Ex-Metropolitan Railway 0-4-4T No. L48
takes water at Aylesbury during an
extended stop on the return to Moorgate
on theRailway Worldspecial on May 23,- Inset right: The souvenir ticket of the
day.ALL PICTURES:THE TRANSPORT TREASURY
TheMetropolitanSpecial
In the first of an occasional new series,Andrew Roylelooks back to a forgotten railtour
over London Transport’s Metropolitan line in 1954.
S
IXTY-FIVE years ago it was possible for
an enthusiasts’ special train to attract
the attention of the wider public – even
at a time when steam traction reigned
supreme on Britain’s railways.
The ‘Metropolitan Special’ tour operated
byRailway Worldmagazine achieved this
feat during its run from London’s Moorgate
station to Quainton Road and return on
Sunday, May 23, 1954.
The train was organised in response to
suggestions from readers, and was formed of
five Metropolitan compartment coaches in
teak livery. It was headed by ‘E’ class 0-4-4T
No. L48, one of a type which had worked
passenger services over the ‘Met’ during the
early years of the 20th century.
The fare was 15 shillings. The crew were
driver Robert Kettle and fireman Hicks of
Neasden depot, accompanied by Mr Lowton,
the train guard.
The majority of the 300 participants
boarded at Moorgate, from where the train
departed promptly at 1.45pm, and set off atsome speed. Indeed, they ran through King’s
Cross at 34mph, much to the surprise of
ordinary tube passengers, who looked on in
amazement as the special clattered through,
amid swirling smoke and steam.
One of the special requests made
beforehand was for the train to be allowed
to pass through Baker Street non-stop,
something which theDaily Mail(perhaps
a little over-dramatically) later said was
unprecedented. However, the early pace meant
they had soon caught up other traffic, and a
series of signal checks were to precede a stop
short of the station, presumably a regulation
to avoid having to stopinthe platform.
Once through Baker Street, the loco
was given its head up the grade to Finchley
Road, emerging into the daylight and
sending showers of sparks into the air; let’s
say there was less concern over the fire risk in
those days!
The first stop was at Willesden Green to
collect special guests, namely the Mayor of
Willesden, Coun Horace Thorley OBE JP andthe Lady Mayoress, Mrs Thorley. It was just
as well they reached there a little early as the
mayor made the most of the occasion, when
invited to make a speech beside the engine,
and to pose on the footplate for photographs
with the crew. This all took a little longer
than was anticipated, and one can imagine the
guard anxiously watching the time before he
allowed Coun Thorley to wave a green flag
from the train as it departed.
Running out through the London
suburbs, more than one Sunday afternoon
cricket match was briefly halted at the train’s
passing while a good showing of the depot
staff were outside at Neasden to offer their
encouragement.
The 1-in-100 to Harrow was ascended at
32mph, suggesting No. L48 was certainly in
fine fettle. Water stops at Rickmansworth and
Aylesbury allowed further passengers to join,
among whom was the Mayor of Aylesbury,
Coun Sage and Mrs Sage. Another passenger
wasMrHLSChapman (with his wife), who
had been the last secretary of the MetropolitanRAILTOURSREMEMBERED
50 •The Railway Magazine• July 2019