Metropolitan Line Past and Present

A double disc featuring past and present of London Underground's Metropolitan Line. Disc one is pure 85 minutes from reminiscing the history starting with black and white footage taken in 1910 of a cab ride from Baker Street going via Oxbridge branch through St Johns Wood, Marlborough Road, Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road, West Hampstead, Kilburn, Willesden Green, Wembley Park, Harrow then ending up at Ruislip. Then a jump forward following the changes of 1930's under there then newly formed London Transport Passenger Board with feature of Wembley Park to Stanmore Branch, work being done to St John's Wood Station as well as steam worked to single track Chesham Branch with change of steam locomotives and electric locomotives been completed at Rickmansworth. Head into late 1950s with an electrification programme underway on the branch from Rickmansworth through to Chesham as well as service services to Aylesbury going over to operation with Diesel Multiple Units. Take a look into the operation of Croxley Tip Branch which was worked by former Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks. DVD then shows the challenges which were faced during heavy snowfall in 1982. Also in 1982 an enthusiast tour ran which featured preserved Locomotive Sarah Siddons plus changes being made to allow the system to be worked by Driver only Operation. Follow the work being undertaken in 1985 with former stock that had been converted into a track recorder unit. 1980's finishes off with steam returning to the Met feature of 1989 which was held as part of century celebrations of Chesham Branch featuring preserved locomotive Sarah Siddons and former London Transport locomotives. Steam returning to the met again in 1990 running between Harrow and Amersham using former British Railway Standard Class 4 tank, ex London Transport Locomotive and also Sarah Siddons. Sarah Siddons was then to be found working between Harrow and Amersham along with former British Railway Black 5 and London North Eastern Railway N7 in connection with century celebrations of 1992. Go behind scenes looking the reconstruction work that took place during the early 1990's of Hillingdon Station. 1994 is heavily featured with preserve locomotive Sarah Siddons along with former London North Eastern Railway N7, British Railway Standard Class 4 tank plus ex London Transport pannier tanks worked between Watford and Amersham then later in the year between Harrow and Uxbridge whilst Chesham Branch was worked by preserved bubble car. Discover the various different types of traction used during engineering works that took place at Ruislip followed by Sarah Siddons been featured as part of Metro Rover Rail tour of 1995. See refurbishment of rolling stock being completed by Adtranz of Derby whilst 1995 steam on the Met specials ran with Sarah Siddons alongside British Railway Class 20, British Railway Standard and also Great Western Railway pannier. Features of 1996 include Sarah Siddons taking part in a Metro Ranger Rail tour whilst later in the year Rickmansworth depot held an open day. Steam on the Met returned for 1998 and 1999 with many types of preserved motive power being featured. In 2004 Uxbridge branch is featured as century celebration that and utilised preserved 1934 stock in operation with disc 1 finishing with rebuilding of Ruislip Manor in 2005. Disc two is featuring the present day of metropolitan line filmed mid to late 2000's looking at the various infrastructure and architecture firstly starting at Aldgate going via London Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Barbican, Farringdon, London Kings Cross and Euston Square before getting to Great Portland Street. Next part then starts at Baker Street and goes via Finchley Road, West Hampstead, Kilburn, Willesden Green, Neasden, Wembley Park, Preston Park and Northwick Park into Harrow. Follow onwards from Harrow to North Harrow, Pinner, Northwood Hills, Northwood Moor Park, and Croxley and into Watford. Return back to Moor Park and onto Rickmansworth, Chorley Wood and Chalfont and Amersham. Returning back to Harrow following different route through West Harrow, Rayners Lane, Eastcote, Ruislip Manor, Ruislip, Ickenham, Hillingdon and then ending at Uxbridge. DVD then finishes off by looking over the relics of the system that have been preserved.