If you’ve been watching the recent series of TV programs on BBC4 (and some on BBC2) about the ending of steam trains in the country – then you might be interested to learn that this weekend is an excellent one for Londoners to see some working steam trains.
While steam trains do run in London fairly regularly as tourist/heritage trips, the Saturday runs are surprisingly not that common – and this weekend, we have two on the same day. Woo!
The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will be coming into London and arriving at Kensington Olympia just before midday – while the Clan Line will be departing Victoria mainline station just after midday, heading out of London via Brixton and Wimbledon.
Rather interestingly, according to the timetable, the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will be heading down to Clapham Junction after leaving its passengers at Kensington, then doing a mini (service?) run in the middle of the afternoon between 3pm and 4pm – before leaving London at 6pm.
I think its a weekend to spend wizzing around South London with my camera and timetable :)
Details:
Steam train tour – GWR Castle Class, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
Steam train tour – VSOE Luncheon Excursion
You might be interested in this site – http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs08.htm
The movements during the middle of the day are the ‘castle’ (Earl of Mount Edgcumbe) taking the stock to Clapham Yard, trundling round the battersea circle ‘light engine’ to turn round itself around, then taking the train back to KenO for the return trip. Hope its not too cold!