A stock preservation

I doubt any A stock will run in service in 'silver'. It would be against LULs branding!

I believe that 5110 and 5234 will be available for heritage events and perhaps one other unit

I have not heard anything regarding 5062.

I'm desparately playing the lottery at the moment to try and save 5056!

I think the rumour you have heard about an A-Stock running in it's pre refurb state is exactly that.......a rumour.

We have to remember this is a railway, a commercial railway which is there to move people from A to B. Whilst Tfl have always been good at giving units send offs I think it would be a massive step to start returning an A-Stock to its pre-refurb looks. Aside from the fact it would take an awfully long time it would also cost an awful lot of money which tfl simply do not have.....

Either way I am also playing the lottery and if I win then we will be in A Stock heaven!

It is likely that the interior would be refreshed in the short term to remove the wear and tear, as well as the err... nasty bits.* Returning to pre-refurbishment would likely be a long term project.

^{*Can I say the word graffiti on District Dave?}

And anything electric does not get the same effort or recources which steam traction enjoys.

Agreed, its disappointing that steam traction gets all the attention. Lovely as steam is – Electric Traction is a major part of the UKs history, and key examples should be saved. Problem is of course powering them.

Many underground trains which were saved, have been allowed to slowly rot away. Witness the recent departure of the Standard Stock stored at Acton, and perhaps the gradual deterioration of the few remaining CP/CO & R stock carriages around the place.

As much I would like to see a complete A stock train saved, we have to accept that this is going to costly in both the long and short term. Obviously anyone who saves one is going to have very deep pockets, a lot of space and the willingness to accept they will probably end up as static museum pieces.

The standards went for scrap!

It is important to protect trains from the elements. Even covers would help in the winter.

Afaik 5110 & 5234 are the RAT/Heritage trains rolled into one. There may well be another unit kept for heritage purposes but thats just speculation. Look at the bleak future the 67ts had for future use, now look at how many have been saved! Plenty in Eastleigh works for storage not scrappage, 3007 as new Tunnel Cleaning Train, 3067 cleaner training unit and of course 3079 as part of the Asset Inspection Train!

Don't forgot to mention 3067 as a (short-term?) Pilot unit as well

A laudable idea but would it fit in with the ethos of the EOR? None of the rolling stock currently on it has any remote connection to LUL. Having said that, I'd rather see a diesel hauled 62TS which at least had some history with the Epping-Ongar section than A stock which never went anywhere near the place.

I wholeheartedly agree that at least one set should be preserved in running order for heritage days etc

There is one other factor not yet mentioned in this thread however. The above is all well and good if the unit is saved and run by LU/TfL as it will presumably be kept and maintained on the line (also obviously applies to the Heritage/RAT sets). However, IF a set (or even an individual car) were to be rescued by private individual(s), undercover storage is surely a must - not just for keeping the body and running gear in good order as previously mentioned, but also to protect it against vandals.

I am aware that several preserved buses have suffered or even been totally destroyed because they were left outside or with inadequate security, and unfortunately graffiti artists etc do not generally see preserved transport items as heritage but rather as redundant relics which offer a blank canvas for their activities. I somehow doubt that a privately owned A60/62 could be kept on TfL metals, therefore this issue would also need addressing, and of course this would come at a cost.

Another example of this concerns withdrawn Luxembourg Railways 'Wegman' coaching stock a couple of years back. Observed on a visit, and intact in a yard near the German border on the outward trip - but 'painted' head to toe (including the roofs!) when I returned a week later...

Not trying to pour cold water on a good idea, just being realistic...

its whats underneath the current paint and the condition of it.the graffiti damage in some cases was bad, and a valid point mentioned before any attempt to remove could weaken the structure.

its hard to see these ever being returned to the original finish,it would be time consuming/expensive and may well be impractical,just hope for the best and as many as possible survive.once their gone their gone and that's it.

Because bud as already said this is Tfl and whilst they are actually quite good at preserving certain items of stock it is the cost, time and effort required to do it.

As already stated this is a railway company - a company which needs to turn a profit, a company which at the minute is facing a massive cut in funding due to the economic downturn whilst still needing to provide a good service to the public - as a result of this things what we want such as a nice A Stock in unpainted livery just is not going to happen.

We need to be greatful that there will be any working units preserved at all. Look at the old Vic line stock - As far as I am aware we have one "preserved" cab end at Acton and some others which are in storage with their fate unknown. I am sure if Tfl had the money, time and space we would have seen a full train saved, preserved, full restored and sheltered from vandals to be used on an ad-hoc railtour/heritage service but as said, unfortunately, tfl have bigger things to worry about....

I'm sorry to sound so negative but we need to be realistic here..

In defence, I feel that the A Stock deserves recognition, regardless of the car numbers eventually chosen. This time is a good opportunity to lay the foundations for the first 4-car working sub-surface heritage train at the very least.

I understand that austerity is the hot topic at present but I feel that cost saving measures and crucial upgrades should not come at a cost of transport history. It is important that future generations should be able to feel what it is like to travel like we did up until recently. For now though, the focus should be on the storage and maintenance of at least one unit of A60/62 Stock, in working condition in anticipation of eventual restoration.

I feel that TfL does have the money and courage to preserve and eventually restore a unit of A60/62 Stock.

I admit that I do sound optimistic but great achievements such as the 1938 Stock have happened before. It can happen again.

Remember that the RAT trains are 5 cars so only the Sandite dispensing trailer will get dirty inside. I think the aim was to remove the middle car 'off season' and have two four car units available for events.

If A stock is not preserved now in working order it won't happen at all. Something needs to be done!