The Tube is celebrating its 150 years of existence and to mark this anniversay, a steam train was allowed back into the tube. Onlookers were amazed when the relic steamed in across the tracks.
According to the Larisa Brown of the Mail, it all happened at the Baker Street station - and "it's all happening in the here and now, that, for the first time in more than 100 years, a steam train was carrying passengers on the Tube yesterday".
The steam locomotive has come a long way since it made history in 1898. Below is the table of the history of the Loccomotive Steam Engine:
1898 Built in 1898, Met Loco No. 1 is the only survivor of a class of seven engines designed by the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Met, Mr T. F. Clark, for use on the Baker Street to Verney Junction service. It was the last locomotive constructed at the Met’s Neasden Works.
1904 On 4 July 1904, decorated with flags and bunting it headed the first passenger train on the opening of the Uxbridge branch from Harrow-on-the-Hill.
1933 The locomotive is taken into London Transport ownership when the Metropolitan Railway was taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board on 13 April 1933.
1936 The locomotive is renumbered L.44 and is repainted in London Transport livery.
1963 The locomotive was withdrawn, after a final moment of glory when in took part in the Metropolitan Centenary parade at Neasden on 23 May 1963, where it hauled four Ashbury bogie coaches and a milk van.
1964 Purchased by the Quainton Railway Society.
1975 The first major overhaul started on 13 August 1975.
1987 Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to the Mid Hants Railway in September 1987 for the line’s 10th anniversary. 2007 Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to the Bluebell Railway in July 2007 as part of the celebration of the completion of their rake of four Metropolitan Chesham vintage coaches.
2008 Met Loco No. 1 is loaned to Barrow Hill in August 2008 for their Rail Power 2008 event and to Llangollen Railway for their suburban weekend in October 2008.
2010 Met Loco No. 1 came to the end of its boiler certificate, with a special farewell event 17 October 2010.
2011 Start of restoration at the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
2013 The return of steam to the London Underground and the first steam passenger journey on the original stretch of the Metropolitan line since 1905.
Culled by Larisa Brown from Source: London Transport Museum.
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