Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Metropolitan Railway

Metropolitan Railway

This nomination predates the introduction in April 2014 of article-specific subpages for nominations and has been created from the edit history of Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests.

The following discussion is an archived discussion of the TFAR nomination of the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add {{collapse top|Previous nomination}} to the top of the discussion and {{collapse bottom}} at the bottom, then complete a new {{TFAR nom}} underneath.

The result was: scheduled for Wikipedia:Today's featured article/January 10, 2013 by Bencherlite ^Talk 13:54, 2 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The Metropolitan Railway opened the world's first underground line on 10 January 1863, connecting the mainline railway termini at Paddington, Euston and King's Cross to London's financial heart in the City using gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives. The railway was soon extended and completed the Inner Circle in 1884, but the most important route became the line to Verney Junction in Buckinghamshire, more than 50 miles (80 kilometres) from London. Electric traction was introduced in 1905 and by 1907 electric multiple units operated most of the services. The Railway developed land for housing and after World War I promoted housing estates near the railway with the "Metro-land" brand. On 1 July 1933, the Metropolitan Railway was amalgamated with the railways of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London and the capital's tramway and bus operators to form the London Passenger Transport Board. (Full article...)

On 10 January it will be the 150th anniversary of the opening of London Underground's first line by the Metropolitan Railway between Paddington and Farringdon. There are four points for the anniversary, and one point as I am a significant contributor and I have not previously had a TFA. I'm not claiming any 'similar article' points as we had Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania) on 13 November — although that's placed in the Geography and places section on Wikipedia:Featured_articles and the previous article to appear from the Transport section was Herne Hill railway station on 25 August — therefore 5 points. Edgepedia (talk) 12:59, 5 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Support Wonderful choice, given the anniversary, historical aspects, iconic stature of subject, and face it, Trains to Underground was a significant step. KillerChihuahua^?!? 13:24, 5 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support, excellent date selection, educational, encyclopedic, high value for the site. — Cirt (talk) 17:14, 5 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support Global significance & per above Johnbod (talk) 17:18, 5 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support. An excellent choice. GabeMc ^{(talk contribs)} 08:00, 6 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support ....for all the trainspotters out there....Casliber (talk · contribs) 19:36, 6 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support, per Cirt, - moved another train article to later, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:00, 7 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support, timely, major centennial, major technology innovation, highly significant. Montanabw^(talk) 20:50, 7 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Definitely, a no-brainer given the extremely history value of this anniversary (the opening of the world's first underground railway). Prioryman (talk) 21:06, 13 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Comment (not supporting because I have also contributed to the article) Could I suggest that the drawing of Praed Street junction be used instead of the photograph of the 1920s electric locomotive. The drawing is much closer in date to the opening and shows the construction of the line, its use of steam engines and the dual gauge track.--DavidCane (talk) 02:11, 25 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I have been concerned that that drawing has several inaccuracies and has been commonly used as an image of the Metropolitan opening when it's set a few years later. It is atmospheric, but I have problems making out details of that image (the one on the left above) at the 125px size for the Main Page — I think the train is lost. However, a tighter crop (right above) perhaps shows the details better? How do those images show on other people*s monitors? Edgepedia (talk) 21:34, 25 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I'm concerned about the enormous amount of space around the train in the drawing and as shown in the crop, that I think is down to artistic licence/marketing. How about a different crop? Edgepedia (talk) 13:12, 26 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

:I've changed the image and left the original one here in case anyone has a reason not to use the new one. Edgepedia (talk) 09:13, 28 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Looks good to me; support. Andrew Gray (talk) 17:18, 29 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]