Where has the Virtual District Line gone?

[KGBUssr]

I don't know if anyone else remembers the 'standard' stock trailers that were used in 38 stock formations - as a kid I always looked out for these when using the tube and they were pretty easy to spot due to the clerestory roof.

As I recall they had little individual frosted glass shades on the lamps and were even more 'cosy' than the 38 stock; favourite seats being the end ones adjacent to the inter-carriage doors as they had only two pairs of doors each side and no single leaf doors at the carriage ends.

They were known as the 58 Trailers, not because of the year they were converted (1938!) but because there were 58 units converted to use with the 38 stock.........

They were certainly painted all-red in the mid to late 1960's which is my recollection of them, and all were withdrawn by 1973. So an all-red repaint would make an interesting addition to a rake of 38 stock....

[daveannjon]

I didn't know that, was it just one car per set to boost capacity?

I really hope the set of 4 cars at Acton Depot gets restored, photo was taken in 2010.

DaveW

[KGBUssr]

I didn't know that, was it just one car per set to boost capacity?

I really hope the set of 4 cars at Acton Depot gets restored, photo was taken in 2010.

DaveW

IMG_2156-2.jpg

Exactly the case - they were used to augment the 6-car trains of '38 stock to 7 cars; there was also some standard stock used on the Central line in the 1960 stock units and these were a mixture of earlier trailers with no end doors, and slightly later standard trailers which did have end doors. These units were partially modernised with fluorescent lighting and blue/grey décor to match the 1960 motor cars. Some lasted until 1983 when they were replaced with '38 stock trailers, in these later years they were pretty scruffy and rundown, as well as suffering serious and visible corrosion. Understandable really as the oldest dated from 1927 and the newest from 1931. Not a bad innings I'd say.

London Transport was far more interesting then, both road and rail - I also remember the Q stock on the District Line which last ran in about '71; they were a rag-bag mixture of stock ranging from 1923 to 1938, and the trains had some pretty outlandish configurations.

The earliest had full clerestory roofs and were constructed by a number of different builders, and the 1938 builds looked very similar to the CO/CP stock with that marvellous 1930's 'Odeon' styling - stock formations were seemingly random.

Some of the Q38 trailers were rebuilt as motor cars for use with the R stock (and repainted silver to match the aluminium of the R's) and yet more were converted to run as trailers with the CO/CP cars when they were used to augment the Circle Line from 5 to 6 car trains and a further batch were added to the P Stock when it was transferred from the Met to the District when the A62's entered service.

[michaelhendle]

Hi
Looking at the picture above I can remember the Piccadilly Line had something similar,they were red and cream,at one time.
Also can anyone remember the single car District Line train that used to run from Acton Town to South Acton on the North London Line

[xguerra]

Hi
Looking at the picture above I can remember the Piccadilly Line had something similar,they were red and cream,at one time.
Also can anyone remember the single car District Line train that used to run from Acton Town to South Acton on the North London Line

I wasn't alive at the time but certainly know of it.

G23 stock motor coach, converted with two driving cabs. Scrapped in 1959 when the line was closed as they weren't fitted to run with other G class motors which had been designated Q23 stock.

[KGBUssr]

Excellent that little G23; might there be a Backdated Virtual District Line with the South Acton shuttle revived?

[xguerra]

Excellent that little G23; might there be a Backdated Virtual District Line with the South Acton shuttle revived?

If someone else will model some Q Stock for me, I'm in!

[749006]

Excellent that little G23; might there be a Backdated Virtual District Line with the South Acton shuttle revived?

If someone else will model some Q Stock for me, I'm in!

The CO/CP & R stock was one of the classier trains on the underground with the flared body sides and they were seen on the District line.
http://www.metromodels.net/COCP_alum.jpg

Peter

[michaelhendle]

I remember them they were really comfortable to travel in,not like modern LU trains
Mike

[johnrossetti]

London Transport Acton Depot OPEN TODAY & SUNDAY
https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/assets/ltm_d ... il2017.pdf
Go see the real thing
John

[michaelhendle]

Re Back dating London Underground.

Hounslow West was originally called Hounslow Barracks opened in 1884 by the District Railway,it only became Hounslow West in 1925,and wasn't until the 1930's that the Piccadilly line started to run through to Hounslow West.

District Line Trains stopped running through to Hounslow West in 1964,if you look carefully(from the train), you can still see part of the old track bed leading to where the old platforms used to be,the line was straightened when the line to Heathrow was built.

If you went further back to 1883 the line went to Hounslow Town,this line closed in 1886,but was reopened in 1903,the trains used to split at the Old Osterley Station,Hounslow Town finally closed in 1909.

Mike

[KGBUssr]

The O/P/Q and Converted CO/CP were very elegant; I referred to them earlier as having Odeon styling; that marvellous period of Art-Deco that influenced much of LTs design in vehicles and architecture in the 1930's. Utility with quality - and unlikely to be surpassed EVER!

They also had a sound and a smell of their own too; reminiscent of ozone or coal-tar soap, and a whine or drone at standstill. I think I will put in an appearance at Acton tomorrow; I hadn't realised until it was posted here that it was on, so thanks!

PM me if you want to link up there
KGB

[holzroller]

Remember them in their last days, trying to ride on as many as possible in one short holiday. Comfortable, very distinctive compressor, and with blue interior paint that was actually green. Sadly missed like many others.

[yerkes]

Remember them in their last days, trying to ride on as many as possible in one short holiday. Comfortable, very distinctive compressor, and with blue interior paint that was actually green.

Ah yes, 'cerulean blue'...

[daveannjon]

Going back to the 1938 sets strengthened with a Standard Stock trailer car, I have just joined the London Underground Railway Society, and with the back issues of their newsletter came an excellent supplement of photos by Alan Jackson - the first three are of such strengthened rakes, taken at Watford! I also learned that the cream window surrounds ceased being done in 1952, but obviously lasted several years on recently overhauled stock.

DaveW