D Stock Farewell tour

Clearly, by definition, there will be a last run in public service. Whether it will be recognised as such at the time is another question.

In the past, some things have gone before their time, without warning. South Kentish Town station, for example, was "temporarily" closed in 1924 and never re-opened. Similarly the APT prototypes - class 370 - were temporarily withdrawn from service but, I the event, never reinstated, so the last service they ran was not recognised as such until after the event. When NBR locomotive No 224 set out with the evening train to Dundee "on the very last Sabbath of 1879, which will be remembered for a very long time", as McGonnagal has it, no-one knew that it was to be its last run in public service.

Other things have been brought back out of retirement after their official last date in service to cover for a crisis, for example steam trains reappeared in the Glasgow suburban tunnel routes after a series of transformer fires on the new electric trains - and see also the class 442s and Chiltern's class 122 dmu - not to mention the reappearance of 1938 stock on the Northern Line some time after they had been officially withdrawn from the Bakerloo)

So there will definitely be a last run of D stock. It is likely that the time and date will be planned for. But events may conspire such that the date is not kept to, and the actual last run is earlier or later than intended. Possible but unlikely scenarios:
1. some time before the scheduled "last run", something about the D stock is discovered which grounds the remaining ones in service.
2. something happens on the day which prevents the last run going ahead as scheduled - breakdown of the train, power failure on the District Line etc
3. something happens after the scheduled "last run" - e.g a shortage of S stock - which makes it necessary to bring some D stock back into service

The signalling upgrade won't happen that quick all areas should be open to the D stock still on withdrawal

It was indeed I was fortunate enough to travel on the last trip from WIM-ERD more luck then judgement

Was it the emergency brake (very loud whoosh) or was it the westinghouse (a more gentle hiss) - both would give the lovely smell of brake dust. Especially strong at southfields and wimbledon park after the higher speed stretches. God I miss that smell, but equally I'm glad for the air con!

Is it simply the Driver testing the Westinghouse air brakes at the penultimate station before the terminal station, as one would have often heard when the C stock was in passenger service??

It always brought a smile to my face when I got a C stock home from school and the driver used the westinghouse all the way to Wimbledon Park. The other people on the tube must have thought I was a proper odd-ball!

In more recent years a terminus wouldn't offer a challenge as the terminal protection prevents entering at more than 15mph and then 10mph.

As some readers of these pages who know me personally will understand that I usually tried to operate the Westinghouse brake at most stations.

as we are drifting off the original subject, can I ask that we return there.

Are there any reliable estimates yet for last day of public service, or is it still too early?

I think I am not the only one that wants to see a full D Stock formation preserved and placed on heritage dutys with the A stock.

In response to the original question - there are certainly plans for a tour. As far as I know these are still just thoughts and ideas and nothing concrete has been put together yet.

I was never as proficient as some, however if the Northern wasnt being nasty to me on a Sunday turn,  so quite often at intermediate stations, I'd often Lap the handle and then try to get it smack on the stopping mark with the Westinghouse, I was never as good with the 72's,  but I loved the 59 stock anyhow. When I did my Guard/ETD training on the D78's I was always a little disappointed that there was no westy to practice with. Its sad to see the modern stock seems to have shorter life spans, they were near new trains then... hard to think they will soon be gone.

Never worked 73'2 so I have little knowledge of them I had always thought they were westcode equipped... strange thing is I was better with the Westy standing up on the 72's, I think because the original seat was completely uncomfortable for me. I failed my 1st 72 test, nailed the second one... had a better unit I felt.

I'm still hoping that the Vivarail units might find their way onto the Pembroke Dock Branch if ATW take them on, we get pacers down here now so re-purposed D78s would be an improvement.

No firm date for withdrawal yet, 16 remain, one to go each week from tomorrow, a quick calculation means towards end of October.

A farewell Tour will run after the last trains in passenger service.

Only a year after I made my post. 😉