The last Unrefurbed D Stock.....

For the second time in two days Diamond Geezer just happens to write about the last 'silver bullet'. Looks like he's been bitten by the bug...

diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/

Bonus points to anyone who can identify the cab-dwellers. Even more bonus points if you are one of them!

THC

And I too have commented an confirmed he is now an official geek!

The driver is our very own Aspect - I'm sure he'll spill the beans as to who else is present in the cab at that point in the proceedings!

But more generally thanks are due to Aspect too for the design, preparation, printing and placement of the posters and for acting above and beyond the call of geekiness duty in staying with the train for it's entire working. (If you want copies of those posters PM Aspect here with your email address and he'll happily supply them in Adobe format).

Colin deserves honourable mention too for turning up in uniform to lend a hand despite the fact that he is on annual leave.

It was great to see so many old faces and meet a lot of new ones too; I'm sorry I didn't get to speak to you all and I'm sorry that quite a few I didn't get to put the 'username' to the face.

I thought it all went remarkably smoothly and I hope that those of you who stuck it out to the bitter end enjoyed your private trip up to Ealing Common before we finally put the train way for the last time.

I'm looking forward for the links to the numerous photos that were taken!

www.flickr.com/photos/bloophoenix/2269057966/in/set-72157603917829670/
I'm in that walking up the platform ;D


EDIT: And somthing I have is in this photo: s49.photobucket.com/albums/f294/aintnohollabacksimba/photos/2008/feb15-lastsilvertrain/?action=view¤t=IMG_8031.jpg

Would have liked to have been on the last run of the silver train, being a passenger on the District line for many years, but im away in China at the moment, enjoying the photos.

Ha Ha, he does look in fine fettle! Is he bursting out into song? or just shouting "Keep your feet off the seats" ;D

Some great pictures there ChrisW and Bluey, thanks for them. I'd have joined in if I wasn't at the other end of the country at the time!

I see people have been quick to pounce on the leftovers on the train.
Wonder whether these are ones that have been taken off 'officially' at the depot or if it was people turning up with screwdrivers!?

cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-Pair-Of-London-Underground-Tube-Roof-Straps-Small_W0QQitemZ290207058309QQihZ019QQcategoryZ96842QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would say 38 stock too

It was certainly good to meet a lot of you, It looked like an enjoyable evening was being had by all !

I thank the learned forum owner for his kind words earlier ... which I echo in return for his perseverance in seeking to mark the occassion.

The three faces in the bloggers picture are indeed myself along LUL opperational apprentices Seth (also of this forum) and Dean. Both of whom are to be credited for their help in preparing the train for it's final outing and during it's run !

I'd also like, especially, to thank the District Line's Line Standards Manager, Steve Sullivan who put in a huge effort to make the whole thing possible. He also assisted me in putting up the commemorative notices that seem to have gone down well. ;D

Additional thanks need to go to persons at Metronet, LUL Service Control, Upminster Depot and Ealing Common Depot. But alas I don't know their names ! along with Les Calverley - Train Operations Manager, Upminster.

Blimey like an oscars role call this .... !!!

Of course if it wasn't for the interest of you guys and gels then there would have been no demand for the proper marking of the occassion

One of my favourite moments, sadly unseen by you all, was the train being authorised on it's way from Upminster Depot, by some vigerous waving of a green flag by the Upminster Depot Tower Man from the window of his signal box (control tower) ..to which we responded with much whistling ;D ;D ;D

Thank you to everyone who made it such a success, I'm just sorry I wasn't able to stick around for more of it.

I've not downloaded my photographs yet (that will most likely happen when I'm back in London on Monday), but I'm pretty sure I got a good photograph at Ravenscourt Park on the first westbound trip, after which I only just made it back to the train in time (cheers D78 ).
I'm also hopeful that the one I took as it departed Earl's Court eastbound will work.

Chris

It was a fab night. It was a shame I had to go early, but I already had other commitments. I'm gutted I couldn't stay until the end. However, It was good to see some of you again.

Thanks to DD and Aspect, That was much appreciated last night.

Hi Chris! D Stock can apparently run to Rayners but my concern was that it was not able to be achieved in passenger service.

What's the seating capacity of a refurb these days please?

The other alternative though without any direct District connection, would be to borrow an 8-car 1967 Stock train and run to Heathrow for the first time; regrettably the Cental Line would be 'out' now.

Personally I'd love to be involved in some such event and we have several contacts via the Cravens Goup who have experience of organising such things.

Of course once we start going 'across lines' then it has to involve the test trains crews and now of course they're part of Metronet.

I'm not sure who we need to get 'onside' in the heirarchy of LU but maybe if we consider an outline plan and then try to sell the idea..........

Thought will be given - and perhaps a new thread can be started?

DD can you start a new thread somewhere and somewhen please? It used to be the old Commercial Department at 55 Broadway that organised the tours. There was an enthusiastic guy there who seemed to be able to wave magic wands, etc, and worked with say those in the test team to allow Sarah out to play when she was a brake block test locomotive.

As we at Trans-Pennine Publishing have just branched out into exhibitions (first is in April 2008 at the NEC, Commercial Vehicle Exhibition), I feel that something can be done to organise a tour or two. I would suggest here that the goodwill generated, with the tangent good behaviour, must be followed-up in the relevant places. The only question is what form the tour would take, although as I suggested 1967 Stock I will put that forward again alongside a D Stock tour. Could Northern stock be used as an alternative on the sub-surface lines?