Standard stock for the Isle of Wight

Somewhere on the Met between Harrow on the Hill and Finchley Road?

Xerces Fobe

The yard with the red painted cars is the up sidings opposite Wimbledon Park depot. these were lifted many years ago, now the site of B&Q or similar. I remember seeing the standard stock being stored there in about 1966.

In the background is Durnsford Road bridge, middle distance is the Wimbledon home signal array on the DR side; the trees on the far left are still there. the sidings aren't!

The shot on the main line is at Wimbledon, with the old box at the end of the down main platform.

ISTR it was towed there by battery loco, converted to 3 rail, then driven to Eastleigh for refurb, then tested on the SW main lines as shown on the clip. The main line clips are at Wimbledon and Clapham Junction.

Tthe stock was driven to Fratton, the low loadered to the Isle of Wight.

I witnessed the first test run of a tube car on the island on a summer Saturday. It was hauled by an 02, with box van /converter wagon to Shanklin and back. The train stopped at Brading, the doors opened, closed, the tube whistle blew and away it went!

I've also got an 8mm movie of a cab ride from Ryde Pier Head to Smallbrook and beyond in a standard stock car. If anyone knows how to make it into a video, drop me a line.

I reckon the first shot in the clip is Shanklin signal box.

The red cars are indeed at Wimbledon. From the formation there are two 1925 MCCW Control Trailers sandwiching a 1923 Cammell Laird trailer. On that basis I would suggest that, with match wagons and brake, these cars must be three of those that were returned from Micheldever. All the transfers of stock from Acton to the SR (via Wimbledon) running under their own power would have had at least one motor car in the formation.

I cannot identify the location of the blue train passing the signal box on the right.

All that said, wherever you found that film - fantastic - and thank you.

Glyn, you're right, the signalbox is indeed the up Windsor main at CJ.

The station in the early clip is probably Sandown, not Shanklin, hence the loop in the foreground for the Merstone/Newport line. The first clip is probably Sandown too, looking toward Ventnor.

Re the conversion, the stock could not have been converted to 3 rail at Acton and driven to Wimbledon, it don't work!!

No doubt others more knowledgable will add to the debate.