Paul Cummins wrote:
We were about to embark at Dover, when
(Recliner) came up to me and whispered:
True, but that doesn't invalidate the statement.
It does. No "London Underground" service, past or present, was originally
steam operated.
The MR and MDR services were, but they were not LU trains.
Yes, but the London Underground (and the "Tube") is understood to include
the predecessor companies. Note the title of this thread. After all, no
deep level "Tube" line was ever steam operated, but the whole modern LU
system is branded the "Tube", and hence those pre-1890 services are now all
regarded as part of what we now call the Tube, even if the term was unknown
in 1863.
Otherwise, which entity is celebrating its 150th anniversary? If you only
include the Met, then even the original 1863 route isn't all part of the
current Met line, an so you presumably regard the upcoming steam runs as
bogus?