The end is nigh!

Road.

It is quite sad actually. I used to use them all the time when I was at school making the cosy little suburban run between Pinner and Watford. Plus there was sad music on the TV as I read this so it added to the mood.

Really? What have they done to you?

Where is the councilling?

That is actually really upsetting. Where are they going for scrap btw?

A couple of them just lately probably wouldn't have made it by rail ;D

I know we've got to make room for the S-stock, but we now seem to be entering that period of time we all feared. That is, a shortage of good rolling stock, and being unable to fill that shortage with the S-stocks we have. Couple this with the ongoing industrial action, and work on the trains that need it is not getting done.

The other evening we got through the peak without too many gaps, but several trains missing (8 at one point). I fear this will worsen before we can use the S-stock.

True (nice dig at the opposition ;D )

The stock are, as everyone knows, quite old now, and just as an elderly relative can still get out and about, there comes a time when each morning something else has sagged or even fallen off

That probably makes it sound a bit more dramatic than it actually is, but there are jobs that need regularly doing to keep them serviceable - more than the newer stocks need. With the current industrial dispute which includes an overtime ban, there simply are not as many depot staff available - which of course not only affects stock availability, but also re-inforces the case for those taking the action.

Where are they going for scrap? I heard Eastleigh?

Good plan! Perhaps I could get hold of a few of the racks...

Don't worry prjb, I'll be there to counsel those who mourn the C-Stock....

How well would they run on the Downhill stretch from 'sham to Ricky with a couple of motors cut out? Obviously won't keep to current schedules but the service isn't exact Vic/Central levels out that way.

Reducing Traction Motor Mileage (even a little) will preserve them, and I daresay other related mechanical components. Then cut them back in at Ricky where the line levels out a bit.

As a more general suggestion: Slacken up the Met Timetable a bit, so the drivers don't have to cane around keeping to time - it all sounds very simple, and perhaps a bit draconian but if it preserves the As until the S8s are ready to start taking over then it's gotta help. It also might convince Mr Banker, upset on his commute from his ivory towered mansion in the chalfonts to central london that the performance gains on the S Stock are even more than they are, and he genuinely feels he's getting a faster and better service... A bit of a con perhaps? Or clever marketing?

EDIT: slight corrections to wording for understanding purposes

Why? MetControl's adrendalin levels will then become sub-optimal. A tragedy. ;D

Somewhat old news now, they have been of the asset register for years. They will have their semi permanent coupler cut, and they will be lifted out crane onto low loaders. Various scrap firms, are taking two cars each.

I witnessed 5197, today, sadly its 5173 turn on Sunday. Its all happening close to the TMR, as you come in from the north.

As long as you keep it outside on the roads. Whilst not condoning any such action, I would rather the disruption was kept outside rather than delaying the service ;D

How different is that from the stop-start working in the suburbs? I'm thinking that the distance between KXSP and Farringdon is approximately that between Ruislip and Ickenham. The same comparison could be made for Ruislip-Ruislip Manor and KXSP-Euston Square.

That was what I was getting at. Add also that although some distances are comparable, there are quite a few that are not. So for a train doing Baker Street-Uxbridge all day, there will be a few spells where the train gets to stretch its legs (well wheels!). For a large proportion of those journeys the train will leave one station with a clear run to the next - one steady acceleration, a spot of coasting and one steady spell of braking.

On top of that, a service running only as far as Baker Street would need less trains, allowing all important maintenance to be undertaken at a more leisurely pace, with less reliance on the fleet availability as a whole.

But as most lines see, we have a tendancy to make timetables that thrash virtually the whole fleet, day in day out.