On the first weekend of September, passengers can be transported to a bygone era on a red 1938 Art Deco style vintage train on the Metropolitan line from Amersham to Watford and Harrow-on-the-Hill.
The train has been beautifully restored, and has four cars complete with green and red moquette seating, grab handles, and distinctive Art Deco light fittings.
The 1938 stock was the first kind of Tube train to have all its electrical equipment underneath the floor and combined the latest technology of the era with quintessential late-1930s style. These trains served London, on several deep-level Tube lines, for half a century, but have not been out on the London Underground system, with passengers on board since spring 2019.
The special trains will run on Saturday, 3rd and Sunday, 4th September, with trains departing from Amersham on a return trip to Watford on both days at 10.46, 12.46 and 14.46 and a journey time of 1 hour 2 minutes. Tickets cost £25 for adults and £17 for concessions and children from 4 to 17 years, and must be booked online in advance.
Trains to Harrow-on-the-Hill depart from Amersham at 15.56 and 16.34 with a journey time of 38 minutes. Single tickets only are available on these trains at a cost of cost £17 for adults and £11 for concessions and children from 4 to 17 years and must be booked online in advance.
Children aged 3 and under go free on laps.
To buy a ticket visit the London Transport Museum website: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/art-deco-train-journey
Sunday, 4th September is also Amersham's Old Town annual Heritage Day, which includes children's funfair rides, classic car displays, a vintage farmers' market, birds of prey display, and heritage bus journeys.
Sam Mullins OBE, Director for London Transport Museum, said: “I'm thrilled to have our much-loved 1938 Art Deco train back out on the Metropolitan line once more. We know families, transport enthusiasts and vintage fans really enjoy a day out on the moquette seats. A ride on this beautifully restored design classic train is a real step back in time to a golden age of commuting – make sure you don't miss out!”.
If I still lived in London, I’d be tempted for another ride on one, I drove these in the mid 80s when they returned to the Northern Line to bolster the fleet for a new WTT.