Thread: Pre'38's
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Old October 14th 04, 10:31 PM posted to uk.transport.london
redtube redtube is offline
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Oct 2004
Posts: 21
Default Pre'38's

Did any of our older members on this ng ever, and I mean ever, travel "in
service" on a "standard stock" Pre'38?

I recall as a 11 year old in 1959 a weekend holiday from Liverpool up north
(where I was brought up) to London and my first ride on the London
Underground at Queensway Station using Tube Rover Tickets.

At the lift a grim male voice used to announce "Stand Clear Of The Gates!"
Yes Queensway had some very modern lifts in those days Then the wind and
the incredible noise as the 8 car pre38 sets with two motor switchgear
compartments in the middle hurtled in to the platform. Then if you ever made
the terminus, such as Epping as I did on my Tube Rover ticket (not allowed
past Debden) there were the top notch Motormen! who wore dark blue overalls
and string vests who said you can fry eggs on the resistance housing plating
behind the drivers seat perch. Of course no chance of a ride in the cab -

Makes you wonder how ppl used to pack in the door entrances on Pre'38's as
the motor cars only had one set of double doors and a single leaf (which, if
at the end, was used by the Guard) Due to the configuration an 8car set had
a considerable distance of door access between the two middle motors.
Incredible days!

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regards, Redtube