Metropolitan line special - Sarah Siddons and 1938 stock outings

bluegoblin7 · 24 Jun 2026

Tickets are now on sale for a busy weekend of Metropolitan line specials utilising the restored 1938 stock and, for the first time since 2019, Sarah Siddons and the 4TC set (with supporting class 20 locomotive). Links and further details for each day are below:

Sarah Siddons

Friday 24 July: Amersham to Harrow (2x return journeys, 1x single journey Amersham-Harrow)
Saturday 25 July: Amersham to Watford (6x return journeys, 1x single journey Amersham-Harrow)
Sunday 26 July: Amersham to Harrow (5x return journeys, 1x single journey Amersham-Harrow)

1938 stock

Saturday 25 July: Amersham to Watford (5x return journeys, 1x single journeysAmersham-Harrow)
Sunday 26 July: Amersham to Harrow (4x return journeys)

This is likely to be the biggest heritage weekend for the Underground in several years, but also the last before the closure of Harrow cabin (and potentially Rickmansworth and Amersham) and the additional complexities that come with the new CBTC signalling.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2026 ==

Tickets for the Saturday trips are now available: both trains will be making several return trips between Amersham and Watford via the North Curve.

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Invincible · 2 Jul 2026

I see on FB Sarah Siddons was on the way to be on display at the Depot Open Days weekend

bluegoblin7 · 3 Jul 2026

Sarah Siddons and Florence Nightingale, the observation saloon, made the trip down yesterday, and should return to Ruislip on Monday, with two battery locomotives for company. Sarah was sounding in fine fettle!

njr001 · 3 Jul 2026

Sarah at Acton this morning

Egg Centric · 5 Jul 2026

bluegoblin7 said:
also the last before the closure of Harrow cabin (and potentially Rickmansworth and Amersham) and the additional complexities that come with the new CBTC signalling.

Is this as potentially "bad" as it sounds or will SS still likely be able to run (after the closures I mean), either because of having the equipment fitted or because it's possible to run without it due to Chiltern etc?

Bonus question: if it's 35 degrees or whatever are the coaches "relatively" cool with the ventilation or are they like greenhouses?

Dstock7080 · 5 Jul 2026

Egg Centric said:
Is this as potentially "bad" as it sounds or will SS still likely be able to run (after the closures I mean), either because of having the equipment fitted or because it's possible to run without it due to Chiltern etc?

Sarah Siddons will not have any additional equipment fitted.
It can operate from Harrow-on-the-Hill pfms.1 or 2 to/from Amersham without equipment, as will Chiltern trains. It will not be possible to run to Chesham or Watford or via north curve.

The problem is how does it get from Ruislip depot across the CBTC boundary at West ~~Acton~~ Harrow, (or eventually Ruislip siding) as an un-fitted train.

pitdiver · 5 Jul 2026

In answer to question " Do the coaches get hot" the answer as far as the 4TC stock is concerned is yes it does. I worked on " Steam on the Met for 4 years and it was always and sticky.
As far as 38 stock is concerned I've never on that when it was warm but I would imagine it would be.

AlterEgo · 5 Jul 2026

Looking forward to this. Haven't been behind Sarah Siddons since Steam on the Met 1989 when I was just three. I am sure SS was there as I have a more vivid memory of this than any steam - am I right?

Dstock7080 · 5 Jul 2026

AlterEgo said:
I am sure SS was there as I have a more vivid memory of this than any steam - am I right?

Sarah Siddons was on one end of the steam train operation in 1989, with MET No.1/GwR Pannier tank

AlterEgo · 5 Jul 2026

Dstock7080 said:
Sarah Siddons was on one end of the steam train operation in 1989, with MET No.1

Thank you!

pitdiver · 5 Jul 2026

Was 1989 the first year of SOTM

Harpo · 5 Jul 2026

Dstock7080 said:
The problem is how does it get from Ruislip depot across the CBTC boundary at West Acton, (or eventually Ruislip siding) as an un-fitted train.

I know nothing of CBTC but am guessing that a suitably equipped (battery?) loco could pilot unfitted vehicles out of the fitted area.

bluegoblin7 · 5 Jul 2026

The boundary is of course West Harrow, not West Acton - a slip of the finger I guess! My understanding is that Ruislip siding will retain colour lights/tripcocks as part of the dual fitted area for the Piccadilly line so there shouldn’t be further issues when SMA14 goes live.

There are effectively two options to transfer trains to the Met Main once that happens: either top and tailed with battery locomotives for a transfer move, or as an ‘Incompatible Train Movement’. Both would have to take place during the evening, either with late current or as cancelled engineering hours, and both have their own challenges to overcome around train length and re-consisting.

