Steam on the Circle Line is a triumph!

The careful preparations paid off, and all the trains ran without problems, while ordinary passengers were bemused at stations such as King's Cross by the sight of a steam train. Enthusiasts on the platforms and trains followed the sensible safety instructions, and mingled happily with passengers and a plethora of station staff who were also enjoying the spectacle. Photographers were good humoured too, despite the ever present challenge of being 'blocked' by one of the frequent service trains, especially on the busy 'northern' section.

While the original section of line, from Paddington to Farringdon, opened with steam traction, as did the extensions that rapidly followed, by 1905 electrification was complete, meaning that these were the first passenger steam trains over the line for more than a century. Regular passenger steam work survived north of Rickmansworth until replaced by the A60 stock in 1961. Steam-hauled engineers trains remained until 1971.

For the Bluebell Railway, the return of its Chesham coaches was particularly welcome, as it is 20 years since the railway first mooted the possibility. The coaches were inspected, and critical components (such as axles) ultrasonically tested, by LT staff at Horsted Keynes. Following the replacement of a couple of mechanical components, they were passed for passenger work at up to 25mph on the LT network. In return, Met No. 1 and carriage 353 will visit the Bluebell Railway "at some point".