Steaming through London

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Tube 150th anniversary: Steam train takes commemorative journey



A steam train which carried passengers in the 19th Century has returned to the Tube to mark 150 years since the first London Underground journey.

Ticket holders travelled along part of the original Metropolitan Line - now the Hammersmith & City Line.

They travelled in coaches pulled by an 1898-built steam engine, known as Met Locomotive No 1.

Special events are being held throughout the year to mark the 150-year anniversary of the Tube.



The restored steam engine travelled from its sheds near Earl's Court, west London, to start a journey from Kensington Olympia to Moorgate.

Hundreds of families, rail enthusiasts and interested onlookers took up positions at stations and on bridges to catch a glimpse of the train, as it travelled non-stop.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who was among passengers on board, said: "It was just extraordinary.

"We had steam coming in through the windows, huge thick clouds of white steam going past and then bits of soot coming through from the engine.

"You understand all those Victorian novels and the assignations that possibly took place on those velvet seats. It was pure Conan Doyle."

London Transport Museum director Sam Mullins said: "We will do more events like this this year and more into the future, here and on other railways."

The first London Underground railway operated on the Metropolitan Railway between Paddington and Farringdon.

Linked to the Met Locomotive No 1 engine was the oldest surviving operational Tube carriage - the Metropolitan Railway Jubilee Carriage 353 - which was built in 1892.

Attached to the Jubilee carriage was a set of four carriages that date back to 1898, on loan from the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

Known as the Chesham carriages, they began service when the Chesham branch of the Metropolitan Line opened.

Completing the commemorative train was one of the world's oldest electric locomotives in service - No 12 Sarah Siddons.

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HISTORY OF THE MET LOCOMOTIVE NO.1

1898

Built in 1898, Met Loco No. 1 is the only survivor of a class of seven engines designed by the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Met, Mr T. F. Clark, for use on the Baker Street to Verney Junction service. It was the last locomotive constructed at the Met’s Neasden Works.

1904

On 4 July 1904, decorated with flags and bunting it headed the first passenger train on the opening of the Uxbridge branch from Harrow-on-the-Hill.

1933

The locomotive is taken into London Transport ownership when the Metropolitan Railway was taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board on 13 April 1933.

1936

The locomotive is renumbered L.44 and is repainted in London Transport livery.

1963

The locomotive was withdrawn, after a final moment of glory when in took part in the Metropolitan Centenary parade at Neasden on 23 May 1963, where it hauled four Ashbury bogie coaches and a milk van.

1964

Purchased by the Quainton Railway Society.

1975

The first major overhaul started on 13 August 1975.

1987

Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to the Mid Hants Railway in September 1987 for the line’s 10th anniversary.

2007

Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to the Bluebell Railway in July 2007 as part of the celebration of the completion of their rake of four Metropolitan Chesham vintage coaches.

2008

Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to Barrow Hill in August 2008 for their Rail Power 2008 event and to Llangollen Railway for their suburban weekend in October 2008.

2010

Met Loco No. 1 came to the end of its boiler certificate, with a special farewell event 17 October 2010.

2011

Start of restoration at the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

2013

The return of steam to the London Underground and the first steam passenger journey on the original stretch of the Metropolitan line since 1905.

Source: London Transport Museum.
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[dales]

Good show, I say!

Always love steam (vs diesels/electric).