District D-stock bows out

The last D-stock service, complete with commemorative stickers enters Dagenham East on the last day 21 April, 2017.

On Friday 21st April District line D-stock made it's last public run. Entering service from 1980 the 'D78' tubes replaced pre-war CO/CP and post war R stock. Originally delivered in unpainted aluminium the D stock trains served on the District line (and for a brief period the East London Line) serving destinations from Ealing Broadway, Richmond, Kensington Olympia and Wimbledon through to Upminster (Due to platform lengths C-stock was used on the branch to Edgeware Road). The D-stock will be remembered for being the last of the London Underground fleet to be painted into the corporate white red and blue livery upon its refurbishment from 2005-8. At the same time the trains lost their wooden floors and distinctive hanging grab straps. The trains also became the first on the underground to feature dot-matrix LED destination displays.

Happier times for D-stock with re-furbished and original condition sets
passing at Whitchapel on 14th September 2007.

The mid-life refurbishment could have seen the trains last another 20 years in service, however the decision was taken that all sub-surface stock would be replaced with a uniform fleet of new Bombadier S-stock. Following replacement of A-stock on the Metropolitan and C-stock on the Circle, District (Edgeware Road branch) and Hammersmith & City Lines it was time for the D-stock to take it's turn to bow out of service with withdrawals starting in January 2015. The final run public, the 16:35 from Upminster to Ealing Broadway was well patronised with enthusiasts, locals the press and of course commuters wanting to pay their farewells to this London workhorse. A railtour on 7th May will mark the last use of D78 stock on the London Underground, however some may yet live on as part of the Viva Rail class 230 'D Train' project to create a low cost DMU for branch line service.

Tube deliveries drawing to a close

Running in its usual path as 7X09 heritages liveried 20107 and 20132 lead a new S7 train for the District line past East Goscote (between Melton Mowbray and Leicester). The locos are owned by Harry Needle Railway Company who lease them to GBRf who are operating the S-Stock transfers.

Since late 2009 the delivery runs of new S-Stock trains for London Underground have become a regular feature between Derby, Old Dalby and Neasden depot in London. The S8 and S7 trains which have been built at Bombardiers works in Derby are each moved to the Old Dalby test track for shake down running and mileage accumulation before then continuing their delivery run to Neasden for acceptance by London Underground. The trips have been popular with photographers as due to a weak bridge in the London area the axle weight of the trains has had to be limited- meaning traction has come in the form of veteran class 20's which top and tail the new tube sets along with some former tank wagons converted to barrier vehicles.

20314 and 20096 lead 7X09 after a reversal south of Leicester. The ensemble
are seen here at Castle Gresley on the Freight only Coalville line on 13/04/2016.

The delivery runs are now on their final push with the final sets of tubes for the District Line and those ordered additionally for the Croxley Link now being dispatched from Derby. It is entirely possible that by late spring the last of these interesting trains will have taken it's slow and circuitous route from Derby to London to join its sisters in front line LUL service. The days of the remaining D-Stock on the district line are now very much numbered.
I traveled to the Midlands on 13th April 2016 to catch up with some of the last of the stock movements (something I had been meaning to do since they started running more than half a decade ago!). Due to the slow nature of the train, and the routing to keep it out of the way of faster services, it is possible to reach more than one location on the trains route south. Fortunately after a long drive both the train and weather rewarded me!

C you later

5522 enters Notting Hill Gate as a new S stock train departs for Edgeware Road

5726 approaches Wimbledon Park on the District line.

As I write this post the first of two 'C stock' farewell tours is underway traversing many parts of the sub-surface London Undgerground system where the trains have worked for many years, as well as some areas which are less familiar to the stock. 

5720 catches the last of the days light at Parsons Green

5545 basks in the sun as it arrives at West Brompton

Since 1970 the 'C69' stock has been in use on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, joined in 1977 by 'C77' stock to work the Wimbledon to Edgewear Road branch of the District line. Refurbished between 1991 and 1994, at which point the trains were painted from bare metal to the corporate London Transport red and blue livery, the trains have given faithful service over the years and following the final withdrawal of Metropolitan 'A stock' became the oldest trains on the underground system. 

5529 awaits its next departure from Wimbledon for
Edgeware Road

Mainstream withdrawal of the trains began in January 2013 with arrival of new Bombadier S stock to the Hammersmith & City line. Since then the new trains have also taken over the Circle and around 50% of trains on the Wimbledon-Edgeware road service on the District line. As of April 2014 only 8 trains remain servicable with just 4 required for daily service. It is likely that the last regular passenger use will cease in May, with the final run of the stock being a farewell railtour on 29th June.

