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!

--
regards, Redtube

Pre'38's
 

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

Pre'38's
 

"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?

Probably anyone who'd been on the Isle of Wight railway up to the early 90s.

B2003

Pre'38's
 

In article ,
says...
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.

Only the older driving cars had the central pillar. These were mainly
found on the Central Line, rarely on the Piccadilly. In the early
fifties I used to record the ones I travelled in. The first time I was
ever reprimanded at work for being late back from lunch was when I rode
to Essex Road and back to record a Northern City one. Incidentally, I
recall this station had diamond shaped platform name signs which read
'ESSEX ROAD & [something]' but can't remember what. Would it have been
Canonbury?

Pre'38's
 

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 22:31:50 +0100, "redtube"
wrote:

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

Many, many times. Why, particularly, do you ask?

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.

ITYM "Twin Rover Tickets" - of which I bought a great many between
1958, when they were first introduced and 31st December 1969 when
they were withdrawn.

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)

I don't know where you get that from. If you search the archives of
both this group and uk.railway, you will find posts from me
detailing the many oddities of these tickets. The only part of the
Underground they weren't allowed on was from Rickmansworth to
Aylesbury / Chesham. I travelled to Ongar (the stronghold of the
1935 experimental stock) many, many times.


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 -

Poor you (although I never got a cab ride in standard stock). The
East London Line was particularly friendly to a young lad like me,
and I had many happy rides in the Tanks (F stock).

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!

It could certainly be slow, which is why the motor compartment was
eliminated in the 1935 stock and later.

Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?

--
Bill Hayles

http://billnot.com

Pre'38's
 

In message , Jim Brittin
writes

Incidentally, I recall this station had diamond shaped platform name
signs which read 'ESSEX ROAD & [something]' but can't remember what.
Would it have been Canonbury?

I think it was the other way round - "Canonbury & Essex Road"

--
Paul Terry

Pre'38's
 

--- Bill Haylessaid:


Many, many times.

You are Dame Celia Molestrangler, and I claim my five cordwangles.

Pre'38's
 

"Boltar" wrote in message
om...
"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?

Probably anyone who'd been on the Isle of Wight railway up to the early
90s.

B2003

Its amazing, yes of course I know they spent the end of their useful life on
IOW. However I know I should have said it and I admit I failed to do so
which was to remark, ever, travel "inservice" on a "standard stock" Pre'38
on the London Underground. I'm glad someone picked up on that. The reason is
because there will undoubtably be fewer ppl and more of them dwindling as
the years go by now that ever did. And I wanted to hear of their memories of
the time. Perhaps not so interesting to younger members here.
--
regards, Redtube
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Pre'38's
 

"Bill Hayles" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 22:31:50 +0100, "redtube"
wrote:

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

Many, many times. Why, particularly, do you ask?

The reason is because there will undoubtably be fewer ppl and more of them
dwindling as the years go by now that ever did travel on them on the London
Underground, I have now added, and I wanted to hear of their memories of the
time. Perhaps not so interesting to younger members here.






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.

the terminus, such as Epping as I did on my Tube Rover ticket (not
allowed past Debden)

I don't know where you get that from.

Well I still stand by my thoughts on that Bill. I feel sure they were not
allowed to be used east of Debden and THAT would have included the infamous
Epping-Ongar shuttle at the time.

Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?
--
Bill Hayles

No Bill I hadnt even noticed the South Acton Shuttle as a kid visiting
London in those days, as my time spent was extremely short lived, only two
days over the weekend as I had to get back up to Liverpool. I concentrated
mainly on tube stock. Funnily I have in front of me right now an old LURS
mag that shows the 'acton ginny' on its front cover (in black & white of
course). It says the shuttle made its final journey on 28 Feb 1959. It used
two G class motors converted in 1940 from other driving ends. Another
interesting thing was the service operated as OPO! as part of the normal
District Line operating roster, the guard sat at Acton Town spare.
Maybe it had closed the year I came to London (1959) as it seems about right

--
regards, Redtube

Pre'38's
 

"redtube" wrote in message
...

"Boltar" wrote in message
om...
"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?

Probably anyone who'd been on the Isle of Wight railway up to the early
90s.

B2003

Its amazing, yes of course I know they spent the end of their useful life
on
IOW. However I know I should have said it and I admit I failed to do so
which was to remark, ever, travel "inservice" on a "standard stock" Pre'38
on the London Underground. I'm glad someone picked up on that. The reason
is
because there will undoubtably be fewer ppl and more of them dwindling as
the years go by now that ever did. And I wanted to hear of their memories
of
the time. Perhaps not so interesting to younger members here.
--
regards, Redtube
-------------------------------------------------------------------

I never travelled on a pre'38 train as such but a number of pre'38 trailers
were recycled into the 1960-stock trains which ran the Woodford-Hainault
shuttle for quite a few years. I remember the ride was pretty bad by the
the time I encountered them and, not long after, these trailers were
'upgraded' to 1938 stock, as seen on the preserved 1960-stock train.

