City and South London Railway City of London and Southwark Subway Company

City and South London Railway City of London and Southwark Subway Company

The City of London and Southwark Subway Company was incorporated in July 1884 to carry out a scheme to construct a twin-tube cable-traction subway from King William Street [now Monument station] to Elephant and Castle. In 1889 it was decided to run the trains electrically instead of by a cable car method, thus making this the world's first electric tube railway. It was also decided to extend the line to Stockwell, where the electrical generating equipment was housed. In 1890 it was decided to extend the line south to Clapham Common and north to Moorgate and the Angel, Islington. The company name was also changed to the City and South London Railway. A further extension to Kings Cross and Euston stations was opened in 1907. An extension to Camden Town was opened in 1924 and to Morden in 1926.

The City and South London Railway was connected with the Charing Cross to Hampstead line (constructed between 1900 and 1924 as the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway) in 1924 and by 1937 the two railways had been integrated into one system, and renamed the Northern Line. Between 1935 and 1940 the line was extended to High Barnet and Mill Hill East, bringing its total length to 40 miles.