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Post by 1018509 on Sept 29, 2012 23:10:17 GMT
Great pix. If the driver photographed in the picture above is a DD member and is known to you could you ask him to PM me or PM me his DD name. Thanks. He is an old mate from way back in the 1970's. When I was a TT1 at Rayners Lane. |
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Post by dennisc on Sept 29, 2012 23:12:16 GMT
Otherwise the worst behaviour of the day was the scrum round the LTM sales stand. Where those of us on the train were able to get pictures, I think everyone got their shot without any trouble. As they go, it was a rather subdued departure from Wembley Park, but I think many of today's audience were of a more contemplative disposition. There were lumps in a fair few throats as the dets went off. Thank you for your contribution to making what certainly was a memorable, and moving, day out. I'll second that. From what I saw the behaviour of a few people at Amersham reminded me of spoilt children. I ended up patiently queueing before cutting my losses and heading back to the train. What concerned me more was the way people seemed to think it was acceptable to be on the ramp at Chesham, or in one or two cases actually on the ballast itself! What's worse was that they weren't young people and seemingly oblivious to the poor example that they were setting. My personal sombre mood was the journey into the city, especially passing Kilburn and on the viaduct between there and West Hampstead. That, and smelling the brake dust at Neasden and hearing the compressors at Wembley for the last time. I and a driver were in the queue waiting to join the scrum, when we were let through he then decided to go back to the the train due to the long wait. I sincerely hope that person is not Tom, who posted this, as considering the situation everyone was well behaved, until one lady through a tantrum due to the long wait, she is known for her strange behaviour. |
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Post by dennisc on Sept 29, 2012 23:53:54 GMT
All in all another great day on the A stock for me. I feared yob behavior after last Wednesday, but was delighted DM H consisted of LTM staff and organisers, as well as quiet well behaved enthusiasts.
The high spot for me was meeting ex Met and Northern Line Motorman nicknamed "Detnator Dave" a very witty and funny character.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2012 23:59:34 GMT
If anyone has a video of the tour passing Dollis Hill, i'd love to see it to see the speed that it passed! Found this, admittedly bits of it aren't the best but the poster has explained why in the description - the bit you want is from 00:25: @ Dennis C - Don't worry, Tom wasn't the driver  |
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Sept 30, 2012 1:48:15 GMT
As the Operating Official for today I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came along, either on the train or around the railway taking photos. There was an incident at Chesham which I personally dealt with along with a colleague, and I hope those responsible reflect on their mindless behaviour and what a very poor example they set. All those who trespassed onto the railway were more senior in years, which just goes to show that it isn't always the youthful enthusiasts that cause issues. Getting away from that, the day went well and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I was very pleased to be able to board 20+ retired Railwaymen at Rickmansworth (one in a wheelchair) and that was by far and away the highlight for me. The official cameraman for the day noted that railway staff were like one big family, which he said came as a pleasant surprise in this day and age. We are now planning the 'C' Stock tour, which as most of you will know will definitely be an emotional day for me! The only confusing thing for me is that everyone's sat nav's seemed to be defective because the train never went above 50mph the entire day... |
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Sept 30, 2012 2:18:15 GMT
The high spot for me was meeting ex Met and Northern Line Motorman nicknamed "Detnator Dave" a very witty and funny character. Myself and 'Detonator Dave' were drivers together at Baker Street and hadn't seen each other for nearly twenty years until we bumped into each other on the platform at Amersham. As he didn't have a ticket I gave him my spare, Railwaymen together and all that. I'm glad that by giving him the ticket he was able to enjoy the day (he got a bit emotional!) and am also glad it was a high spot for you as a result.  |
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Sept 30, 2012 3:00:14 GMT
I'll second that. From what I saw the behaviour of a few people at Amersham reminded me of spoilt children. I ended up patiently queueing before cutting my losses and heading back to the train. I and a driver were in the queue waiting to join the scrum, when we were let through he then decided to go back to the the train due to the long wait. I sincerely hope that person is not Tom, who posted this, as considering the situation everyone was well behaved, until one lady through a tantrum due to the long wait, she is known for her strange behaviour. Whoever it was, it wasn't me. The queue was very well behaved, it was the scrum at the stall which I think surprised the LTM sales staff in it's eagerness. The person I was thinking of (and with hindsight it was genuinely a single person rather than 'a few' as I posted earlier) who threw a strop was actually at the stall rather than in the queue. I didn't want to walk away without handing any money over considering the length of the queue, but as everything will be available next week at Acton I wasn't going to risk missing the train. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 6:26:24 GMT
Re the comments about preserving a set for heritage runs: with the moving block signalling upgrade that is due, will that result in the end of any heritage runs even the ones that run today? I ask as the Jubilee line appears to have no physical signals since its upgrade and I'd expect converting old trains to work on the new signalling may not be cheap.
