Next weekend (22nd-23rd June) there will be a chance to see a steam train running along part of the District line as part of its 150th anniversary.
The steam locomotive will be the restored Met No 1, which will haul carriages from High Street Kensington to Ealing Broadway. The reverse trip being powered by the equally amazing Sarah Siddons electric locomotive.
There will be three trips on both Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June.
The provisional timetable is as follows – but could change on the day, but not by much.
Journey 1
11:11 – Ealing Broadway
11:36 – High Street Kensington (arrive – steam locomotive is watered)
12:07 – High Street Kensington (depart)
12:33 – Ealing Broadway
Journey 2
13:06 – Ealing Broadway
13:32 – High Street Kensington (arrive – steam locomotive is watered)
14:07 – High Street Kensington (depart)
14:33 – Ealing Broadway
Journey 3
15:06 – Ealing Broadway
15:32 – High Street Kensington (arrive – steam locomotive is watered)
16:07 – High Street Kensington (depart)
16:33 – Ealing Broadway
This will be the last time steam trains are expected to travel into central London on the Underground network, due to signalling modernisation that will provide more frequent services and improved reliability on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.
If watching from the sidelines, the usual rules apply – no tripods or flashes to be used, and the common-sense rule, to respect other people who want to get a photo, or horrors, are just trying to use the modern trains to get around London.
Also, the boarding platform at Ealing Broadway will be for ticket holders only — so better to watch from another station.
Some good places other than at stations to watch would be:
- The North Circular road at Ealing Broadway (wide footpath on eastern side by the Shell garage)
- Creffield Road (wire fence over bridge, should be possible to shoot photos through, just)
- Outside Acton Town tube station — facing westwards only.
- Outside West Kensington station — facing westwards only.
There are also a handful of tickets (from £150) left on sale here.
London Transport Museum is also fundraising to restore a rare part of the District line’s heritage – the last three surviving 1930s Q-stock Underground carriages, which were in service from 1938 to the late 1960s. £200,000 is needed to complete the restoration work to make the trains operational.
TfL/ TfL Museum have missed a good money making opportunity by not having reserved spots for taking photos at various locations.
TFL made money from everyone who touched in their Oyster cards to take photos from inside the stations.
The carriages will be the ex Chesham set of the 1890s and two very historic carriages. No 353 from the Metropolitan Railway & No 100 from the District Railway.
Over the two days at Ealing Broadway station, there will be a “London Transport Museum” & “Friends of The London Transport Museum” shops on platform 7.
£150.00 a ticket. What a rip off. Out of reach for mr and mrs average
Why can’t it do east london. Ie Barking to Upminster.
The pricing is beyond a joke. That’s 150 pp!?
I bought a t-shirt from Primark for one pound the other week. Its not the best material and I think it would last 6 months. If I bought 150 of them that’s 75 years of t-shirts. alternatively I could have a ride on a steam train. Tough call
Great that this is actually happening in an age of “too hard, can’t do….” I did the first one from Moorgate to Kensington some years ago. Some thinking out of the box is evident over the last years on some really good events with steam on the Underground. (How about the Chesham celebrations and at an affordable price as well!) I do feel the cost of tickets for the event are somewhat steep and out of the reach of the average ‘man on the street’ with a family. The overheads are tremendous I know, but they were for other more affordable runs. These were realistic. The whole point of the historical experience for the younger generation, is somewhat lost, as it is really a ‘well to do’ jolly. However, if this is the last one due to signalling updates, then a golden opportunity has been missed. Why not have run from one side of London to the other? How fantastic to have seen steam at Aldgate, Barking and Upminster, as well as the usual west side locations? I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to afford a ticket as I have now retired, but I would have willingly paid for some sort of ‘reserved’ photographers observation point at various locations. It is disappointing in some respects, but we should appreciate what we have, for who knows what the ‘bean counters’ and ‘elf and safety will say in the years to come.
Hi Glenn I remember when you were a tram driver in Australia when I was a child and we used to go to the steam rally many years ago good times hope you are well take care regards Dave.
Hi Glenn. I remember when you were a tram driver in Croydon (UK)!!! Look forward to hearing from you. I am still on same phone number and at the address close to Addington Village stop. all the best,
All those memories. And no mention of last day of steam on the Isle of Wight
How many places how much demand? I would have charged £300
I have the funds but do NOT like being ripped off !!