Next month is a chance to ride in a 1938 era tube train through central London and up to north London on the Piccadilly line.
Or to watch it from the sidelines if you prefer.
The 1938 tube train will make three long journeys on the Piccadilly line on Sunday 9th July, starting in West London at Acton Town station, and running right through central London up to Oakwood at the far end of the line.
Apart from the pleasure of rumbling through central London in these old beasts, much of the pleasure is undeniably the look of shock and amazement on the faces of people waiting on the platforms who are expecting a normal tube train to arrive. They point and smile, and you wave back, because of course you do.
As it’s quite a long trip — there will be a decent break at Oakwood station to stretch legs, use the loos, browse the souvenir stand – and go outside to admire the huge square ticket hall building and the magnificent roundel.
All three trips take place on Sunday 9th July at the following times:
Journey 1: Departs Acton Town 10:12am, arrives Oakwood 11:10am. Return journey departs Oakwood at 11:57am, arrives at Acton Town for 12:55pm
Journey 2: Departs Acton Town 2:23pm, arrives Oakwood 3:21pm. Return journey departs Oakwood at 4:17pm, arrives Acton Town 5:16pm
Journey 3: Departs Acton Town 6:43pm, arrives Oakwood 7:41pm. Return journey departs Oakwood at 8:17pm, arrives at Acton Town for 9:15pm
There are four carriages, and you can select which carriage to sit in – tip, try for the front or rear carriage (pink or blue) as they may (only may) open the drivers door for a peek.
Tickets:
- Adults: £35
- Concessions: £24
- Children (4-17): £18
- Children (under 3): Free, must sit on an adult’s lap. No ticket required.
Tickets are on sale from here.
Are these trains going to stop at all the intermediate stations ? Presumably not, as it’s a tickets-only trip. So, will this train be endlessly held in tunnels whilst it waits for normal trains in front of it.
I can’t see the point of this. Who on earth wants to clatter underground with nothing to see in a train with seating and safety equipment, that doesn’t meet modern safety regulations.
There’s nothing wrong with heritage trains being run but this has nothing to commend it as far as I can see. At least take it on a close-to surface route. My choice would be Rayner’s Lane – Acton Town, Turnham Green – Earl’s Court district line – South Kensington – Great Portland Street, reverse, Baker Street platforms 1..4 then fast to Rayner’s Lane again.
Are you going to run some more. I joined the Northern Line as a Guard in 1971 so then we had 93 trains all 38s and went onto driving in 74 but by then the 72s were being delivered still drove 38’s till the end. It would be nice to have a ride for nostalger sake. I also did the Acton empty stock link so was trained on the Picc line as well.