Regular readers may be aware that steam trains are semi-regular visitors to London, and if at a weekend, I quite enjoy going to watch them.

Today was a special occasion as while the train itself is a regular visitor to the Capital, to catch it in a snowy landscape is a rarity.

The 35028 Clan Line train is running out of London via Richmond, and back in again this evening via Streatham, and a trawl through Google Maps suggested that the quiet North Sheen train station might offer a good vantage point to get steam and snow in the same photo.

There are a few other locations which might have offered a better (aka, more distant) view, but you then run the risk of a modern train getting in the way just as the steamer passes by. I’ve been in a few places before where that happens and the curses uttered by the other bystander are quite ripe!

More details about the Orient Express train company who were running today’s train trip.

A few photos – click for larger versions:

I wasn’t the only one out for the romantic chance to see a steam train in the snow, as a comment by LDN on Twitter got forwarded around that website quite a bit.  I couldn’t help but notice a few empty tables on the train as it went past – I wonder if people can beg one on the cheap as a last minute deal

Steam trains have been in the news recently, as the modern electric engines couldn’t cope with the weather, but steam trains carried on regardless.

I tend to add steam train trips to the events guide when I am able to confirm the details and they are running at weekends, as they do make for quite a pleasant sight to go and watch.

This lunchtime, a visually distinctive steam train charged through North London on a trip down to Kings Cross. The Sir Nigel Gresley is not only visually noticeable, but it also holds the speed record for a post-war steam train. Unlike the older “boilers on wheels”, this train is beautifully streamlined and sleek in appearance.

Hence, worth watching out for!

I wandered up to Alexandria Palace station to watch the train pass through, but not only did my camera jam at a most infuriating time, but also the train charged through the platform at a speed that would put an intercity train to shame.

Taking photos at intermediate stations has the advantage of few crowds, even if you only get to see the train for a few seconds.

Following down to Kings Cross on a vastly slower, modern commuter train I was able to get down to Kings Cross and took some photos there.

Here the platforms were packed full of trainspotters who expected the train to arrive – and normal train passengers gasping in delight at the sight of the magnificent beast in the station.

From Wikipedia:

The Class A4 is a class of streamlined 4-6-2 steam locomotive, designed by Nigel Gresley for the London and North Eastern Railway in 1935. Their streamlined design gave them high-speed capability as well as making them instantly recognizable, and one of the class, The Mallard, still holds the record as the fastest steam locomotive in the world. They remained in service until the early 1960s when they were replaced by diesel locomotives.

A few photos:

Just a heads up that the A1 Tornado, the first steam train to be built in the UK for nearly 50 years will be making its first commercial passenger trip tomorrow (Sat 7th Feb), and will be expected at Kings Cross station at around 1:45pm.

Even better, according to a local news report, the platform will be open to the public to view the train for about an hour after its arrival.

Where to see Tornado on Saturday

Passes Doncaster: 09.38
Waters Retford: 10.04–10.19
Passes Newark: 10.41
Passes Grantham: 10.55
Waters Peterborough Yard: 11.31–11.56
Passes Peterborough: 12.00
Passes Huntingdon: 12.21
Passes Sandy: 12.29
Passes Biggleswade: 12.34
Passes Hitchin: 12.46
Passes Stevenage: 12.53
Passes Welwyn Garden City: 13.05
Passes Potters Bar: 13.17
Passes Alexandra Palace: 13.30
Passes Finsbury Park: 13.38
Arrives London King’s Cross: 13.47

(evidently, the weather may play a foul hand overnight and ruin the event)

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

We may live in an age where trains are bland tubes with garish colours and an announcement every 30 seconds, but there are still some good old fashioned steam trains in use on the UK’s railways. Not just confined to distant heritage routes, but some actually run right through central London.

It was to see one of these majestic metal beasts that had me up early on a Saturday morning to head over to Kennsington Olympia where I knew The Cathedral Express was due to charge through at 9:30am. The train actually runs from Waterloo station, but I thought it would be better to get photos away from the main station.

Alas, my morning was not a good one as I had forgotten that the Jubilee Line was out of action today, so I made my way over towards Earl’s Court convinced that I would probably miss the train as I hadn’t allowed extra time for the delays. I got to Earl’s Court and decided to take the next train to West Brompton station, which was easier to get to from there, and would still give me a view. The tube train stuck at the station for probably only a few minutes, but when you are up against the clock to get to your destination, it is incredible how it aches as you mentally beg the tube train to get a move on!

Anyhow, got to West Brompton and ran across the footbridge to the overland train side, hoping that I hadn’t missed the steam train. Saw a chap there with camera and tripod, and as he could only be there for one thing – I asked if I had missed the train.

Nope – got about 5 minutes he said, and my heart was able to calm down somewhat.

Alas, the sun was right in our faces so it was tempting to go down onto the opposite platform to get better photos – however I usually find that when I do that, one of those modern carbuncles comes along and gets in the way – ruining the photo.

Today though – I stayed on the footbridge and after a few minutes, you could hear that wonderfully nostalgic sound of a steam train in the distance and shortly afterwards white smoke was seen coming over the trees.

Then it arrived, charging through the station at full speed with the thundering roar of the engines and a massive blast on the whistle – almost as a tribute to the small gang of enthusiasts on the platforms taking photos.

As it past under the footbridge, we were enveloped for a moment in the warm embrace of the smoke from its chimney and we gasped on that memorable burnt flinty smell that can only come from the coal burner flaming away below us.

It took an hour to get there, in some panic – and the event lasted maybe 30 seconds. But what a wonderful 30 seconds it was.

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There are a few steam trains which run from London mainline stations, but you have to be careful as they are often diesel hauled to somewhere outside the city, then hooked up to a steam engine.

There is a website – UK Steam Info, which maintains a list of steam train tours, and where possible also puts up the timetable so you can work out when to be at a spot along the route if you want to see them charge past.

A few more photos, as usual on Flickr.