jocelyn» in a nod to the jostling of passengers during rush hour, while others fancied the posher «Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor», or TUBE for short. But in the end, the proud parents settled on «Marie Ashfield Eleanor,» perhaps a subtle homage to the very station where the miracle began – Marylebone (interestingly, pronounced «Maa-luh-bn»).

Marie grew up hating and avoiding underground travel. Can you blame her? After all, she was the first of a select few – just five people – to enter the world in such unconventional surroundings. However, it has given birth to many a star – Ed Sheeran, George Michael and Rod Stewart, for example, started their career by busking under its arches.

But let’s go back 61 years before Marie´s birth, to the birth of London’s underground marvel. Back in 1863, the Metropolitan Railway Company set the wheels in motion for what would become the world’s first proper metro line. Can you imagine those steam locomotives chugging along, pulling wooden carriages lit by gas lamps? Talk about a journey for the senses!

Fast forward to today, and the Underground has grown to 11 lines and 272 stations on 400 km of track. London’s metro system is constantly evolving from the original network built by the «navvies», from across Britain and Ireland, who dug the trenches and tunnels, and Yorkshire engineers, Fowler and Greathead, who paved the way for this subterranean marvel (more than 50% of which is actually above ground!).

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing (or should that be riding since we’re talking of trains). The war years saw many tube stations become makeshift shelters, providing refuge from the relentless bombing above. Down Street Station, a ghost station since the early 1930s, was even used by Churchill during the raids. But as the war ended and the dust settled, the underground emerged as a symbol of resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.

And what about that iconic roundel badge? As the lines were originally separate companies, each had its own variation on the line and circle design on their signage. To make the network more marketable and distinctive, Frank Pick and Edward Johnson combined and simplified the features of each sign and produced the definitive sleek logo we see today.

Some people love the Tube’s corporate design so much that they have their wedding reception at St. Pancras Station, complete with tube-themed decorations.

So, next time you’re in London, jump on the Tube and as you hurtle through the darkness, take a moment to appreciate the people who toiled to make these tunnels a reality and its effect on the lives of so many people. After all, London’s underground isn’t just a mode of transport—it’s a testament to British ingenuity, engineering heritage, camaraderie in times of trouble and life itself. And that is a journey worth celebrating.

John Flynn