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Post by Chris W on Sept 30, 2012 7:16:53 GMT
Morning all... Have just uploaded 130 of the 400 images I took yesterday up to Flickr, which can be found HEREI'd just like to say an enourmous thank you to all LU staff who helped make yesterday happen, not just those on board, but also those unseen who enabled the event to go ahead. I also thought that it was good senior management had taken an interest. There are many firms where managers wouldn't turn up. To me it demonstrates that such tours/events have support from high up within the LU structure. One highlight for me for the station announcer at Amersham trying to comprehend the ticket numbers that Howard Collins was calling across to her from the opposite platform and then trying to pass the information on over the tannoy... I might have captured the odd image of that too The only sadder thing I noticed was an elderly character trying to pinch someone else's information pack (coach G) which at Chesham and then the same character turning up in coach E later using flash on his camera... cue rolling of eyes from lots of enthusiasts.  |
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roythebus
Pleased to say the restoration of BEA coach MLL738 is as complete as it can be, now restoring MLL721
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Post by roythebus on Sept 30, 2012 8:39:03 GMT
It's sad that we won't be able to ride on the a stock any more, even sadder that I couldn't get to London to even see it! however, I've got my memories of riding on it when it was new, and working it for a while as a guard at Ricky in 1973!
Luckily I was at the last steam event, and was on the 38 tour of the Met and District in 1972 (?). It was a long time ago, but the memories are still fresh.
A Stock, probably the best stock that has ever run on the Underground. A big thanks to all the maintenance staff and others who have kept it going for the last 50 years or more.
ps if anyone knows thr whereabouts of my former Ricky driver Bill "Blossom" Byrne perhaps they could let me know. We had some laughs in the short while we worked together.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 8:43:42 GMT
If anyone has a video of the tour passing Dollis Hill, i'd love to see it to see the speed that it passed! A bloody good send off, especially the detonators! HIP! HIP! *BANG BANG BANG* excellent timing. Yes I have the last 6 mins or so of the tour; it will hopefully be on YouTube tomorrow - rock'n'roll ! XF |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 9:14:21 GMT
We are now planning the 'C' Stock tour Already?! I was hoping they'd have at least a good couple of years left in them yet......... A Stock, probably the best stock that has ever run on the Underground. A big thanks to all the maintenance staff and others who have kept it going for the last 50 years or more. Agreed. In the last fifteen years we have seen a lot of the interest lost, the last big blow was when the Northern line was upgraded and the 1959 stock withdrawn - the line has been completely different since. Though it was excellent to see so many people out for the A stock, and that so many people genuinely care about them, I felt very sad for all of yesterday evening. It has been an eventful few years on the Met, we've had a new depot open, a totally revised timetable bought in (which a lot of people have an opinion on) and the train fleet has been replaced. I'm glad I was there for the last few years of the 'real' Met line.......... |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Sept 30, 2012 9:39:42 GMT
Sorry.
This post was nonsense.
