Nine-car 38TS

Ah thanks. So the formations were drawn up, but did they ever actually run?
Thanks again.

The formation (above) applied to the Pre-1938 Tube Stock. The 1938 Stock formations were different. The first 9-car entered service 8/11/37 between Colindale and Kennington via CHX.
9-car operation extended to Edgware from 7/2/38 when a second train was introduced. Third train introduced 14/2/38 and a fourth (the maximum ever achieved) 21/2/38. All were Pre-1938s.

The first two 9-car 1938s entered service on 19/6/39 in the formation
M-NDM+SNDM-T-NDM-T-SNDM+NDM-M

The SNDMs were 'special' NDMs, having guard's controls (there were none on the 9xxxx motor cars). The '+' sign indicates an emergency uncoupling position. 'Ward' couplers were provided between cars 2/3 and 7/8, so that two cars could be detached and got out of the way in a dire emergency.

However, 9-car (1938) stock had first entered service from 15/5/39 but in 'block' 7-car formations. At the outbreak of WW2, six 7-car trains (of 9-car 1938 stock) were in service, along with two genuine 2x9. Another 9-car 'block' entered service as a 6-car on 30/9/39 which was at the time formations were reduced to 6-cars because of closures regarding under river protection work taking place.

For interest, at the time of the opening of the East Finchley extension, the stock requirements from 3/7/39 were increased by one to 96 trains, as follows:

60x7 1938 Stock, 4x7 'block' 1938 Stock, 28x7 Pre 1938 with the 3-car north end, and 4x9.

Certainly not underpowered - in a 9-car 1938 there were 7 'motored' cars and 2 'non-powered' trailers. There were no UNDMs at that stage - the concept wasn't to appear for another 10 years. The cars were M - driving motor, NDM - non-driving motor car, SNDM - special non driving motor car, and T - trailer.

On a 9-car Pre-1938 there were four motor cars - same number as would be on an eight car.

What do you mean by "they did not last"?

The 1938 9-car stock survived with the rest of the 1938 Tube Stock until scrapped (from the early-1970s) and it was made compatible with the rest of the fleet in the early 1950s. Some of the NDMs were converted to UNDMs at that time.

If "they did not last" refers to 9-car operation, then 9-car operation ceased at the outbreak of WW2 and was never reinstated.

They didn't - At certain tunnel stations the first two cars stopped in the tunnel, and at certain other stations the last two did - that was why the guards controls were moved two cars from the end.

Presumably notices were displayed at stations and on trains telling passengers which cars to join for which stations. Presumably iunder wartime conditions it just got too complicated.

The pre-1938 formations had four DMs and five trailers, a slightly better power/weight ratio than the normal formation of 3+4. (4+4 was a formation only introduced in 1940, for the Central Line).
The 1938 formations had 7+2, so also had a better power/weight ratio than the normal 7-car (5+2) formations.

(Edited because I got my sums wrong)

So basically they didn't fit...

Interesting. Thanks everyone

Oh ... What was the exact reason for the withdrawal of the 9-car formation?

Nine car trains were introduced on the Northern line on the 8th November 1937 and ceased at the outbreak of war. A notice was placed either side of the doors to warn passengers.

It was a very awkward arrangement so it was surprising it lasted as long as it did. Service frequency improvements achieved the same effect.