please empty your brain below

I was also surprised by how little steam it seemed to put out in the underground stations. Was that because it was using a condenser to catch the steam?
Looking at your picture of Baker Street I am surprised at how few people turned up. I thought that the station platforms would be crammed and impossible to get onto, which is why I did not go myself.
Glad you made it.
All views of the steam train are blocked by a modern Hammersmith & City line train.

A bit harsh. There was nothing to stop ordinary members of the public boarding the specially prepared modern H&C train and getting a real close up of the stationary engine and carriages. Which is what a lot of people did.
I was away from London this weekend (and will be next weekend too), thus missing it, but I knew I could count on your coverage DG. Thank you. :-)
When I first head that a S stock train would be blocking the view, I did think it was a bit harsh. But then that really it was there to try and keep some order to the station so it could operate normally - specifically to try and stop the westbound platform getting insanely crowded and thus stopping normal passengers.

That it was open and available essentially as a viewing platform, however, adds a second reason for it being there!
OK, but it'd have been better if they'd used that nice blue engine with a happy smiling face!
I really wish I could have seen that, history taking place before your eyes.
I like the posting time. Very good. :)
Lovely coverage and lovely pictures! Thanks for being there because I was on one of the Guided Walks advertised in your "What's On..." box instead.
Thank you DG, for your coverage of this historic event. I had wanted to see this for a long time, so followed the details given in your blog and in the link you gave to IanVisits. My daughter and I went to Euston Square to see the staff train come past, pulled by Met No 1. Wonderful!
To be fair, those of us who had tickets did get to see it moving too - we were brought down to the platform in time to see it's arrival in to the station :)
For those that missed it, bear in mind that there's another run next weekend.
Dan: there wasn't much steam at the station I was at (Euston Square) until it got to the far end of the platform. I think this was because it was just coasting rather than applying any traction, but I don't really know steam trains work, so I'm only guessing that that stops the steam.

It was pretty clear why it was only coasting though: (a) if it did stop the steam then that's one reason (b) you normally have to slow down for stations you're not stopping at, even closed ones let alone ones filled with spectators (c) there was a train in service in front that was stopping at stations - if the stream train didn't slow down it would hit a red!
It won't produce much visible exhaust if it's coasting, but as the pistons are mechanically linked to the wheels (there is no clutch) there will be four exhaust strokes for each turn of the driving wheels, whether it's producing much power or not.
A photo of the steam train was in the Japan Times this morning!










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