ATS3 · 6 Jul 2026

I've heard rumors Siddons will go on a few "dry" runs between today and the Friday it's happening on, is this true and if so when are these taking place?

bluegoblin7 · 6 Jul 2026

Sarah moved from the LTM Depot back to Ruislip today under power, with Florence and two battery locomotives in tow.

There are indeed test runs planned over the next couple of weeks, but these are not publicly advertised and will generally run in Controller's timings on the Met; that is, they will fit in around the service depending on what testing is required and what paths are available.

Tuesday would certainly be a good day to be around the top end though, as things stand.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jul 2026 ==

A couple of pics of Sarah’s test runs today - she’s sounding great and it was a privilege to be able to have a little preview trip! Harrow, Amersham and Watford were all reached.

Egg Centric · 7 Jul 2026

bluegoblin7 said:
Sarah moved from the LTM Depot back to Ruislip today under power, with Florence and two battery locomotives in tow.

There are indeed test runs planned over the next couple of weeks, but these are not publicly advertised and will generally run in Controller's timings on the Met; that is, they will fit in around the service depending on what testing is required and what paths are available.

Tuesday would certainly be a good day to be around the top end though, as things stand.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jul 2026 ==

A couple of pics of Sarah’s test runs today - she’s sounding great and it was a privilege to be able to have a little preview trip! Harrow, Amersham and Watford were all reached.

Beautiful, thanks

Mldaureol · 24 Jul 2026

Does any one have any train numbers for intertube purposes.
Thanks.

Dstock7080 · 24 Jul 2026

Mldaureol said:
Does any one have any train numbers for intertube purposes.
Thanks.

Sarah Siddons is train 746
1938 Tube Stock is train 747
using handheld radios, doubt Intertube would show.

Mldaureol · 24 Jul 2026

Dstock7080 said:
Sarah Siddons is train 746
1938 Tube Stock is train 747
using handheld radios, doubt Intertube would show.

Found on intertube and caught at HoH.
Thanks.

AlterEgo · 24 Jul 2026

Lovely run down to Harrow and back today. The 20 on the south end sounded fantastic. 8-)

ChiefPlanner · 24 Jul 2026

Good and sympathetic piece on BBC News London tonight - they had even due up some good Met Line archive photos.

(Mind you precious little other London news around - so a good "filler!)

njr001 · 24 Jul 2026

Just to emphasise there are still some tickets available for Saturday and Sunday to book visit the LT Museum website

rmHawk765 · 25 Jul 2026

Was certainly a great run yesterday on the '12:17', despite the fact that we were delayed and couldn't get out at Harrow.

bluegoblin7 · 25 Jul 2026

rmHawk765 said:
Was certainly a great run yesterday on the '12:17', despite the fact that we were delayed and couldn't get out at Harrow.

Sorry! That was my decision - there were some cancellations to services before that departure, so we had a few people at risk of missing the train. We felt it was better to get everyone on than leave without them.

rmHawk765 · 25 Jul 2026

bluegoblin7 said:
Sorry! That was my decision - there were some cancellations to services before that departure, so we had a few people at risk of missing the train. We felt it was better to get everyone on than leave without them.

No worries! I was under the impression that we had to let other trains in front but this definitely makes sense.

bluegoblin7 · 25 Jul 2026

There was a further delay to path us behind the southbound Chiltern, but my original plan had been to leave directly after the northbound arrival and make up time by skipping the photo stop. Unfortunately we couldn’t then reinstate it without jeopardising the afternoon runs - although it was always an unadvertised bonus.

Just one of the many considerations that’s going on behind the scenes on these trains!

Another lovely - albeit long! - day today but largely without incident. It was great to spend some time on the carriages chatting to everyone, something I don’t often get to do when acting in an operational role.

One final swan song again tomorrow… tickets still available for the Sarah Siddons runs.

Gareth1990 · 25 Jul 2026

TfL can find drivers to man a vintage Metropolitan line locomotive but can’t run a full service on a weekend with the modern train stock, weeks of severe delays because of a shortage of drivers…

bluegoblin7 · 25 Jul 2026

Completely different pool of drivers which cannot cross-cover.

Gareth1990 · 25 Jul 2026

bluegoblin7 said:
Completely different pool of drivers which cannot cross-cover.

I realise that but it is galling to see a historic locomotive rumble past when you’ve been waiting nearly 30 minutes for a ‘normal’ Metropolitan line train…

boiledbeans2 · 26 Jul 2026

Gareth1990 said:
I realise that but it is galling to see a historic locomotive rumble past when you’ve been waiting nearly 30 minutes for a ‘normal’ Metropolitan line train…

It's £40 for a ride on the heritage train. I'm sure LU knows which service must run.

Metropolitan line special - Sarah Siddons and 1938 stock outings

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