Image 45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station
45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station
45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station The Christmas season is a busy and lucrative time for charter operators with this day at London's Victoria station no exception. Having photographed the Belmond Pullman service one of a series of Santa Steam Express charters arrives two minutes later. Suitably decked out in tinsel and with Santas disguising the running lights 45231 (formally LMS 5231) 'The Sherwood Forester' eases extremely slowly into Victoria station's platform seven leading the circular service that seemed full of groups of children. I was surprised that there was just one other enthusiast present to witness the arrival of the train with him suitable attired wearing an official Victoria pass on a lanyard with me having to resort to tapping in to gain access to the platform and even then feeling that I was going to be asked to leave at any moment; what has our hobby come to? Keywords: 45231 Santa Steam Express 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria 1Z31 London Victoria station The Sherwood Forester
45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station The Christmas season is a busy and lucrative time for charter operators with this day at London's Victoria station no exception. Having photographed the Belmond Pullman service one of a series of Santa Steam Express charters arrives two minutes later. Suitably decked out in tinsel and with Santas disguising the running lights 45231 (formally LMS 5231) 'The Sherwood Forester' eases extremely slowly into Victoria station's platform seven leading the circular service that seemed full of groups of children. I was surprised that there was just one other enthusiast present to witness the arrival of the train with him suitable attired wearing an official Victoria pass on a lanyard with me having to resort to tapping in to gain access to the platform and even then feeling that I was going to be asked to leave at any moment; what has our hobby come to? Keywords: 45231 Santa Steam Express 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria 1Z31 London Victoria station The Sherwood Forester


The Christmas season is a busy and lucrative time for

charter operators with this day at London's Victoria station no exception. Having photographed the Belmond Pullman service one of a series of Santa Steam Express charters arrives two minutes later. Suitably decked out in tinsel and with Santas disguising the running lights 45231 (formally LMS 5231) 'The Sherwood Forester' eases extremely slowly into Victoria station's platform seven leading the circular service that seemed full of groups of children. I was surprised that there was just one other enthusiast present to witness the arrival of the train with him suitable attired wearing an official Victoria pass on a lanyard with me having to resort to tapping in to gain access to the platform and even then feeling that I was going to be asked to leave at any moment; what has our hobby come to?