Metronet Rail, on 10 June 2007, handed back for service to London Underground (LU) Sarah Siddons, a 1921 Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive, and four passenger carriages.

The occasion was marked with a special one-off celebration service that departed Harrow-on-the-Hill at 12.00 for a round trip to Amersham where Metronet Chief Operations Officer Mark Cooper presented London Underground Deputy Chief Operating Officer Howard Collins with a commemorative headboard.

A second commemorative headboard, that had been fixed to the front of the loco, was raffled, raising £500 for the Railway Children, a charity that supports street children living alone and at risk all over the world, many in and around railway stations.

Mark Cooper told crowds at Amersham station: “Metronet's role is to renew the Tube and in 2009 the first train of a new fleet of air-conditioned trains will begin running on the Metropolitan. However, in doing so, we must not forget our heritage and we are delighted to be able to return Sarah to our partner London Underground for operational use.”

Howard Collins said: “London Underground is pleased to see Sarah Siddons, part of the Tube's heritage fleet, back in working order courtesy of Metronet. London Underground is the oldest metro system in the world and it is great to see that this part of London Underground history is being preserved. He added: “I am delighted to accept this fine lady back to the railway. Today's heritage run may be the first step of things to come, of making sure we use Sarah on a regular basis.”

Sarah Siddons (named after a famous late 18th century actress) worked between Aldgate and Rickmansworth stations where a steam engine took over, running to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. She was number 12 of 20 locomotives, each of which had a top speed of 65mph. Her class finished working in the early 1960s when electrification of the line was extended from Rickmansworth to Amersham and the current A-Stock of trains was introduced.

Sarah Siddons and the four carriages (a former Southern Region 4TC set), which remain in LU ownership, have not seen operational service since 2001. Metronet has returned them to serviceable condition through routine maintenance and “a bit of tender loving care” at Ruislip Depot by Technical Services and the Train Modification Unit. One of the tasks was to fit door locks to meet new safety standards and, on the support Class 20 (No. 20227) diesel locomotive, to fit a safety trip cock that provides automatic train protection.

The commemorative headboard raffled on the day was fixed to the front of the locomotive during Sunday's heritage run and bore the legend ‘Metropolitan Heritage Special'.

Above: The 12.05 Harrow-on-the Hill to Amersham special runs between Moor Park and Northwood on 10 June 2007, headed by preserved Metropolitan electric loco No 12 Sarah Siddons with Class 20 No 20227 on the rear.
Brian Morrison