Happy Birthday . . .

I would imagine they were all delivered to Ruislip by rail, but I'm not to sure, after all, this happened before I was born!

I remember that day well, and I was there! Comprised units 017-014-016-019. Amazingly, today, 20 years to the date, I stumbled across and rode in 91017 from Epping to West Ruislip, this afternoon.

Delivered to Ruislip -

65501 67501 67502 65502 65503 67503 67504 65504 02.03.93
65505 67505 67506 65506 65507 67507 67508 65508 12.03.93
65509 67509 67510 65510 23.03.93

* Units 01-02-03-04 first test run Ruislip-Northolt 15.04.93.
* Units 05-06-07-08 first test run Ruislip-North Acton 17.04.93.
* Units 01-02-03-04 test run Ruislip-Liverpool Street 02.05.93.
* Units 05-06-07-08 test run Ruislip-Debden 05.05.93.
* Units 03-04-(09-10 first) test run Ruislip-Hainault via Newbury Park, return via Woodford 11.05.93.
* Last test run on Central Line was on 05.06.93.

All entered service 19.07.93.

My timetable notes say -

WTT No.52 – 8.4.91

In this timetable, the majority of peak changes have been made at the eastern end of the line – the western end is virtually unchanged apart for one less Northolt reverser at the end of the morning peak. The total amount of stock, however, has been reduced from 72x8, 2x3 and 1x4 to 70x8 and 1x3. For the first time since electrification in 1948, the northern part of the Hainault loop has a through service right the way round, to and from central London (and western destinations), albeit in limited form and in peak hours only. Similarly, for these round-the-loop trains, platforms 1 and 2 at Hainault are now used for through trains, in addition (in off-peak times) to reverse trains. It is thus now possible, for example, to travel from Ruislip Gardens to Ruislip Gardens, or from West Ruislip to Ealing Broadway, both without getting off the train. The three-car shuttle trains of 1960 Tube Stock have now been relegated to the Epping – Ongar branch, which has reverted to peak-hour operation on Mondays to Fridays only. There are three morning journeys to and from Ongar and one to and from North Weald, and four evening journeys to and from Ongar. The peak service at the eastern end of the line has been marginally reduced on the ‘shoulders’ – at the end of the morning peak and before the evening peak. The maximum 2-minute service westbound morning now ceases at 08.55½ Liverpool Street westbound instead of 09.33½, and eastbound in the evening starts later from White City at 16.41½ instead of at 16.13½.

Other changes to the service at the eastern end of the line take into account the limited through loop service. Although the pattern to and from Leytonstone is mostly one to and from each branch, the through service requires an extra train to Woodford, giving two to that branch and one via Newbury Park. Similarly, east of Woodford to Loughton, there are a few 8-minute intervals. It is perhaps not surprising that the overall service on the Hainault – Woodford section is drastically reduced at other times as well, still closing just after 20.00 daily. The off-peak service is maintained by an eight-car train of 1962 Tube Stock – double the capacity and half the service! It operates every 40 minutes MF midday and Sundays before 10.00, every 45 minutes SO and Sun, but 40-50 minutes Saturdays before 08.30. In addition to the peak changes and reductions, further reductions have taken place MF from 12.00 until the start of the evening peak. The five Liverpool Street – Marble Arch locals have been withdrawn, reducing the central area service from 2½ minutes (24 tph) to 3-3½ minutes (18 tph). The number of trains in service MF midday is now 43x8.

The service interval of through trains between Woodford and Hainault in the peaks was 31-46 mins.

It didn't last long:

WTT No.53 – 2.11.92

Subtle changes have been made to the Monday to Friday peak service, increased by one train from 70x8 to 71x8. This has been necessary to cater for the withdrawal of the through peak round-the-loop service between Hainault and Woodford, with no direct through service from west of Woodford to Hainault (the Grange Hill starts and stablers on the peak fringes continue to be an exception. The extra train is thus needed for the reversing time at Woodford for Hainault trains. The changes to the Hainault – Woodford service has seen an improvement on a daily basis, with a more frequent service at most times, closing still at around 20.00. Peak hour intervals between trains was 18-24 mins - a vast improvement.

I do recall a central line driver saying that at somepoint in 1993, all '92 stock were temporarily withdrawn because of safety concerns and services being limited to 62 stock only?
Also, had the new platform at North Acton been comissioned when the 92's were being introduced and wired in prior to ATP being installed?

I remember that day well. I was on one of the last 92 stocks; they were taken out of service after the morning peak. It took me a while to twig what was going on before it was announced, and I remember posters being displayed at stations explaining it. The reason for the withdrawal was because the 92's were causing irregular wearing of the track. From memory, they hadn't withdrawn loads of 62's.by that time, so they were able to provide a reasonable service with those that remained. 1993 was not the best year for the Central line - that was also the year of the power failure which shut down much of the eastern section of the line for several days. The first time it failed, they managed to get it up and running again on the same day. I believe it then failed again, and stayed down for around two days.

To top all of this, the failure rate of 92's was very high in the early days. They had a lot of new technology with lots of things that could, and indeed did, go wrong. Happy days!

The Blue Peter Stock - held together with sticky back plastic!

XF

Oh yes so they were, thanks

I don't know what they were like pre refurb, but from a passenger point of view the 73s are a much nicer stock than the 92s these days.