This summer visitors to London can be transported back to the golden-age of Victorian steam-powered travel as London Transport Museum and Transport for London run a vintage steam train into the heart of the Capital for what is expected to be the final time.
The special steam-powered journeys will celebrate 150 years of London Underground’s District line serving Londoners and tourists visiting the city.
Three return journeys will take place along the line between Ealing Broadway and High Street Kensington on both Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June 2019. Tickets are on sale now on London Transport Museum’s website.
The commemorative trips will mark the final 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 for customers on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines from 2021.
Steam trains first served the District Railway when it opened to the public between South Kensington and Westminster on Christmas Eve, 1868. Today, the District line serves 60 stations – the most of any Tube line.
Sam Mullins, Director, London Transport Museum said: “Passengers on these special finale journeys will be transported to a by-gone era of Victorian steam-powered travel, giving people a rare opportunity to experience the sounds and sights of travelling on the District line when it first opened 150 years ago.”
Nigel Holness, Managing Director of London Underground, said: "The District line has been a vital part of London's transport network for 150 years and it's amazing to think how many billions of journeys have been made in its lifetime. This is likely to be the final time we are able to run a steam train on the Tube network though central London so offers transport enthusiasts a fantastic opportunity to be a part of Underground history.”
London Transport Museum will continue to offer its heritage steam train outings on the outer reaches of the Metropolitan line towards Chesham.
People can discover more District line history at the next Open Weekend at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton Town, West London on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April.
Visitors looking to enjoy other heritage days out can book to board a beautifully restored red double-decker bus for day-time excursions from Covent Garden to Kew Gardens on 16 May 2019 and Greenwich on 17 October 2019.
Tickets to ride aboard the District 150 steam train, visit the Museum Depot Open Weekend or join an excursion by bus to Kew Gardens and Greenwich can be booked at: www.ltmuseum.co.uk
