The Warrens

The Warrens are not actually an official structure in the city; rather they are a slang name to the entire interconnected subterranean system, which encompasses several systems such as the Tramways, the sewers and various trade basements and underground tunnels, including the last of the old mining tunnels. Private basements and unconnected subterranean rooms or tunnels are not considered to be part of the Warrens.
Many tunnels which have fallen into disuse are now used by various gangs to smuggle contraband goods, as they are a convenient way to avoid patrols made by Watch officers: many of the networks require specially trained guards (such as the Tramways), or are privately secured and therefore the responsibility of their owners. No gangs have permanent headquarters underground- unless they're using a private basement unconnected to the tunnels- partly due to the risk of flooding and partly to ensure they're not easily caught by the Watch.

No gang holds control of the Warrens, and they are considered to be neutral ground, although certain entrances and exits of course exist within gang territory and are therefore difficult to use for members of opposing gangs.

Purpose / Function

Mining

The Warrens are the oldest part of the city. The original tunnels were built for tin and copper mining as long as five hundred years ago; the Warrens began as a series of mineshafts, and the mining here provided the economic foundation for the city to grow into what it is today. The mines themselves were a technological marvel in their own right, and contributed to the invention and refinement of steam power, as new techniques were required to pump water out of the shafts. Most of the mines have now been sealed off after a series of accidents involving some of the city's more adventurous citizens, but those nearest the surface may still be explored, and in places connect to the sewer or basements systems.

Waste Management

The sewers were built approximately fifty years ago, to improve sanitation for the city's growing population. They are an architectural and engineering marvel in themselves, and are expected to remain useful and efficient for hundreds of years yet. However, many of them currently drain into the canals of the lower districts, so the benefit largely falls on the upper- and middle-class districts of the city in the north-west. Unauthorised access to the sewers is considered to be trespass and is illegal, but of course criminals are not reknowned for following the law.

Basements and Trade

As trade in the city grew, some tunnels and storage houses were built underground to transport and preserve goods. Many of these underground rooms are still in use, although some areas have fallen into disrepair due to insufficient protection from flooding and damp, which led to stock in the past being ruined. These trade tunnels are rumoured to be used for smuggling or perhaps even the headquarters of one of the city's many criminal gangs, but the still-present risk of flooding makes them less than ideal as a permanent base of operations. Some wealthier houses and businesses also have their own basements, independent of the trade network.

The Tramways

The most recent addition to the city's subterranean network, a marvel constructed by several dozen of [Placeholder: City Name]'s best architects, engineers and other mechanical specialists. The old engine system, a relic of the city's mining era, was revived and expanded to fit the need of the Tramways, providing the power for more pumps, and for the cables themselves.
The Tramways are a cable car system, running underground to allow travel between districts. The main Tramway system is built for human passengers, but smaller unconnected private cable tracks have been constructed for freight hauling and trade. The main Tramway features two cables, one travelling clockwise and one anticlockwise, running parallel to one another in a loop. An additional system allows cars to be removed from the cable and reach the depot. The stations are island platforms; the platform lies between the two cables. The doors on each car open only in one direction, facing the platform they open onto. Each cable forms a closed loop, with no crossings, which means that collisions have been rare; although not unheard of early in the system's operation, there has now been no major accidents in nearly five years.
To prevent flooding, the Tramway stations, tunnels and the streets above them have been equipped with various pumps and drains. There have been no catastrophic floods since the Tramways' construction.
Trespass on the Tramways is illegal, and as nobody wants to meet up to 20 tonnes of wood and metal moving slowly but unstoppably at 10 miles an hour down a narrow tunnel, this rule is generally followed. At the very least, there have been no recorded collisions with trespassing pedestrians since the system's construction.

Alterations

In light of their popularity, there are plans to expand the Tramways into a system with more routes, as opposed to the single loop that is currently available. Many of the city's most skilled engineers have been employed to devote time to this project, but it is expected not to be complete for many years due to its complexity and the necessity to alter the existing system to fit the changes.

Architecture

The Sewers

The sewers are entirely covered over, forming an arched tunnel made of brick. They are not designed to be pretty, and are made simply of bare brick, with the necessary structural features. Wherever there is access to the streets above there are signs marking the ladders, in the event that maintenance teams should need them. A very small number of the sewers - generally the largest tunnels - feature open brick walkways on either side, but the majority are simply covered tunnels, requiring maintenance teams to wade. This, at least, has the unintended benefit of deterring trespassers.

The Tramway Stations

The Tramway stations are built to be beautiful, with elaborate wrought-iron benches, gas lighting in delicate glass lanterns, carved pillars and beautifully made brickwork, often in multiple colours in the style of a mosaic. Each station features its own clock, all of which are decorate in some way to be as artistic as they are useful.
Some of the larger buildings have an additional room above the stations, which may feature coffee shops, news stands or similar buildings.
The above-ground building housing the entrance to the stations are generally beautiful and well-kept, but very small, as they only need to house the ticket-sellers and perhaps a few benches. Each entrance to the platform below forms a graceful arch, with the station's name on a brass sign at the top. The station building outside has a similar sign, as well as one identifying it as the Tramway.

History

The city's entire subterranean system was built on the basis provided by the tin and copper mines. The deepest tunnels were sealed off, as some people died while attempting to explore the old shafts. The tunnels nearest the surface remained, and some were directly converted or absorbed into the city's later underground systems, such as the sewers or the underground storehouses. The pumping equipment, as well as some of the equipment for the mine's cart system, was later expanded and repurposed as part of the city Tramways.

Footnotes
The Tramways are based on the Glasgow cable car subway.
The city's sewers are based on the London sewers built by Joseph Bazalgette.
The city's tin- and copper-mining history is based on the Cornish "Tin Coast".

Type

Tunnel

Parent Location

Placeholder: City Name