C69/77 Stock - Withdrawals

Indeed. I've spent many years on C stock commuting to the East End and I am fond of them. They are no A stock yet they are built for a purpose, and are 'proper' trains in my view. Westinghouse brakes, PCM and DC motors put them in a class the S stock will never achieve!

Fraid not. Scrap A stock trains had route clearance to both Rotherham and Eastleigh but the issues with registering the stock and certifying it fit for transit moves on NR metals were never overcome. This is the reason they went by road, albeit that quite a few had already gone by road before the routes were finally cleared.

I know that at least for the move south, C stock never had a route cleared. Much of the work had been done but the wider profile gave problems at several locations and the scrap contractors were understandably unwilling to foot the bill for more route clearance for moves that may well not happen. I heard somewhere that the cost of the platform works near Reading was best part of £50K alone, which was effectively wasted money.

Throw in the anticipated high utilisation of the 73s and barriers on A stock returns, and the relatively higher cost per car from only having a 6 car train, compared with 8 in the A stock, and movement by road was the only practical option.

Also, in fairness to LU, the road movements have worked very satisfactorily for all parties to date.

Appears the set that was at Neasden recently has now gone to Northwood. Two cars left when I went past there this morning around 12ish

Anything to be going to Northwood this week?

At the moment, probably in September.

thanks reganorak..

Wonder if C stock can do what 72ts do where you can throw the reverser to neutral or reverse (I cant remember which) which cuts out the rheostatic brake.

If it's a two-car set that you're referring to in Acton Works, then it is 5595/6595 (Withdrawn: August 2009). Or do you mean that there are two full sets of stock in Acton? If so, sadly I cannot help.

i believe 5701-6701 resides at Acton was withdrawn but has not been sent for scrap yet

5701 went to Greenwich on 28/6, 6701 went for scrap previous day.

Many, many thanks - very much appreciated

Hmm! The rheostatic brake reduces brake dust and wheel wear. It is not environmentally aware or sensible to encourage this type of unauthorised misuse of the controls, whatever you might think about the quality of the control provided in the design around 40 years ago.

By that same logic, drivers who do entire rounds on the Westinghouse should be told off. Personally, I quite admire those drivers, as I'd imagine that the older Westinghouse system is a bit more variable, and considerably harder to master. I also find it smoother, if they do it correctly!