I regressed some years to when the H&C was still called the 'Met'.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 10:28:29 GMT
(I presume those who dislike it are doing more complicated journeys than short hops to and from Hammersmith.) It's mainly the issue with the fast services from the Amersham line, to be fair WTT331 is actually pretty well worked out - the 15 min Watford and 15 north Met combining for the 8 TPH local service, also the 8 TPH Uxbridge line service has two more trains than before, and the way these services combine and provide an even amount from the branches into the City (bar Watford) is pretty clever too. If you use stations south of Harrow, there are a lot more trains now than there used to be, so I can see the merits. Thing is, when you take something away which has been there a long time (like the fast services) there will always be problems, add to this new stock which - to put it mildly - is vastly different to the stock it replaced. All is not lost, at least Chiltern provide the fast service, so at least there's that option (unlike travelling to Epping on the Central line - again a long way out). From a staff point of view, there are many that don't like change. The new timetable and new trains (drummed home by yesterday's activities) was a lot of change in a pretty short space of time, so is going to throw things out of kilter a bit. Everyone's getting used to it now but it's been an odd couple of years on the Met........... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 10:49:36 GMT
Sorry. This post was nonsense. I regressed some years to when the H&C was still called the 'Met'. Ah! I see! Well, I'd go along with that too, the current H&C timetable works very well, and has given something back to the passengers rather than taking away - an increased Hammersmith line service and more reliable trips on the Circle. Add to this an all day Barking service. Some may say that the Circle doesn't go round and round anymore but the other bits make up for it. Anyway, looking forward to the photos/video springing up on the net over the coming days, @chrisw those pictures are excellent! I'm glad we have some superb photographers amongst the forum! Leaps and bounds ahead of my 'handiwork' (which I certainly won't b e posting anywhere) ;D |
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Post by allan60 on Sept 30, 2012 11:28:14 GMT
I shall miss the A Stock very much, Yesterday, Overall was very good! Especially the last run to Wembley Park and the weather was nice and sunny as well.
A Stock shall never be forgotten.
RIP A Stock 1961-2012
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 12:01:09 GMT
That picture's beautiful Thanks here is another from me of the tour at Harrow flic.kr/p/dfajLs"50 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and A-stock. Now theres no Jobs, no Hope, no Cash and no A-stock" |
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Post by 100andthirty on Sept 30, 2012 12:18:49 GMT
It wasn't an event for me - not my "cup of tea", but from all these posts it sounds like everyone involved was able to say farewell to an old friend in their own way. That makes it a geat success.
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a60
I will make the 8100 Class DART my new A Stock.
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Post by a60 on Sept 30, 2012 12:20:09 GMT
What a send-off is right. Looking at a video, the train was doing a fine speed going through Dollis Hill.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 12:29:48 GMT
What a send-off is right. Looking at a video, the train was doing a fine speed going through Dollis Hill. Someone told me they clocked it at 73MPH on their GPS phone (although cannot guarantee the accuracy of these things of course ) An extremely good day - and a good turn out. Well done LUL, the Met line & LTM. I will miss them - black arm band day! Dean |
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Post by thc on Sept 30, 2012 12:52:47 GMT
I was very pleased to be able to board 20+ retired Railwaymen at Rickmansworth (one in a wheelchair) and that was by far and away the highlight for me. My father, a former Ricky driver, was one of them. Thank you. :-) We are now planning the 'C' Stock tour, which as most of you will know will definitely be an emotional day for me! When I spoke to my dad afterwards he let slip the little nugget that he was the guard on the very first 'C' stock unit in passenger service, in September 1970. It would be a lovely symmetry to see him on the 'C' stock farewell tour too! THC |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 14:02:17 GMT
Clocked at a maximum of 50mph (+/-24mph) in the final run to Wembley Park on a GPS app. Clearly there is some error function, but it was a fantastic run.
Great to meet the wonderful staff who have cared for and operated this stock. Very well organised day and a fitting send-off for this piece of Underground History. I would like to express my thanks to all involved in the planning and execution of the day.
Detonators at Wembley park was a fitting end. Someone pre-empted me with a ‘three cheers’ – looks like my ’67 stock efforts have started a tradition.
Hope the RATs are allowed out to play, and that they eventually become official heritage units one day.
Here's to a great series of events in 2013. Aside from some isolated incidents, I think we all proved we will behave ourselves next year.
Chesham412
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 14:06:54 GMT
Here is my footage from yesterday, a couple of shots got cut out as my camcorder either didn't record or the shot wasn't really usable. My only complaint from yesterday was one of the gates at Chorleywood nearly ruining my shot! (See Video)
My thanks go out to everyone who organised and operated yesterday's tour for such a great day, But also to the A stock who have faithfully (and quite reliably) served the people of London and Metroland for 51 years and made travelling on the Met and interesting (if somewhat bouncy) experience, Yesterday proved their efforts have been anything but unnoticed!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 19:06:02 GMT
In a few days it will be the 50th anniversary of the last LT compartment stock to run in public service i.e. 'T' stock.
