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The world’s oldest underground station, Baker Street, photographed 160 years apart. Baker Street station opened on January 10, 1863, as part of the Metropolitan Railway, making it the world’s oldest underground railway station still in operation. It was constructed using the “cut-and-cover” method, where workers dug a trench, built the railway, and then restored the street above it. In its early decades, steam locomotives filled the tunnels with smoke before the network gradually transitioned to electric trains in the early 20th century. The Victorian illustration shows Baker Street shortly after opening, while the modern photograph reveals that many of its iconic brick arches and vaulted roof have remained largely unchanged for more than 160 years. Today, Baker Street is one of London’s busiest and most historic transport hubs, serving five London Underground lines and millions of passengers every year. Despite multiple renovations and expansions, much of its original Victorian architecture has been carefully preserved, allowing visitors to experience a station that has linked generations of Londoners across three centuries. It remains one of the few examples of Victorian railway engineering still serving the same purpose it was designed for in the 19th century.