A Stock in Neasden depot

The A stock on 104rd at Neasden is not the Sandite unit, but actually 5234, which has been there for quite a while, though recently it did need to be shunted, so it could've just been shunting around.

The Sandite unit has been in the sheds:

Rail Adhesion Train 5111-5110, September 2016

According to the latest Traffic Circular:
The leaf fall season starts on Sunday 2 October 2016 and is booked to finish on
Friday December 23 2016.
The following arrangements during this period will take effect:
– Extended signal overlaps will be in place southbound from Network Rail
boundary to Rickmansworth.
– A 40mph speed restriction will be in place from the boundary with Network
Rail at Mantles Wood (north of Amersham) to Watford South Junction on the
southbound line:
• Current Permanent Speed Restriction (PSR) signs will be altered to show this
40mph restriction.
– Timetable notice TTN 111/16 will be in operation
– Supplementary Signal Control Protection will also be switched between Moor
Park and Amersham.
– When poor adhesion conditions are anticipated, the London Underground Rail
Adhesion Train (the ‘RAT’) will lay ‘Sandite’ as required on all running lines north
of Wembley Park.
– Network Rail railhead treatment train (RHTT) will operate between Harrow
boundary and Mantles Wood boundary (north of Amersham) - details below.
Please note: While the most diffi cult leaf fall conditions mainly affect the area north
of Moor Park, leaf mulch can build up on the railhead anywhere where loose leaf
litter is present.

It would appear to be a semi-permanent TSR, so I think it's up to the driver to stop the train from overspeeding, unless they can use a virtual flag to limit the speed?

How long can the A Stock RAT last for? Last year it sounded terrible. I grew up with those trains, so I remember the noises they make, and the noises the RAT makes are pretty bad.

  D Stock has no place in Metroland.

As long as they've got parts for it and until the D Stock RAT finally appears. Which is not going to be any time soon.

Last year it sounded terrible, because the year before it, it acquired some flats. That's the only reason it sounds bad. However, 5110-5111 has be stowed away in Neasden shed for months undergoing a complete strip down and overhaul from top to bottom - including the wheel sets, so when it's finally out and about there, provided it doesn't acquire flats as hideous as the last time, she'll sound fine. The car heights were just being adjusted the last time I was passing through (a few weeks ago), and I think there may be some adjustments to headlights.


You've heard right, but you've got the season wrong. Watch this space.

The D Stock RAT is having wiring checks done on individual cars before it is coupled up for static and then dynamic testing in Acton Works yard. There might also be some further physical works required as part of the conversion.

After this there will need to be brake testing at South Ealing plus a period of running in, training etc. before it can replace the A Stock RAT. Also it will need fitting with the 4LM version of SelTrac, which need to be slotted in around all the planned works and duties.

Regards,

Dan

It won't be going anywhere for abit it has a couple of issues

Going to be fun with trains sliding through the stations if not fixed before the leaves start to fall.

when the timetable starts is irrelevant, it is when the leaves fall and the drizzle starts that matters.

What type of train is the spare RAT?

Leaves aren't falling yet around Ricky, so time for it to be fixed perhaps.

The other unit at Neasden is 5234-6234-6236-5235 (ex 5034-6008-6009-5009 i.e. The first unit in service).

Unit 5112-6112-6113-5113 is at Acton and is a body spare.

Could the west end Central line RAT be used on the Met if no A or D stocks are available (and it isn't required on the Central line)?

That would be an interesting sight. Do the RATs ever turn back in the bays at Baker Street or do they always reverse before then?