A vintage steam engine following the famous route of the "Golden Arrow" train was spotted earlier today in London

The rare sight drew crowds of enthusiasts and residents alike, as the iconic train passed through the area on its outward journey.

The steam engine, which had set out early this morning, was captured at Pett's Wood in a video posted by Stephen Sangster on X (formerly Twitter).

He described the scene as the train glided through Petts Wood, its billowing steam merging with the morning mist.

The train, on its nostalgic route, passed iconic sights such as the White Cliffs of Dover, retracing the path of the historic "Golden Arrow" boat train.

For those who missed the train earlier today, there's good news—you can still catch it on its return leg this evening.

The vintage engine will once again roll through areas like Wembley, Bromley, Watford and Clapham as it completes its journey, offering a final chance for locals to witness a piece of railway history.

Here are the times for the steam train's return journey this evening, according to the Real Time Trains website: 

  • Sevenoaks [SEV]: pass 18:04
  • Dunton Green [DNG]: pass 18:06
  • Knockholt [KCK]: pass 18:12
  • Chelsfield [CLD]: pass 18:14
  • Orpington [ORP]: pass 18:16
  • Petts Wood [PET]: pass 18:18½
  • Petts Wood Jn [XPE]: pass 18:20½
  • Bickley Jn [XLY]: pass 18:22½
  • Bickley [BKL]: pass 18:23
  • Bromley South [BMS]: pass 18:24½
  • Shortlands [SRT]: pass 18:26
  • Shortlands Jn [XOR]: pass 18:26½
  • Beckenham Junction [BKJ]: pass 18:28½
  • Kent House [KTH]: pass 18:31
  • Penge East [PNE]: pass 18:32
  • Sydenham Hill [SYH]: pass 18:35
  • West Dulwich [WDU]: pass 18:36½
  • Herne Hill [HNH]: pass 18:38½
  • Brixton [BRX]: pass 18:41
  • Shepherds Lane Jn: pass 18:42
  • Clapham High Street [CLP]: pass 18:45
  • Voltaire Road Jn. [XVJ]: pass 18:45½
  • Wandsworth Road [WWR]: pass 18:46½
  • Factory Jn: pass 18:47½
  • Longhedge Jn: pass 18:52
  • Latchmere Jn: pass 18:58
  • Imperial Wharf [IMW]: pass 19:01
  • West Brompton [WBP]: pass 19:03
  • Kensington Olympia [KPA]: pass 19:06
  • Shepherds Bush [SPB]: pass 19:08½
  • North Pole Signal Tvc813: pass 19:11½
  • North Pole Jn: pass 19:12
  • Mitre Bridge Jn [XMB]: pass 19:13
  • Willesden West Londn Jn [XWI]: pass 19:14½
  • Acton Lane Reception Sdgs: 19:19
  • Willesden No7 [XXW]: pass 19:48
  • Brent New Jn: pass 19:49½
  • Wembley Yard South Jn: pass 19:51½
  • Willesden Sudbury Jn: pass 19:52½
  • Willesden Up & Down Relief (URL): pass 19:54
  • Wembley Central [WMB]: pass 19:57
  • North Wembley Jn: pass 19:58
  • Harrow & Wealdstone [HRW]: pass 20:01
  • Bushey [BSH]: pass 20:05
  • Watford South Jcn: pass 20:06
  • Watford Junction [WFJ]: 20:07 - 20:09 (Service stops to drop passengers off only)
  • Watford North Jn: pass 20:10
  • Kings Langley [KGL]: pass 20:13½
  • Apsley [APS]: pass 20:16
  • Hemel Hempstead [HML]: 20:18 - 20:20 (Service stops to drop passengers off only)