Neasden Depot Open Day 2013..

This was part of the big plan to recreate the '63 centenary wasn't it? All the ideas were mentioned in a thread long ago, somewhere... Can anyone channel Colin? How many have survived into current thinking?

Its really good that they at least still have the aspiration to want to do things 'properly'. Good luck to those organising, hope it happens

Thanks. Keep us posted!

I would have thought the planning might be a bit more advanced by now - considering it was mentioned in the TFL Board Papers last November!

Excellent news, good luck to the organisers, I hope it all goes ahead.

The last time I went to an open day at Neasden was in 1983, and can still remember it being excellent (as were the open days at Chiswick Works and Aldenham). From what I remember, the exhibits included No.12 Sarah Siddons, Bakerloo Line 1938 stock and even the Tunnel Cleaning Train. There was also a preserved breakdown tender (probably converted from a bus), plus also I seem to remember Ford D1000 emergency vehicles. All the A Stock was silver and the S Stock not even a mere twinkle in the designer's eye...!

Has an open day been held since 1983?

This sounds good!

I went to the one at Neasden in May 1963

Ah well, back to my rocking chair, pipe and slippers ;D ;D ;D (and Val Doonican cardigan!)

I thought you were always more "Bing" than "Val"?!

A friend of mine. a guitar player called Max Brittain used to be Val Doonicans accompanyist about 15 years ago. Did AI's dad tour at the same time?

I went to that one, and remember it well. Until Fotopic crashed I used to have quite a few shots posted on t'internet. Exhibits included 1962 stock, C Stock, loads of engineering and battery locos, two Deltics and even the experimental 1995 stock. Would love another nosey round there again...

Looks like an interesting event. I'm interested. Though are there any expected exhibits?

They'd better! And have them running a shuttle service too!

I wouldn't mind if an A Stock were put on display. I'd like to see a 67 on display (don't they still have one at Northumberland Park depot), a 62 (yes, I know LU has painted it, but that doesn't matter. And before anyone brings up the one Cravens Heritage has, I wasn't thinking of that one, but I still wouldn't mind seeing the painted 62), the Track Recording Train, the Asset Inspection Train and the 38. Yes I know the 38 gets lots of outings, but it wouldn't be an Open Day without the 38, would it?

Getting the stocks to the depot would admittedly be more difficult than the centenary. According to CULG, 73s need to have the static converter isolated, 92s aren't normally permitted off their own line because of their low gearboxes, 95s and 96s are banned from leaving their lines because they'd interfere with the signalling and according to this forum, 09s can only run in four car sets on the Picc at 5mph. Still, you're only 150 once, and I'd like to see LU put the effort in and display their fleet of stocks.

EDIT: Reread the report on LU's plans for its 150th: www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/Item06-London-Underground-150th-Anniversary.pdf

By "existing", however, do they mean they're going to grab the 60 and the 62 the Cravens have in heritage, or will have to make do with the repainted Track Recording Train and Rail Adhesion Train? And there aren't any 59s left, so are they going to have to grab them from the Alderney Railway? Or by "existing" do they just mean the stocks currently in use?

Realy! I seem to remember the Bakerloo playing a big part as well.

Sorry, I stand corrected on that point, I was referring to the depot itself.