Used to travel on them on the Northern City Line, which ran Finsbury Park to
Moorgate (tunnels now used by the WAGN trains from Drayton Park, as they
were built for full-size trains); the double doors also had a central
pillar, obstructing the doorways. Mainly from Highbury & Islington station,
the old entrance on the north east side of Holloway Road, which can still be
seen. There was a lift there too, and a spiral staircase which I usually
used as it was quicker than the short lift ride.

My paternal grandfather was a driver on this line, unfortunately he died on
the Somme in WW1, and his name is on the war memorial on Baker St station.

These trains were last in service on the IoW, before they bought post 38
stock.

"redtube" wrote in message
...
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!

--
regards, Redtube