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Steam train to commemorate 150th anniversary of London Underground
The Boston Lodge works of the FR did the restoration.
The Metropolitan Jubilee carriage, No. 353 was renovated at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge carriage works in North Wales over a 15-month period which ended in November 2012. The body framing and much of the panelling was in surprisingly good condition considering the length of time the body had stood out in the weather. The final finish involved up to a dozen coats of varnish, rubbed down between each coat…
The FR also renovated and shortened the under-frame from a Southern Railway 4-wheeled parcels van on which the body has been mounted. The ‘gas’ lighting is actually LED lighting disguised inside gas mantles - modern health and safety legislation precludes the use of gas for lighting. John Dobson, Editor FR Magazine
Way to go!!!
It is worth noting that the restoration of the Metroplitan Coach was undertaken by the Boston Lodge works of the Festiniog Railway in North Wales… Boston Lodge has earned a reputation for the quality of its restoration and re/new building of carriages for a variety of narrow gauge lines (24" to 30" gauges). Some of its own carriages (and one locomotive) are approaching 150 years old. This was Boston Lodge’s first standard gauge commission. Superb craftsmanship, and brilliant project management are the hallmarks of BL Carriage shops.
The Tube properly refers to those lines of the London Underground that run in deep tunnels cut through the limestone that underlies the city. The original lines, including the Metropolitan Line between Paddington and Farringdon, were built using the cut and cover method and are sub-surface lines. Steam engines cannot be operated in the tube lines.
Way to go!!!
That London Underground was originally steam-powered is entirely news to me! However did they manage to vent the locomotive exhaust (which surely would have been coal smoke and vapor)? Doing that now even for a celebratory commemorative trip ought to be a major challenge, even if the rebuilt historic engine is burning oil fuel.