Look out for four steam train trips in London on both Friday and Saturday

If you like watching steam trains, this week is a good one. Two engines will be running loops around south and west London four times on Friday and Saturday in a special series of Santa Steam Express trips.

Steam in the snow — sadly, snow is unlikely this time (c) ianVisits

You can be on the trains (for a fee) or watch from the sidelines, and with four trips planned on both days, it should be much easier than usual to see the steam train chugging its way around south and west London.

Steam Dreams is running the services, and there are still some tickets to take the train here.

Otherwise, look for a good spot along the route — either at the stations, or suitable spots along the route, and remember to wave to Santa as the steam train roars past.

Friday 20th December

Services are due to be hauled by the 34046 Braunton locomotive built in 1946.

  • Departs: 9:29am – returns 11:00am
  • Departs: 11:44pm – returns 1:24pm
  • Departs: 3:15pm – returns 5:03pm
  • Departs: 5:44pm – returns 7:26pm (slightly different route from above)

Provisional routes via RealTimeTrains — subject to last minute changes:

PassingTrip 1 Trip 2 Trip 3 Trip 4
London Victoria 09:29 11:44 15:15 17:44
Queenstown Road
Imperial Wharf
West Brompton 09:50 12:04 15:35 18:00 & 18:12
Kensington Olympia 09:54 12:07 15:39 18:03 (reverses) & 19:04
Shepherds Bush 09:57 12:10 15:42
Passing North Pole Depot
(obvs when you think about it!)
Willesden Junction 10:04 12:20 15:53 18:55
Acton Central
South Acton 10:26 12:42 16:24 18:44
Chiswick
Barnes Bridge
Barnes 10:38 12:59 16:46 18:29
Clapham Junction 10:48 13:07 16:53
London Victoria 11:00 13:24 17:03 18:19

Saturday 21st December

Services are due to be hauled by the 70000 Britannia locomotive built in 1951.

  • Departs: 9:18am – returns 10:46am
  • Departs: 11:47pm – returns 1pm
  • Departs: 3:15pm – returns 4:50pm
  • Departs: 5:17pm – returns 6:56pm

Provisional routes via RealTimeTrains — subject to last minute changes:

Passing Trip 1 Trip 2 Trip 3 Trip 4
London Victoria 09:18 11:47 15:15 17:17
Queenstown Road
Imperial Wharf
West Brompton 09:34 12:00 15:35 17:33
Kensington Olympia 09:37 12:03 15:39 17:36
Shepherds Bush 09:39 12:05 14:43 17:38
Passing North Pole Depot
(obvs when you think about it!)
Willesden Junction 09:47 12:15 15:50 17:43
Acton Central
South Acton 10:13 12:29 16:12 18:12
Chiswick
Barnes Bridge
Barnes 10:22 12:38 16:29 18:29
Clapham Junction 10:32 12:48 16:37 18:37

(train might stop for a couple of mins)

London Victoria 10:46 13:00 16:50 18:56