Rare 1920s locomotive Sarah Siddons returns to London Underground for heritage outings

Event: Heritage train journeys – Metropolitan line special
Dates: Friday 24 July, Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July 2026
Tickets: now on sale

• Take your pick of two beautiful heritage trains from different eras
• Travel back in time through lush suburbs on the Metropolitan line with Sarah Siddons, a rare early 1920s locomotive
• Experience the thrill of travelling in original 1950s ex-British Rail 4TC coaches, hauled by Sarah Siddons, one of the few electric locomotives still in service
• Enjoy a beautifully restored 1938 art deco-style red Tube train journey
• Travel through Metro-land starting from leafy Amersham along the Metropolitan line
• Tickets on sale for vintage trips on Friday 24 July, Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July 2026
• The Heritage train journeys: Metropolitan line event is organised by London Transport Museum with tickets on sale here www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/heritage-vehicle-outings 

Guests will be transported to a bygone era as they travel on the Metropolitan line from Amersham station to Harrow-on-the Hill or Amersham station to Watford in 1950s ex-British Rail 4TC coaches. Sarah Siddons electric locomotive no. 12 will haul the train as it pulls into Amersham station.

The Class 20 locomotive will pull the train away from Amersham station with Sarah Siddons at the rear.

Alongside the much-loved Sarah Siddons transport relic, passengers can also take a special trip on the Museum’s beautifully restored 1938 burgundy art deco-style train.

Some return journeys will be via the North Curve, a rarely used and ‘secret’ section of the track connecting the Rickmansworth branch and the Watford branch. This part of the line is used mostly early morning or late at night for moving empty trains and occasional engineering diversions.

The three-day event is hosted by London Transport Museum with tickets on sale for Friday 24 July, Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July 2026.

Tickets are available for three different routes along the Metropolitan line:

1. A return journey from Amersham to Harrow-on-the-hill
2. A return journey from Amersham to Watford via the North Curve
3. A single journey from Amersham to Harrow-on-the-hill

Please note that the 1938 train is not running on Friday 24 July. Tickets for the 1938 train are available on Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July only. Sarah Siddons will be in action on all three days.

Passengers on board the two trains will be able to immerse themselves in transport history as they chat to London Transport Museum’s friendly and knowledgeable volunteer stewards. They will also be able to discover the history of the Metropolitan line with a souvenir flyer or grab a family activity sheet. Transport fans can browse a London Transport Museum Friends stall selling transport memorabilia at Amersham station.

Ticket bundle

For those that can’t decide which train they like best or for transport fans that wish to experience both rail vehicles there is the chance to create a ticket bundle of both the 1938 Tube stock and iconic Sarah Siddons locomotive. All journeys depart from Amersham Station. www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/heritage-vehicle-outings

About Electric Locomotive No. 12

Electric Locomotive No. 12 Sarah Siddons is one of 20 built for the Metropolitan Railway in 1922-23 for service between the city and the developing suburbs of Metro-land. Sarah Siddons is one of only two of these locomotives that now remain. The other last remaining locomotive of this type, named John Hampden, can be seen at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

For this event, Sarah Siddons will be pulling the 4TC unit, which comprises four 1950s ex-British Rail coaches and a Director’s Saloon named Florence Nightingale. Director’s Saloons were used during the Second World War for track inspections with around 15 or 16 built. Traditionally used by Railway Directors there are five internal parts to the saloon – a meeting/board room type space, a kitchen, a guard’s room, toilet and another meeting/desk room. When the train is stationary passengers will have a chance to look at the Director’s Saloon.

No.12 Sarah Siddons remained operational until 1982 helping with brake-testing and leaf-clearing duties before being assigned to the London Underground Heritage Fleet. She is now seen at special events only – a rare survivor from a bygone age. Her last outing on the Underground was in 2019.

Why Sarah Siddons? 

As part of a publicity campaign in March 1927 designed to promote Metro-land and the development of suburbia, the locomotives were individually named after real and fictional personalities associated with the Metropolitan Railway catchment area.

Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress who rose to fame in the 1770s. She died in 1831 and was buried at Paddington Green cemetery, not far from the Metropolitan Railway’s original terminus.

About the 1938 Tube train 

The 1938 stock was the first kind of Tube train to have all the electrical equipment underneath the floor, combining 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. The 1938 stock was one of the capital’s longest serving Tube trains.

The beautifully restored electrified train is made up of four cars complete with green and red moquette seating, grab handles and distinctive art deco light fittings. London Transport Museum offers the only opportunity to travel on a heritage train on London Underground.

Matt Brosnan, Head Curator for London Transport Museum, said: ‘We are really looking forward to seeing our 1920s Electric Locomotive No. 12 Sarah Siddons out on the tracks again, along with our gleaming 1938 art deco-style train.

‘I am sure our guests will enjoy being transported back in time at our last heritage train journeys event of the year on the Metropolitan line.  This is a rare treat – make sure you don’t miss out!’

Tickets must be bought in advance at www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/heritage-vehicle-outings