Unlike last week's 'final' runs of 'A' stock, this occasion was mourned by just ten or so railway enthusiasts, on it's last trip from Watford to Wembley Park
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 19:19:55 GMT
What did happen to the two T stock cars that were used as sleet locos? They were still around at the time of the last edition I have of the London Underground Rolling Stock book dated 1986 - they are listed as being stored at Neasden.
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Post by maxym on Sept 30, 2012 19:27:03 GMT
Ah, no more A stock: end of an era... I missed the 26/9 runs (business in Zurich) and missed photographing the farewell tour because I assumed it was today lol. Oh well, I have my memories... And the best are of the 'silver' era when a Fast Amersham or Fast Aldgate really was fast - motoring downgrade from Amersham to Ricky, rocketing through the Up fast platform at Wembley Park and an exhilarating ride over the points at Neasden in either direction. I was really pleased to learn (and see on video) of the 'lively' run down from Kilburn; I can remember a few of those... Can any Forum members remember when A stock was 'noisy', that is when the gear drives from the traction motors weren't so 'sweet' as they are today? A stock was never as loud as CO/CP but could still sound pretty damn' good... A few other things. I always avoid trailer cars, but especially on A stock: compressors so noisy. The monobloc wheels of the latter years sound different from the original spoked ones. And that very distinctive 'pure' sound when the brakes are released (as heard on Matt's video); lovely. And the A stock going is another opportunity lost to hear that great sound of the Westinghouse brake from the front part of the front car. Sad days...  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 19:37:39 GMT
Just found the answer to my own question on Wiki:
In 1961, two withdrawn driving motors were converted to sleet locomotives. These were numbered ESL118A and ESL118B, having previously been 2758 and 2749 respectively. After withdrawal, both units were preserved, eventually locating at the Spa Valley Railway.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 19:40:25 GMT
Ah, no more A stock: end of an era... I missed the 26/9 runs (business in Zurich) and missed photographing the farewell tour because I assumed it was today lol. Oh well, I have my memories... And the best are of the 'silver' era when a Fast Amersham or Fast Aldgate really was fast - motoring downgrade from Amersham to Ricky, rocketing through the Up fast platform at Wembley Park and an exhilarating ride over the points at Neasden in either direction. I was really pleased to learn (and see on video) of the 'lively' run down from Kilburn; I can remember a few of those... Can any Forum members remember when A stock was 'noisy', that is when the gear drives from the traction motors weren't so 'sweet' as they are today? A stock was never as loud as CO/CP but could still sound pretty damn' good... A few other things. I always avoid trailer cars, but especially on A stock: compressors so noisy. The monobloc wheels of the latter years sound different from the original spoked ones. And that very distinctive 'pure' sound when the brakes are released (as heard on Matt's video); lovely. And the A stock going is another opportunity lost to hear that great sound of the Westinghouse brake from the front part of the front car. Sad days... The brake release is always one thing i've loved, it just sounds brilliant! What did the spoked wheels sound like? |
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Post by maxym on Sept 30, 2012 21:11:11 GMT
[/quote]The brake release is always one thing i've loved, it just sounds brilliant! What did the spoked wheels sound like?[/quote]
Ooh, difficult to describe... The monoblocs give off a sort of thin metallic hum (listen to a Mk 1 or 2 BR coach. The spoked ones were more neutral.
Can anyone else help here?!
BTW, in many cases the sound of a train (or a bus - but rarely so these days) is an important part of the travelling experience. I mean, on an EMU you have to be in a motor car, right? Those CO/CPs were amazing. Some of the old unmodified Berlin S-bahn units came pretty close too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 21:17:26 GMT
The brake release is always one thing i've loved, it just sounds brilliant! What did the spoked wheels sound like?[/quote] Ooh, difficult to describe... The monoblocs give off a sort of thin metallic hum (listen to a Mk 1 or 2 BR coach. The spoked ones were more neutral. Can anyone else help here?! BTW, in many cases the sound of a train (or a bus - but rarely so these days) is an important part of the travelling experience. I mean, on an EMU you have to be in a motor car, right? Those CO/CPs were amazing. Some of the old unmodified Berlin S-bahn units came pretty close too.[/quote] Yeah the sound of the current wheels is very similar to that of a MK1 or MK2. Yes I agree, the sound is quite a part of travel. |
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