Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2009 17:54:05 GMT
Back in the 1940s, my father used to go to Acton County School, which is on Gunnersbury Lane. He was saying that he clearly remembers seeing a number of blue carriages parked in the sidings at Ealing Common depot, which could be seen from the classroom window. He doesn't think they ever used to move. They were to surface stock dimensions.
We were wondering if anyone might have some ideas about what these coaches were, or who might have owned them? I didn't think LT had blue coaching stock, but perhaps they were pre-LT, maybe early District hauled stock?
As a point of interest, he remembers the early district stock with doors that you could open by hand as you went along. He didn't mention anyone falling out... In his lunch break, my father and a few friends used to ride on 'Little Jenny' as it was known, up to South Acton and back, presumably for something to do as he's not an enthusiast!
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metman
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Post by metman on Dec 28, 2009 19:01:06 GMT
Not a clue what they could be? The LTS stock wasn't blue I don't think. They could have been departmental stock. The Met used old rigid wheel stock for de-icing cars.
Hand worked door stock (H stock) ran on the District and ELL well into the 1950s.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2009 20:46:41 GMT
When in the 1940s ? All over the country there were a range of vehicles converted for various government wartime/emergency purposes (eg ambulance vehicles, gas decontamination units, etc), generally using redundant coaches, which then either spent time standing at various points, or after the war was over lay around for a long time before being disposed of.
The blue could have been a very faded Southern Railway green, or a semi-camoflage dark colour.
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mrfs42
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Post by mrfs42 on Dec 28, 2009 23:27:38 GMT
My theory is that they were most likely gas decontamination and/or chemical toilet related.
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Post by tubeprune on Dec 29, 2009 19:25:06 GMT
There were loads of odd vehicles stored all over the system during and after the war. Ruislip depot was full of withdrawn Met saloon stock for example. Much of it was retained for emergency use. Odd vehicles were used for lady cleaners changing rooms and temporary accommodation of all sorts as well as for storage. I've never seen a reference to anything painted blue but I'll keep an eye out when I'm researching that era.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 0:57:37 GMT
Thanks for the replies so far gents.
I'll see if I can find out any more details and be more specific with dates. Off the top of my head my father was at that school between 1941-1948 but hopefully he might narrow it down as to when he remembers seeing them.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 10:00:08 GMT
? ? ? ? ? .......  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 11:19:28 GMT
? ? ? ? ? ....... Oops, please accept my apologies! It should have said ladies & gents. |
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mrfs42
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Post by mrfs42 on Dec 31, 2009 11:55:51 GMT
Quite so, Diana  . I've had a cursory glance through various bits of paperwork, and although I've not come across anything definitive, I think - pending further research - the carriages were connected with blister gas contanimation. |
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