You may recall that the Transport Museum has secured a grant to restore an old carriage in time for the 150th anniversary of the London Underground, which takes place in 2013.
A few more details have been released by London Underground itself about the plans for events to mark the historic anniversary.
Note – these are just Provisional Suggestions at the moment, but they sound reasonably detailed suggesting they just need sign-offs by the various management and supporting organisations.
According to the proposals, London Underground is planning a series of events in a year-long celebration, with things kicking off in October 2012.
There will be some books – an official history of the network, a fiction story per line and a design book by Mark Ovenden (of Metro Maps fame).
There may be some stamps – as in the sort issued by the Royal Mail.
There will be art, posters and poems – I’d expect an awful lot of Betjeman.
The disused Aldwych tube station might be open for tours in the summer (more about that in a day or three).
The rail depot at Neasden is expected to have an open weekend with all the existing tube trains on display together – which sounds like photographic heaven.
A recreation of the inaugural train service of 10th January 1893 – although not with steam, but with the Sarah Siddons electric locomotive. However, the restored Metropolitan No 1 steam locomotive will be at Baker Street all day. (It’s a Thursday in 2013).
Over the weekend of the 12/13 January 2013, the steam locomotive is expected to run regular trips between Acton and Edgware Road (along the District Line).
And finally, a number of heritage runs are expected, which will mate the restored carriage with other carriages from the same family loaned by the Bluebell Railway, and will use either the steam locomotive, or the 1938 tube trains.
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Quite obviously, there is NO point phoning them to book tickets or ask for more information. So don’t hassle them. At least, not yet.
There might even be some additional events arranged (Down St! Down St! Down St!).
I’d be interested if they can do something with the postage stamps though, especially with the first day covers being sent from the LU Head Office.
I thought the inaugural train service ran on 10th January 1863?
Typo corrected – thanks
Actually Ian it appears they *do* want to use steam on the inner circle – quoting the board meeting “…by running a steam hauled service from Paddington (or Baker Street) to Farringdon, hauled by the only Metropolitan Railway built locomotive with operational potential Met No1”. They then call Met No1 ‘Sarah Siddons’ but that just looks like confusion (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/Item06-London-Underground-150th-Anniversary.pdf)
Still says 10th January 1893 two paragraphs above the photograph of steam engine number 1. Definitley a case of me throwing stones in glasshouse – if only everything I typed was correct first time.
It all sounds like fascinating stuff.
I managed to get down to Aldwych station when it was opened by the London Transport Museum last year. It was fascinating, and I’ve got quite a few photos. It’s just a shame that both the upstairs and downstairs haven’t been preserved in their original states.
As a resident of Metroland it’s great to see the news about the Neasden depot and the Met steam loco. Some years ago they used to run steam pulled trains on the Met line at bank holiday weekends. I think they came out of Harrow and then went on to Amersham, and it was so nostalgic to hear those whistles blowing as they passed along the track, and to watch the steam from the bridges over the lines.
Can you lobby for them to open Down Street, or any other disused stations?