Pre'38's
 

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 22:31:50 +0100, "redtube"
wrote:

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

Yes, but in most cases without knowing about it. It was always
exciting as a kid to get a new silver train on the Piccadilly
(1956TS?), so usually I must have travelled on standard stock.

I rode in standard stock trailers much later, as many Bakerloo Line
trains had one in the otherwise 1938 formation.

Pre'38's
 

In article ,
redtube writes

"Bill Hayles" wrote in message
.. .
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.

the terminus, such as Epping as I did on my Tube Rover ticket (not
allowed past Debden)

I don't know where you get that from.

Well I still stand by my thoughts on that Bill. I feel sure they were not
allowed to be used east of Debden and THAT would have included the infamous
Epping-Ongar shuttle at the time.


My favourite form of Saturday entertainment in the late 60's was to get
a Twin Rover and ride all over the system - and I definitely went to
Ongar, as I was also obsessed by the Paul Brickhill school of war memoir
writing at the time and wanted to see North Weald station, as featured
in Al Deere's story about getting shot down over Kent and getting back
to his base (at North Weald) by tube...

--
Steve
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/B$ d++(-) s+:+ a+ C++ UL++ L+ P+ W++ N+++ K w--- O V
PS+++ PE- t+ 5++ X- R* tv+ b+++ DI++ G e h---- r+++ z++++
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Pre'38's
 

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:07:31 +0100, "redtube"
wrote:


"Bill Hayles" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 22:31:50 +0100, "redtube"
wrote:

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

Many, many times. Why, particularly, do you ask?

The reason is because there will undoubtably be fewer ppl and more of them
dwindling as the years go by now that ever did travel on them on the London
Underground, I have now added, and I wanted to hear of their memories of the
time. Perhaps not so interesting to younger members here.

Unfortunately, except for their reincarnation on the Isle of Wight,
my memories are influenced by my being an (Underground mad)
youngster at the time.




I don't know where you get that from.

Well I still stand by my thoughts on that Bill. I feel sure they were not
allowed to be used east of Debden and THAT would have included the infamous
Epping-Ongar shuttle at the time.

With respect, you are wrong, and if I needed to, I could provide
documentary proof. They were also valid on various BR services -
Kilburn High Road to Watford Junction, Liverpool Street (BR) to
Stratford, and BR trains on LT lines (Stratford to Epping,
Gunnersbury to Richmond, Harrow-on-the-Hill to Rickmansworth,
Moorgate to King's Cross). As has been discussed before, by far the
weirdest of these was Queen's Park to Kilburn High Road.


Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?

No Bill I hadnt even noticed the South Acton Shuttle as a kid visiting
London in those days, as my time spent was extremely short lived, only two
days over the weekend as I had to get back up to Liverpool.

That's a shame, although I only got to know it in its last few
months, when the poor driver - operator had this kid asking loads of
questions for several trips There and Back While the Kettle Boiled.

My main regret is not visiting Epping - Ongar in steam days.
--
Bill Hayles

http://billnot.com

Pre'38's
 

Jim Brittin:
Incidentally, I recall this station had diamond shaped platform name
signs which read 'ESSEX ROAD & [something]' but can't remember what.
Would it have been Canonbury?

Paul Terry:
I think it was the other way round - "Canonbury & Essex Road"

Leboff's "London Underground Stations abc" says it was originally
Essex Road, then Cannonsbury & Essex Road from 1922 to 1948, then
Essex Road again.

I think he might have the spelling wrong.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Yet Another Wonderful Novelty -- YAWN!"
-- Liam Quin

My text in this article is in the public domain.

Pre'38's
 

Bill Hayles wrote in message . ..

Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?

What does 'TBWTKB' stand for? I'm guessing that it's "....while the
kettle boils", as I've read that the service was also known as the
'Tea Run' or 'Kettle Run', the theory being that the out & home trip
could be made whilst boiling the water for a pot of tea!

David E. Belcher

Pre'38's
 

"Solar Penguin" wrote in message ...
--- Bill Haylessaid:


Many, many times.

You are Dame Celia Molestrangler, and I claim my five cordwangles.

Ooh! Isn't he bold?

David E. Belcher

Pre'38's
 

Bill Hayles:
Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?

David Belcher:
What does 'TBWTKB' stand for? I'm guessing that it's "....while the
kettle boils" ...

"There and back...". See CULG: http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/district.html
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | I still remember the first time his reality check
| bounced. -- Darlene Richards

Pre'38's
 

In message , David E.
Belcher writes
Bill Hayles wrote in message
...

Did you ever get to ride on the TBWTKB (Acton Town to South Acton,
aka the Acton Ginny), or had that already closed?

What does 'TBWTKB' stand for? I'm guessing that it's "....while the
kettle boils", as I've read that the service was also known as the
'Tea Run' or 'Kettle Run', the theory being that the out & home trip
could be made whilst boiling the water for a pot of tea!

"There and Back While the Kettle Boils" to give it its full name.
Hopefully soon to be revived in 7.25" gauge.
(See http://www.littleredtrain.co.uk/ginny.html)
--
Spyke
Address is valid, but messages are treated as junk. The opinions I express do
not necessarily reflect those of the educational institution from which I post.