Steam tribute for Tube anniversary

A 19th Century steam train has taken passengers on the London Underground to mark the 150th anniversary of the first Tube journey in the capital.

Specially invited passengers moved off from Kensington Olympia Tube station in west London aboard a train pulled by Met Locomotive 1, which was built in 1898.

The first stretch of the world-famous network opened on January 9 1863 - between Paddington and Farringdon - when it was known as the Metropolitan Railway.

Hundreds of rail enthusiasts, families and interested onlookers took up positions at stations and on bridges to catch a glimpse of the train, as it travelled non-stop to Moorgate station in the City of London.

Spectators at Underground stations were covered in steam as the train made its way along the same track used by modern day Tube services.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who was onboard, 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.

"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."

He added: "It was romantic. You understand all those Victorian novels and the assignations that possibly took place on those velvet seats. It was pure Conan Doyle."

The train was visible passing through a number of stations on its 36-minute journey, including Earl's Court, High Street Kensington, Euston and King's Cross, before it reached Moorgate at 10.30am. Normal Tube services ran at the same time.