IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Elms, UPMINSTER, RM14 1XT

This is a rear view of the Pannier Tank engine, looking west-southwest.

A second RLH came to join the fray of buses at the depot, this one retaining its original destination blinds from when it was on Route 248.

The main entrance to Hall mead School http://www.sch.hallmeadschool.co.uk/

Here the Pannier Tank engine is at work, showering me with a great plume of steam! It has an extremely loud whistle too - it could be heard quite clearly from where we parked on nearby Ingrebourne Gardens (just two roads away)! Who needs an electric fire to keep you warm when you've got a good old steam train to do the job? An underground train being covered in steam is a VERY rare sight too, so enjoy it while you can! View taken looking west-southwest.

Also at the depot's Open Day was this GWR Pannier Tank Engine from the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. It didn't do a lot other than puff backwards and forwards along this very short, dead straight stretch of test track and let out a couple of plumes of steam each time, but it was still enough for it to be appreciated. Contrary to popular belief, this engine didn't get here under its own steam - it came here via low loader, which cost the London Transport Museum about £1,000. This shot makes an interesting comparison with old and new trains, as you can see a modern District line train in the siding in the background. View taken looking southwest.

This is a side view of the Pannier Tank engine, looking south.

This is a 1938 Northern line train, which ran on that line between 1938 and 1988, so had a career of exactly 50 years! The last day in regular passenger service was 19 May 1988 - a small sign in one of the windows of the train confirms this! I don't think the train 'lives' here however - I think it belongs at Acton Town depot where the London Transport Museum stores some of its stock. It's only here for a special non-stop run on Friday night from Upminster to Ealing Broadway. Just a shame the journey takes place at night - meaning that all you'd see out of the train windows, whether underground or not, is pitch blackness. For this reason, I don't think it's really worth the money and effort in going, but I suppose if you really want to experience being on a 1938 train, then go for it! On the right is a C stock train, now used mostly on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, but also still used on the Wimbledon branch of the District line. View taken looking west.

This is a side view of the 1938 Northern line train, with carriage 10012 in view. Note the "No Smoking" sign on the window, which would've been installed in 1987 (only a year before the train retired from regular passenger service) after the King's Cross fire. View taking looking south.