Today marks the 36th anniversary of the opening of the initial segment of the Metrorail in Washington, DC from Rhode Island Avenue to Farragut North. WMATA considers March 29 to be the first real day for celebratory purposes, since the system was initially only open on weekdays and March 29 was the first Monday of service and fares were only collected that day for the first time, but I (and I think Sand Box John and others) consider today to be the actual anniversary.
Happy birthday Metrorail!
Today marks the 36th anniversary of the opening of the initial segment of the Metrorail in Washington, DC from Rhode Island Avenue to Farragut North. WMATA considers March 29 to be the first real day for celebratory purposes, since the system was initially only open on weekdays and March 29 was the first Monday of service and fares were only collected that day for the first time, but I (and I think Sand Box John and others) consider today to be the actual anniversary.
Happy birthday Metrorail!
From Metro History (http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/history.pdf) (65.4 KB PDF file):
March 27: Six years, three months and 23 days after groundbreaking, Metrorail has its opening day. More than 51,000 persons ride free over the 4.2 miles of Metro's Phase 1. Five stations open on Red Line from Rhode Island Ave to Farragut North.
March 29: On first day of revenue service, 19,913 passengers ride on 188 train trips. System is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and closed on weekends.
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I have always considered the 27 to be Metrorail's Birthday.
Pictures by me unless otherwise noted.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-phP9DSjg_LY/S64hJgb9WhI/AAAAAAAACBo/r1quNZYQgow/s800/ScanImage100.jpg)
Early that morning
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5WCQLcRAOTY/S64hJmhXilI/AAAAAAAACBs/QS8aueV9OdM/s800/ScanImage101.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PLEhP3jaxC8/S64hJ-FfvVI/AAAAAAAACB0/bciERNxsjyE/s800/ScanImage103.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1xjTDPQGABo/S64hKDsvOtI/AAAAAAAACB4/2wTbSY8vNyM/s800/ScanImage104.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y70rDvCxNjI/S64hYRxdvnI/AAAAAAAACB8/oaYdZdg9wXE/s800/ScanImage105.jpg)
Mayor Walter Washington and his bride
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Aboard first passenger carrying train out of Rhode Island Avenue
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4zvZwOd-5b8/S64hYi6JDCI/AAAAAAAACCE/dNojHAplWpU/s800/ribbon_cutting.jpg)
Ribbon Cutting
WMATA Photo
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OS2c9PNvH40/S64hYphXjxI/AAAAAAAACCI/-FwmCWKPKLM/s800/program_opening_day.jpg)
Program
The two infants were born on ground breaking day 12 09 1969
WMATA Photo
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ywL_5HOD42k/S64hYjt4EKI/AAAAAAAACCM/43geYcOuIO8/s800/opening_day_rhode_island.jpg)
WMATA Photo
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RJsXawLeYGw/S64hgFIaswI/AAAAAAAACCQ/Pp31q6KV_vQ/s800/free_ride_line.jpg)
WMATA Photo
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MUkmEUHwbOk/S64hgfY45QI/AAAAAAAACCU/38lR6BfHC10/s720/all_ages_opening_day.jpg)
WMATA Photo