|
|
Post by edwardfox on May 27, 2011 12:35:25 GMT
If you had never previously been to London, and you stepped onto a Piccadilly Line train for the first time; would you really be able to guess it is 38 year old stock due for replacement?
I rode on the Piccadilly Line yesterday and the interior of the car was clean and smart, and the outside of the train looked pretty good. It really didn't look like something that has been running up and down since 1973
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2011 13:09:09 GMT
I drove them pre and post refurbishment. I, and quite a few others at Acton always thought the pre-refurbs were more reliable then post-refurbs. Overall they are a very good train, though the paint scheme is relatively modern, having once been aluminium. In the scheme of things, notwithstanding more frequent maintenance, they are probably fit for purpose for another ten years. One of the considerations affecting train upgrades is also state of track and signalling and the idea at one time was to do all three at the same time but once Tube Lines went tots up it seems the porwers that be haven't got the nuts or, allegedly, the money to do anything. As far as practical driving goes I doubt there will be too many complaints from drivers if the 73's remain in service for the next ten years, when prices of train sets will have increased tenfold.  |
|
|
|
Post by railtechnician on May 27, 2011 15:59:44 GMT
I would have to say that 73 stock was my favourite of all the stocks running during my career but I am biassed as 73 stock was introduced as I began my LT career and as I spent my last nine years working on Picc Line Engineering & Tube Lines. In fact I first worked on the Picc in 1978 when we were resignalling east end stage 1 and that's when I first noticed the 73 stock coming 'on stream' as I was working out of Whitechapel but working at Cockfosters and Oakwood. I recall the bad winter and how the 73 stock was warmer to sit in with its doors part open while awaiting departure, the smooth acceleration and quieter ride and the smart aluminium finish. I used to live in north London so the main comparison for me was the 67 stock and the C69 stock travelling from Seven Sisters to Whitechapel and back 6 and 7 shifts a week but I frequently rode all the stock in service at the time and the 73s had my vote from then right up until I retired in 2005. I preferred the unrefurbed 73 stock but purely for aesthetic reasons.
|
|
Ben
fotopic... whats that?
Posts: 4,282 
|
Post by Ben on May 27, 2011 16:41:46 GMT
The fleet is miles above anything else in terms of MDBF, and the design both inside and out seems just as modern as the next long carrriages ordered. In fact, they seem brighter on the inside because they contain more window area.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2011 18:13:19 GMT
Although the interiors aren't terrible, I gather there are problems with sourcing replacement parts for things like the flooring and I believe the current idea (which no doubt will have changed by next week...) is to do an interior refurbishment and keep them going until about 2018. They are fairly reliable, too - although many of them have niggly problems that don't cause any major problems but do get on the nerves after a while driving them, a high-pitched whine from certain MCB's (almost like a ringing in the ears) on some stocks, for instance, or the fact that quite a few lose pilot light pulling away even at slow speeds or when lightly loaded.
|
|
hobbayne
RIP John Lennon and George Harrison
Posts: 516
|
Post by hobbayne on May 27, 2011 19:37:41 GMT
Some of the exterior paintwork is in a shocking state, where the graffiti has been repeatedly cleaned off, has left some cars with big white patches where it has taken the red white n blue paint with it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2011 21:40:00 GMT
They are my favourite TUBE stock. Smooth ride, Smooth accelaration, Smooth brakes... Many smooth things. And they have excellent seats, good speed and half decent motors too
|
|
|
|
Post by br7mt on May 27, 2011 22:45:18 GMT
Some of the exterior paintwork is in a shocking state, where the graffiti has been repeatedly cleaned off, has left some cars with big white patches where it has taken the red white n blue paint with it. Although if you look closely we are using vinyls now to improve the appearance  I don't think 73TS is going to get an interior refurbishment. Perhaps a deep clean and bit of paintwork touching up, but I haven't heard of an interior refurbishment being planned. Regards, Dan |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 12:28:16 GMT
I don't think 73TS is going to get an interior refurbishment. Perhaps a deep clean and bit of paintwork touching up, but I haven't heard of an interior refurbishment being planned. Regards, Dan I don't believe there is a plan for this. Under PPP they would have been replaced by 2014 (using 13TS) but even before Tube Lines was bought out that was never likely to be achieved. Could be another 7 or 8 years of life at least needed in them now. |
|
|
|
Post by railtechnician on May 28, 2011 12:43:42 GMT
Although the interiors aren't terrible, I gather there are problems with sourcing replacement parts for things like the flooring and I believe the current idea (which no doubt will have changed by next week...) is to do an interior refurbishment and keep them going until about 2018. They are fairly reliable, too - although many of them have niggly problems that don't cause any major problems but do get on the nerves after a while driving them, a high-pitched whine from certain MCB's (almost like a ringing in the ears) on some stocks, for instance, or the fact that quite a few lose pilot light pulling away even at slow speeds or when lightly loaded. Oh yeah and I've been in the cab of one or two when the brakes have been intermittently 'hanging on'. In fact the last time I recall I was in the cab en route to Down Street from Acton to do some IMR maintenance a few years ago. The brakes were playing up and the driver had to detrain everyone at Holborn, some passengers could be forgiven for thinking the leading car was on fire for the amount of smoke rising as the doors were opened, the brakes were 'warm and cooking' but not on fire. So somewhat unusually I got my drop at Down Street from an empty train and none of the quizzical stares from leading car passengers normally associated with a stop at that platform. As for ringing in the ears I have that 24/7, too many years working in LT substations next to rotary converters and down the pipe on reconditioning/renewal works. Thus I wouldn't necessarily hear high pitched whines from MCBs. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 13:52:40 GMT
What are the fastest sections of the Picadilly line please ?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 14:43:24 GMT
Barons Court to Acton Town for sure!
