Steam on the "Met " 2013.

Well Sodor's real - I've been there!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Sodor_and_Man

OK back to the serious stuff. I couldn't see that message about 2pm decision - I guess I was looking in the wrong place.

Has anything been communicated about it def being on/off?

I'm sure that the Steam engine could cope as the Tornado had shown in December 2009:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8428097.stm


Sorry, but Thomas isn't real. It's just a TV show and TV-land is the only place where delays have to be "staged".

Wilbert Awdry wrote the first 26 books - a further 16 were written by his son Christopher. He was always careful to base his stories on things that had happened on the real-life railway: for example James sliding backwards on wet leaves whilst ion forward gear is actually cited in the book as relating to a real event in Dinton Tunnel near Weymouth. Awdry was often scathing of un-railwaymanlike happenings depicted in the TV series, over which it seems he had less editorial control than he would have liked.

Seven different illustrators (including a husband-and wife partnership) have been used: Thomas did not appear in the first book, so it was Reginald Payne, who illustrated the 2nd to 4th books, who was responsible for Thomas's appearance, and he did indeed draw from locomotives local to his Brighton home.

Although many of the early, and best known, locomotives did not closely resemble any particular type, (Henry in particular appears to switch from a 4-6-0 to a 4-6-2 in the space of a few pages), they do gradually settle down, for example in later books Gordon is stated to be a brother to the Flying Scotsman, whilst Henry, after his rebuild in the sixth book, is a Black Five (well, a green one!). Thomas is also rebuilt, in the twelfth book, to rectify an odd feature he had in the first few books: his front buffer beam was lower than the rear one.
From Toby, who first appears in the seventh book, all new characters are based on real locomotives.

When Awdry was first ordained, his first parish was in Cambridgeshire - hence his affection for the nearby Wisbech and Upwell and of course Toby et al from there.

Looks like it is going ahead tonight:

Last Updated: 20 January, 13:55

NOTICE: We are still planning on running the steam train on Sunday 20 January, as part of the Tube 150 celebrations. Please keep an eye on the website for up to date information.

Please note that if the train is cancelled and we are unable to reschedule, ticket holders will be entitled to a full refund.

Chris

His first parish as rector was Elsworth, between Huntingdon and Cambridge, but he had previously been curate at three parishes, the last, at Kings Norton near Birmingham, being where the measles epidemic took place which led to the creation of Thomas et al. His second parish as rector was at Emneth, about halfway between Wisbech and Upwell, but he did not move there until 1953: the year after "Toby" was published and steam traction ended on the line (it was not closed until 1966, latterly using D2200-class diesels similar to "Mavis").
Henrietta is also based on authentic W&U rolling stock, although passenger services had ceased in 1927. At least one of the carriages was still extant in 1953 however, as it was used in the Ealing Comedy , "The Titfield Thunderbolt"
obituary here

Another Victorian carriage was recently spotted in a front garden, in Primrose Lane, SHELTON, near Norwich being used as a woodshed. I wonder if it is too late to preserve it.

www.flickr.com/photos/fellis-wrv/8398904865/in/photostream - Not entirely sure if this is the right thread, but here is the Steam again for the second Sunday in a row.

Excellent! ;D ;D ;D

Ahh, I wondered where the train went!! I had a ride on the 18.19 from Olympia and thought that I had time to get down to Edgware Road to photograph it reversing; only it wasn't there.

On the 1819 departure from Olympia. What an evening. Very surreal experience travelling over a (fairly) familiar route (aside from the Olympia branch which was a first for me) in rolling stock from another age (though not my namesake - not near enough the steam loco for me!).

Both locos seemed to be working hard with Met 1 putting in a show on departure from Olympia, and providing the necessary smoke effects at various points under London. Wonderful combination of Steam+Snow added to the magic of the evening, although leaves a number of outside photos covered in white dots!. A really great way to celebrate an important milestone. I hope steam on cut and cover is repeated again during the 10 year boiler certificate - LU know it can be done and people behave themselves, so why not, even if its just with the BR 4TC set? This said, shame to waste the Vac brake installation on No.12...!. Looking forward to May (Steam on the Met) and other events.

A big THANK YOU and WELL DONE to all the staff involved from train crews up to managers, and the LTM. Your efforts have not gone unappreciated, and the next time there is a hold up on the network, this commuters annoyance will forever be a little moderated by the experience of the past two weekends.

Chesham412, going to bed happy!

Managed to video a couple of the runs this evening (worked out quite well as I was passing through London on my way home from the frozen north.


Met No 1 steams through Farringdon

Sarah Siddons hauls the return working through Baker Street

Kudos to the Scottish announcer at Farringdon, who was getting really into it.

Although there were plenty of enthusiasts about, the platforms really weren't that crowded (probably as people had been put off by snow).
Shame that LU still felt it necessary to park the S stock in front of the train at Moorgate, I don't think there would've been enough people to cause a problem. At least it was far enough forward that it was possible to get a picture of Sarah at the buffers.



Thanks to everyone who made it happen, let's hope for more in future!

Lucky chap! I was at Farringdon waiting for that working to come back from Edgware Road. The PA kept us informed, and indeed a Scottish chap (won't hold it against him this time) kept us entertained with with his updates and anecdotes - a credit to LUL.

I was there later when Met1 was leading a later working and he was on the PA again. Much better than all the 'for your own safety' PA's elsewhere as he was keen we should enjoy the occasion as well as not getting in harm's way.

After the delay, a quick turnround at Moorgate and then another quickie at Edgware Road (points sorted by then) got it all back on time. Very much a can-do attitude all round last night. Great.