Met Loco Specials

[Deleted]

Scanning some more old colour slides. Harrow July 1972 - this is a special fan trip topped and tailed by Met Locos 12 Sarah Siddons and 5 John Hampden. I believe this was the first time for a while the locos had been used on a special and were using brake vans to carry the passengers. No concession to passenger comfort and Health & Safety rules didn't exist! I don't know how long it was before a special using the locos was operated again. Was this number 5's last time in public service? Unfortunately I didn't get a good photo of it. I lived in Leeds much of the rest of the seventies and the next Met Loco special I photographed was in September 1982 hauling inter city coaches I think with a battery loco on the other end. Perhaps a book on LT specials operated over the years including last runs might be a nice addition - a hint to any authors reading this.

Clicky for piccy

<<Rincew1nd - edit: Image changed to link, as per forum rule ; just!>>

[class411]

I went on a trip pulled by Sarah Siddons some time in the early nineties. It was all above surface and was intended to be one way by an even older steam loco and one way by SS.

Sadly, they had to substitute SS for the steam loco because said steam loco kept setting fire to dried vegetation at the side of the track.

Rather disappointingly they used some not very old overground stock for the carriages.

[roythebus]

I trained on John Hampden in late 1973at Ricky when I went there as a guard. It was used for "leaf clearance" duties and pushing stalled DMUs up the bank to Chorleywood. Sadly I never got to work it in service.

Remember SS done a few main line tours in the 80's, including a trip to Portsmouth.

[bassmike]

And to Dover Marine.