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The Paris Metro, engineered by Fulgence Bienven\xfce and inaugurated on 19th July, 1900, was far from a world first: London, Budapest and Vienna had all beaten France in the race to create the next generation of subterranean trains.\xa0\nHowever, this didn\u2019t stop Parisian anxiety about their new subway. Would the electric lines kill innocent travellers? Would being so close to sewers expose commuters to disease? Would the Metropolitan become a \u2018Necropolitan\u2019 - a DEATH LINE?\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the rival proposals for aerial rail systems that could have been built instead; explain why it is that you can get phone signal on the Metro, but not the Underground; and explain why classic calligraphy of the station signs was not widely appreciated at the time\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Secrets of The Paris Metro\u2019 (The New York Times, 2000): https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/19/travel/secrets-of-the-paris-metro.html\n\u2022 \u2018Trains, Culture, and Mobility By Benjamin Fraser, Steven D. Spalding\u2019 (Lexington Books, 2012): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Trains_Culture_and_Mobility/fUOY8941RjMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=necropolitan+paris+metro&pg=PA122&printsec=frontcover\n\u2022 \u2018How Has This Century Old Metro Stood The Test of Time? - Extreme Constructions\u2019 (Spark, 2022):\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-gpSw5fVP0\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices