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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 19:13:32 GMT
Hello all,
I have vivid memories from the late 70's of standing on Upney station platform waiting for the train to Plaistow to see my grandparents. My mum and I would have a guessing game over whether our train would be red or white.
There are many things that return to my mind. The smell of those old units (probably something to do with the brakes) sticks in my mind. Also the clattering sounds as the many sets of doors closed. The wonderful noise those trains made as we were whisked along the line and the utter comfort of those seats are other things that get me all nostalgic.
I've search on Google Video for footage of these trains in action to no avail. Does anyone know if such a thing exists and, if so, whether there is a link to it.
I'm sad to say that, being young and liking all things shiny, when the new D stock was introduced I used to make mum wait for the next 'new' train. This wait got shorter and shorter and before long the old trains were gone. I'd love a trip down memory line as I now appreciate fully how wonderful those older trains were and feel quite sad that I took them for granted and almost ignored them in their final days.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 19:40:36 GMT
It would have been an R-stock which came in red and silver versions. Weren't some originally red R stock repainted silver to match the rest? It could have been a C O/P or a Q38 though. Have a browse round THIS WEBSITE of pictures taken by Solidbond. The link goes to the CO/CP tour. The CO/CP cars look very much like an R stock or Q38 cars. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 27, 2008 20:23:38 GMT
If it was the late 70s all R stock would have been silver by then. Also the Q stock was gone by then too! wiv, I know what you mean. I remember the old 59/62ts trains and loved them! I also have fond memories of my A stock, luckily they outlived the 59 stock and I can still enjoy thme now. I really can't get along with newer trains, they just don't seem to have the charm!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 20:50:22 GMT
You're right there Metman.
Just take the livery. I mean, what was so wrong with red? Who on earth thought the current LU colours were an improvement. Perhaps we should start a campaign to get red trains back?
There was outcry when private bus operators temporarily avoided london bus red.
If anyone has any links for videos of these wonderful trains I'd be very grateful.
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 27, 2008 21:45:03 GMT
Found a video with some R stock at the start!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 23:27:09 GMT
The scary thing about that video is that Upminster depot has hardly changed! The tower is still there, the panel is very similar (maybe even the same one?) and the "intercom" for speaking to the drivers still functions.
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Post by District Dave on Jan 28, 2008 17:05:37 GMT
The scary thing about that video is that Upminster depot has hardly changed! The tower is still there, the panel is very similar (maybe even the same one?) and the "intercom" for speaking to the drivers still functions. AIUI the panel is most certainly the same one (as is the intercom system) as they were both installed when the depot wa built. IIRC it opened in 1958. Actually, I doubt that all that many changes (at least in its appearance) have occurred at Ealing Common either since it opened over 100 years ago. |
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Post by Colin on Jan 28, 2008 17:22:17 GMT
And the rails are probably all original too.
The most striking [and probably only] difference between that video and now is the amount of trees & general greenery in the background. It's certainly not as colourful now.
And those controllers!
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Post by railtechnician on Jan 28, 2008 17:33:17 GMT
The scary thing about that video is that Upminster depot has hardly changed! The tower is still there, the panel is very similar (maybe even the same one?) and the "intercom" for speaking to the drivers still functions. I would not be surprised to discover the depot PA systems extant and serviceable at all depots even tough they would've been out of use for some two decades by now. LT/LU has a habit of leaving redundant comms systems in place. The depot PA systems were replaced by depot radio and that in itself has probably been replaced twice since by now. Certainly when I was maintaining the Picc Line comms I discovered the depot PA systems and original depot (shunters) radio systems not only in situ but still switched on and it would have taken little to hot wire them back into use. In fact at both Northfields and Cockfosters depots new shunters cabins were built and I did survey work with a view to transferring the systems. I got as far as delivering desks to the new Northfields cabin and I had a date to begin work until someone decided that it was too difficult (politically) to shift the shunters signal panel even though I had done a design for that too. In the end the job was cancelled and certainly the Northfields new west cabin (both east and west new cabins were built) was set to be demolished, having only ever been used by security watching the west entrance, to make way for an extension of the sheds. In fact contractors installed a new depot loudspeaker system too which was never used because it was only connected to the new cabins! LU has certsinly had its money's worth from the depot loudspeaker system amplifiers which were basically WW2 surplus and were probably the last valve operated comms systems anywhere on the combine. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2008 17:39:40 GMT
The system is Upminster is still very much in use - I heard it being used only last week! In theory there's no need for it now we have Connect, but we know how good that is...
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Post by railtechnician on Jan 28, 2008 18:29:12 GMT
The system is Upminster is still very much in use - I heard it being used only last week! In theory there's no need for it now we have Connect, but we know how good that is... Somewhere on VHS I have 'All that mighty heart' from the good old days and I recall the depot loudspeaker system at Upminster used in that film. But I haven't been near or by Upminster since I commissioned the station PA from there to Bromley-by-Bow in the late 1980s so I wouldn't have a clue what's in use there these days! |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jan 28, 2008 21:13:43 GMT
It is indeed that very film "All That Mighty Heart" that the above 'youtube' clip comes from!
