ENGINEERING THE LONDON UNDERGROUND BY KATE CONLEY CONTENT CONSULTANT Michael A Mooney Grewcock Chair Professor of Underground Construction Tunneling Colorado School of Mines Cover image A London Underground train arrives at one of the system’s hundreds of stations Core Library An Imprint of Abdo Publishing abdopublishing com BUILDING BY DESIGN
CHAPTER ONE 4
THE UNDERGROUND A cold wet morning dawns across London England Most people are still asleep But Dylan Glenister is already at work He is a train driver on the London Underground It is the world’s oldest subway system Glenister is ready for a day of transporting thousands of commuters But before he can pick up passengers he must inspect his train He walks through the cars checking doors and testing the intercom When all is ready he begins his route on the Piccadilly Line Glenister and his fellow drivers keep London moving Every year they transport Every day millions of people descend the stairs into the London Underground 5
