h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm sure loads of other people have heard loads of facts about the underground but here's mine: The underground has now been in existence for long enough that not only have pigeons learnt to use the tube, but it has evolved its VERY OWN mosquito, found nowhere else in the world. Cool huh?
I was impressed anyway....

Yes, more on the tube mossie can be found here:

http://victorian.fortunecity.com/finsbury/254/tubeanimals.html#mozzies

Make sure they don't bite you!!!

Thanks for the link!

Another thing I'd heard about is in the channel tunnel. Apparently to stop animals using it to cross from France carrying rabies there are electric grids. Except that they have to be turned off in wet weather. !0/10 for design boys.....

Also the strange topological nature of the map is pretty cool, where a two millimeter gap means 5 miles and 10 centimeters is across the road...

Yeah, that's one of the best features of the underground. Bill Bryson lists a couple of cruel tricks to play on backward relatives by sending them to a station two minutes walk away, via say King's Cross, 'cause that's what the map suggests is quickest. You'd have to be pretty bored though.....

I think probably the least interesting fact regarding the London Underground is that the only station not to contain any of the letters of the word 'mackerel' is 'St John's Wood'... obviously this doesn't work if you spell out St as Saint. This includes the Docklands Light Railway and the newly extended Jubilee line.

Read at the URL above in this forum to see some very interesting places.
Goodyear rubber would have prevented this accident