All Change on the District line- New S stock is seen at Wimbledon alongside D and C stock which it will soon completely replace.

Steam back on the Met

Re-capturing scenes from yesteryear L150 hauls the 15:15 Harrow-on-the-Hill
 to Amersham towards Chorleywood on Saturday 25th May 2013

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the London Underground steam trains returned to the outer reaches of the Metropolitan line over the May 25-27th Bank Holiday weekend. The last that time steam was seen in these parts was in 2000 when the popular 'Steam on the Met' program ran for the final time. The set up this time round was somewhat different but still resulted in three different steam locomotives seeing action on trains between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham.

The three locomotives in use were:
Metropolitan Railway Locomotive No.1
These E-class tanks were built for the Met lines out of Baker St, this example being built at Neasden in 1898. Unfortunately Met No.1 only worked one passenger train during the weekend due to suffering a 'big end failure'.

GWR Pannier tank No.9466
Some 54 years younger than it's Metropolitan companion. Locomotives of this type saw use on London Underground engineering trains in their latter days and 9466 has visited the Metropolitan line on numerous previous occasions.



GWR Prairie No.5521
While having no genuine LU pedigree the GWR Prarie has been painted out in lined Metropolitan colours and re-numbered as Met 150 to commemorate the occasion.

The morning locomotive movement from Ruislip to Amersham passes
 Eastcote with 20227, 20142 the pannier tank and Met No.1

Three steam hauled passenger trains ran each day from Harrow to Amersham which a class 20 diesel (two of these were also specially painted for the 150 celebrations) working the return 'downhill' train. The trains also included vintage Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive No.12 'Sarah Siddons' and were formed of a former BR 4-TC set supplemented by the beautifully restored 4 wheel first class coach No.353. Combined the trains composed of eight vehicles and were powered by Steam, Electric and Diesel simultaneously! 

The empty stock passes Eastcote with 20189 leading.
L150 was on the rear of the train.

 Most trains boarded and alighted only from Amersham, which was the centre of the events activities with stalls on the station as well as views of the locomotives being shunted between the trains.

20189 has it's '150' headcode reflected in the mirror at
Amersham. Any excuse to spread the 150 spirit!

Two trains of stock ran each day to and from Ruislip depot providing an additional opportunity for photographers.

Once again London Underground and the London Transport Museum must be commended for putting on such a good event (and writing a very good guide to accompany tickets). Lets hope it doesn't take another 12 years before we see steam on the Met once more!

London Underground 150- A celebration with Steam!

It feels like barely a year goes by without some sort of 'Big' anniversary. Many of the older diesel locomotives have recently celebrated their 50th birthdays, and there was of course the GWR 175 celebrations not so long ago in 2010. Some of these celebrations are marked with big events, others less so. It is pleasing therefore that a very worth landmark this year is being celebrated in style- 2013 marks 150 years since the opening of the Metropolitan Railway. 150 years ago on 9th January 1863 the first underground journey in the world was made between Paddington and Farringdon. The London Underground was ultimately born, and things have never quite been the same since. Today the system carries millions of passengers every day and the idea of an underground railway has been duplicated the world over.

To celebrate the occasion London Underground in partnership with the London Transport Museum have organised a number of events across the year. Surely the most spectacular will be the first- Steam is to return to the original underground tunnels of the Met on a passenger train with a locomotive and coaches which would have worked the service 100 years ago!
The event has been some time in the planning- the locomotive 'Met No.1', built in 1898 has been overhauled for the event and an original 4 wheel 1st class coach has also been extensively restored. Four further original Metropolitan coaches- the 'Chesham' set have been moved from the Bluebell Railway to London and work has also been carried out on original electric locomotive No.12 'Sarah Siddons' which will assist the train. Behind the scenes there have been tests and mountains of paperwork to enable this ancient train of wooden-bodied coaches to once again steam under London's streets.
The final test run took place in the early hours of 10th January with the full train consisting of Met No.1, a milk van (in use as a support coach), 5 coaches and 'Sarah Siddons' running from Lillie Bridge depot to Kensington Olympia, from where a full trip was undertaken to Moorgate.
The train departed from Lillie bridge shortly after 1am and continued to Olympia for an 1:30am departure, picking up invited guests at Earls Court en route.
Eager to avoid the expected crowds gathering for photographs on the advertised runs I made a trip out to Kensington Olympia to record the events. The train looks absolutely stunning and it is a credit to all parties that this incredible event is running. All now appears to be on course for the public to witness the return of steam to the London Underground.

Special heritage steam trains will on London's sub surface lines on 13th and 20th January 2013.