Escalators - wooden and metal

Greenford is not the oldest one operating. Earl's Court 3/5 (in the Exhibition Subway - not often used!) are. These are type MY and in service 14/10/37. These originally had wooden treads but were replaced in the wake of "King's Cross".

If you discount Earl's Court 3/5 because they aren't used that often, then the the oldest of the 'M' series escalators in daily use are Swiss Cottage 1/3, in service 20/11/39. However, these had wooden treads but were replaced in the wake of "King's Cross", but are still essentially type "MY".

The last of the heavy duty high rise escalators of the 'M' family are the MH pair (1/3) at Marylebone, in service 1/2/43. Again, these had wooden treads but were (fairly recently) replaced, but are still essentially type "MH".

The last with wooden treads to be installed was at Notting Hill Gate, Nos.1 & 2 in service 31/7/60. This was the last two of six to be commissioned there in 1959-60.

There were then no brand new escalators until the MY.A and MH.A series from 1965, but replacement began in 1963 with the LHD.M type replacing the L type - see below.

As far as I can ascertain, the first with closely spaced metal treads was at Oval (No.1), where the programme began to convert the "L" series escalators of the 1920s into type LHD.M. Oval No.1 was in service 30/9/63. (I am mindful that there may have been an experiment with closely spaced metal treads before adoption, as there often is with anything new, but can't find any references in my notes)

The first brand new escalator with closely spaced metal treads was at Euston. These were 7 and 8 and in service 8/3/65, type "MY.A"

I have checked my photo of Alperton, which was a one-off by J&E Hall of Dartford (ex-Dome of Discovery, Festival of Britain, 1951), in service 27/11/55 and this (still) has wooden treads. This continues to exist behind closed doors and was taken out of service defective 23/9/88 and declared withdrawn 8/12/90. This "may" have been the first with aluminium balustrades, but I am not sure. I have something stirring at the back of my mind about Hyde Park Corner experimenting with aluminium balustrades but can't be sure.

I hope this helps.

Greenford does indeed retain the wooden step treads - the last machine to do so. Most likely because it is an open air station.

I have an LUL escalator schedule that lists an MH type at Manor House dating from 1932. Escalator no.2. The schedule is current only up to 2000. It may have been replaced?

The schedule also lists another 1932 MH type at Wood Green.

I inspected the escalator trusses for no.1 & 2 at Oxford Circus and no.1 is in very good condition. Almost new. They were orignally the Seeburger Type-A inclined at 26.5 degrees like the original escalators Earl Court. The escalator machinery has been refurbished over the years into LHDM but the trusses have remained in-situ and are 80 years old.