Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2012 13:07:57 GMT
I think you're making the mistake of applying the principles of recent train numbering schemes to the past. Glancing at a 1979 Met Timetable (after the date of the photographs, I know, but still reasonably likely to have the same train numbering scheme) I find that trains numbered in the range 62 to 77 were the uncoupled portions of other trains and were thus only to be seen between the peaks. More specifically trains 62 to 65 uncoupled at Watford from trains 12 to 15. Train 65 immediately stabled at Watford until recoupling commenced for the evening peak, an odd number of 4 car sets being required for the Watford service. Trains 71 & 72 uncoupled at Rickmansworth from trains 1 & 2. Both 71 & 72 then stabled until recoupling commenced. Trains 75 to 77 uncoupled at Uxbridge from trains 35 to 37. Train 60 was the Chesham Shuttle.
All other trains not already mentioned (3 to 11, 16 to 32 & 40 to 57) also stabled between the peaks.
Yes, I should have remembered that train numbering has changed over the years!
Thanks for the info about uncoupling. I don't have any old WTT's that involve uncoupling, so an insight into how it was done and the train numbering is very useful.
Don't forget Sundays all trains were 4 cars from start of service until about 1700 in the afternoon when they all coupled up to form 8 car trains from then on. The only day of the week that 4 car trains didn't operate was Saturdays as the service was much less frequent (only 20 mins to Watford & Uxbridge and hourly to Amersham) and lots of trains used to be cancelled due to staffing problems so all services were always 8 car.
