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London Underground: 150 years

The age of steam returns to the Tube today as part of festivities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground. The first passenger journeys took place on January 10th.

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Passengers don period costume for tube celebrations

Passengers dressed in period costume enjoyed a trip on the restored 1898 Met Locomotive 1 today to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground.

The steam train headed to Moorgate underground station in the City of London after a journey from Olympia in west London.

Passengers dressed in period costume prepare to board the restored Metropolitan Railway carriage No 353. Credit: PA

London mayor Boris Johnson, who was among the passengers, described the journey as "romantic" and "pure Conan Doyle".

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, waves from aboard the 115-year-old train. Credit: PA

He said: "It was just extraordinary. We had steam coming in through the windows, huge thick clouds of white steam going past and then bits of soot coming through from the engine."

Metropolitan 1 began its journey by reverses from its sheds near Earl's Court, London. Credit: PA

Johnson added: "It was fascinating, as the train started to go up from Kensington to Notting Hill you could feel the engine really strain, but as we levelled off it picked up a lot of speed. You could see how the Victorians were able to run a very timely service."

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