|
|
hobbayne
RIP John Lennon and George Harrison
Posts: 516
|
Post by hobbayne on May 28, 2011 14:48:42 GMT
What are the fastest sections of the Picadilly line please ? The maximum line speed is 45mph but this can be exceeded Oak-Sthgte WB, PkRyl-Alp Wb and T123-T5 wb where speeds of 55 can be (unofficially reached) |
|
Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
|
Post by Oracle on May 28, 2011 15:49:03 GMT
You guys would have loved the 1938 Stock on the Acton Town-Hammersmith section...creaking, croaking, squeaking...a gentleman's club at full tilt!
I do think though that speeds achieved on the section are lower than in the past...pre-refurb. Does that make sense?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 15:56:49 GMT
What are the fastest sections of the Picadilly line please ? Certainly Hatton Cross and over the Crane Bank is a fast section, 50mph - 55mph can be obtained! W/b into Southgate is pretty quick too, just mind your ears as you pop into the tunnel ! |
|
|
|
Post by v52gc on May 28, 2011 23:05:14 GMT
They got much heavier after the refurb, lots of extra cabling and equipment!
Lovely trains though! I really like them! Pre-refurb interior I preferred though, be nice if it could be recreated one day!
Not just the MCBs whine, don't forget the headlights as well!
|
|
|
|
Post by retep on May 28, 2011 23:11:58 GMT
If you had never previously been to London, and you stepped onto a Piccadilly Line train for the first time; would you really be able to guess it is 38 year old stock due for replacement? I rode on the Piccadilly Line yesterday and the interior of the car was clean and smart, and the outside of the train looked pretty good. It really didn't look like something that has been running up and down since 1973 No, they look good for their age. In fact when i was little I thought they were built in 1985 and the 1995/6 stock design was inspired by them but as i grew up i realised the step plate tells you a more exact year when the train was built, though not always exact. I guess i thought they were built 1985 cause i thought Heathrow Airport was built then but only Terminal 4 was built in 1986. I preferred the unrefurbed 73 stock but purely for aesthetic reasons. I have to agree partly with you. Looking at pictures of the exterior of an unrefurbed 73 looks better than the painted exterior they have now. The unrefurbed interior doesn't look better and isn't as practical as the interior of a refurbed 73 stock but i would like to travel in a unrefurbed 73 stock and see 1970 train interior design. |
|
|
|
Post by DrOne on May 29, 2011 10:05:58 GMT
1973s are great trains, very good refurb on par with the D-stock work.
Talking of fast sections - yes Hatton Cross-Hounslow West is an experience! Manor House-Turnpike Lane isnt a crawl either. I once caught the first westbound train from Kings Cross (from the EB platform) and remember it being driven quite quickly through the curves and bends of the central section. Its a fun line.
|
|
|
|
Post by railtechnician on May 29, 2011 11:02:53 GMT
1973s are great trains, very good refurb on par with the D-stock work. Talking of fast sections - yes Hatton Cross-Hounslow West is an experience! Manor House-Turnpike Lane isnt a crawl either. I once caught the first westbound train from Kings Cross (from the EB platform) and remember it being driven quite quickly through the curves and bends of the central section. Its a fun line. Ah yes Hatton Cross-Hounslow West was a good run especially on the last empties late at night. I used to maintain signalling in that section on a regular basis so at one time I'd park the van at Hatton Cross and take a last train to Hounslow West then walk the tunnel back to Hatton Cross. |
|