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Post by Chris W on Jan 28, 2008 21:36:51 GMT
I'm sad to say that, being young and liking all things shiny, when the new D stock was introduced I used to make mum wait for the next 'new' train. This wait got shorter and shorter and before long the old trains were gone. I'd love a trip down memory line as I now appreciate fully how wonderful those older trains were and feel quite sad that I took them for granted and almost ignored them in their final days. You and me both  The last time I saw a red CO/CP unit with small filament bulbs was at Bromley-by-Bow in July 1980... I was 8 at the time! I decided like you to wait for a new train (my first) pressing the buttons with a school friend in glee at every station back to Elm Park... oh how now I wish I had got on that CO/CP for one final journey  To reminisce, I suggest you try to find a copy of "All change at Earl's Court" produced by J & K Video: www.transportdiversions.com/publicationshow.asp?pubid=5051Its not the best narration in the world - see districtdave.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=booksvids&action=display&thread=1144145277 for some of my thoughts from a couple of years ago - but it'll certainly bring back memories   |
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 29, 2008 1:12:29 GMT
Ha ha, I used to do that as a child too. I would go out for the day with my grandparents and spend all day on the Underground-going to exotic places like Epping, Aylesbury and Paddington[!] On the way back to Canons Park I would open the doors on the 83ts at every station, pretending I was the guard or something-bet I was popular! I used to love the D stock too of course!
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Phil
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Post by Phil on Jan 29, 2008 19:44:40 GMT
Just take the livery. I mean, what was so wrong with red? The origins of going unpainted was (as ever) money. It was alleged that no less than 2 TONNES of paint would be saved per train. Not only did that affect the cost of the train, it also affected performance, hence current drawn, hence running costs. Nobody has ever explained the COST advantage of going back to painted trains........... |
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Post by Chris M on Jan 29, 2008 19:48:44 GMT
I suspect the cost advantage of painted trains is almost entirely due to graffiti removal - it is far easier to remove, thus costs less. It also means the train is out of service for less time.
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Post by metropicc on Feb 15, 2008 17:54:17 GMT
Your recollection of District line acoustics reminds me of the creaking goaning noises that the R47 & R49 stock made. I asked several professionals why this might be but could never find out. The interesting thing is that apart from the aluminium bodies on the R49 presumably there was no real structural differences from the R38s.
Any thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 18:01:01 GMT
Is it similar to the A stock reasons? Tubeprune's explanation:What are those strange creaking noises under A Stock? The whole carriage appears to groan under the strain of moving off (like it's falling apart).
I know exactly what you mean, the noise from the generators that maintain the air pressure under the trailer cars can be deafening sometimes.Don't worry about the creaking noise. It's not structural. It's only the movement of the drawbar and buffer interfaces between the cars. The A Stock has always behaved like this. The '59/62 Stock did too. It's the dry areas around the joints where rubber is used to reduce vibration. The A Stock has the best body construction on LU.
The other noises referred to are the compressors (very loud because they are reciprocal pumps and getting on a bit in years) - intermittent because they switch on and off with the need for more air pressure - and the motor alternators (under the motor cars only), which give a constant whine because they run all the time to charge the batteries and run the lights etc.(the same as the alternator in a car). |
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metman
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Post by metman on Feb 15, 2008 19:13:04 GMT
The R38 cars were probably a little different to the R47/49/59 cars, in that they were designed 10 years later. I doubt there were massive differences tho-perhaps Tubeprune can help?
The groaning is all part of the charm-just like an old house or car!
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Post by william on Feb 15, 2008 21:20:39 GMT
The R38 cars were probably a little different to the R47/49/59 cars, in that they were designed 10 years later. I doubt there were massive differences tho-perhaps Tubeprune can help? I take it you meant 10 years earlier. ;D To me there was a great difference, but as you say, channeling Tubeprune. |
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Post by tubeprune on Feb 15, 2008 21:44:57 GMT
The R38s were all driving cars. They also had different bogies. The windows were of a different design than those on other R Stock .
The creaking noises on the aluminium cars was due to their body design. I recall some mods. I'll look it up to see if I have anything.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2008 22:07:51 GMT
you can count me in too when the 1995 stock was entering service at golders green there was a 1959 stock waiting in golders green I saw a new stock entering the other and I got on that I have always regretted that moment especially as they were only in service for about a week after that
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2008 11:18:06 GMT
Found a video with some R stock at the start! that really brings back the memories... i remember getting those red trains from heathway to upminster when they had a guard doing the doors, back in the mid 70's |
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metman
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Post by metman on Feb 26, 2008 11:42:12 GMT
If I'm not mistaken, the R38 DM had their two motors (one on each bogie) mounted in the original Q38 trailer bogies?
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Post by tubeprune on Feb 26, 2008 15:41:07 GMT
If I'm not mistaken, the R38 DM had their two motors (one on each bogie) mounted in the original Q38 trailer bogies? Correct. The film shows the two types. The first silver train has an aluminium car, whilst the second is a silver painted R38. The first train has the original R Stock beamless shoegear. The film was shot sometime after August 1961, but probably before 1964. The control office is the one at Leicester Square. So is the Northern Line control room before it went to Coburg St. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Feb 26, 2008 16:43:23 GMT
Strangly, I didn't see any Q stock lurking at Upminster. It all looked like R38/47 stock. The train with the beamless shoegear must be a R49 stock train and the one painted silver would have been a R38/3+R59 stock train which came with 'proper' shoebeams and no door controls? CO/CP stock was yet to be in use on the District at that point?
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