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Date |
Line(s) |
Event |
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1798-??-?? |
None |
The first attempt to build a tunnel under the Thames was made by a man called Ralph Todd. He tried to build a tunnel between Gravesend and Tilbury. He ran into quicksand and out of money. |
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1802-??-?? |
None |
The second attempt to build a tunnel under the Thames by Robert Vazie and Richard Trevithick (who invented the steam locomotive). The Thames broke in 1808-01-26. Tunnel cleared and work resumed. The Thames broke in again 1808-02-02 when the tunnel was beyond the low water mark on the opposite side. The Thames water bailiff ordered the work to stop. |
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1825-03-02 |
None |
Marc Brunel started building a tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping. He used a shield of his own design and the tunnel was lined with bricks as the shield advanced. The site was chosen because the docks were on the north bank and the industries on the south. It was four miles by road to London Bridge, the nearest bridge. The work was suspended between 1828 and 1835 due to lack of funds. After several floodings and at the cost of ten lives, the tunnel opened as a foot tunnel by Queen Victoria 1843-01-27. |
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None |
There were no money to built the road ramps, so the only means of access was the stairs through the vertical shafts. It was used as a pedestrian tunnel until The East London Railway bought the tunnel in 1865. They ran trains to Brighton through it from 1869-12-07. The tunnel was first used by Underground trains in 1884-10-01 and is still used by the Underground. |
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