London Underground 1959 Stock
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| 1959 Stock | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Met-Cam |
| In Service | 1959-2000 |
| Length per car | DM 52' 2 5/16" NDM 51' 2 13/16" T 51' 2 13/16" |
| Width | 8' 6 1/4" |
| Height | 9' 5 1/2" |
| Weight | DM 26.62 tons NDM 24.28 tons T 20.67 tons |
| Seating | DM 42 NDM 40 T 40 |
| Stock Type | Deep-level tube |
The 1959 Tube Stock was a type of London Underground tube train built by Metro-Cammell, operated at various times on the Northern Line, Bakerloo Line, Central Line and Piccadilly Line. The units had a long career, with some examples remaining in service until 2000, three years beyond their intended withdrawal date.
The 1959 Stock entered service on the Piccadilly Line, but most units were drafted to the Central Line because that line's "Standard stock" was becoming very unreliable. The Central Line's version of the 1959 stock, the 1962 stock, later took over.
The Piccadilly Line extension to Heathrow, which opened in the early 1970s, coincided with the introduction of new 1973 Stock. Therefore, the majority of the 1959 Stock was transferred to the Northern Line between 1975 and 1979.
When new, the 1959 stock was seen as distinctive because of the clean 'silver' exterior. Over the years, however, the trains' unpainted exteriors became jaded and dirty. The blue and grey interiors dated quickly. Stylistically the 1959 stock looked worn, but without the aesthetic red and green charm or old-fashioned thirties ambience of the more celebrated 1938 stock.
In the 1980s the 1959 stock temporarily provided the Bakerloo Line service.
By the mid 1990s these units were getting old and were in need of works attention. By this time all the remaining 1959 Stock was concentrated on the Northern Line. Minor refurbishment of the stock took place, painting the blue/grey interiors white and replacing some of the seat moquettes. This was done in a haphazard manner, the white interiors becoming very dirty inside by 1998, and with a failure rate tbat had risen to 1 in 3,000 km, the 1959 Stock was in urgent need of replacement.
New trains in the form of 1995 Stock were built as replacements for both the 1959 stock and the 30 trains of 1972 stock also operating on the Northern Line. Originally it had been planned to keep the 1972 stock running with the new trains, with the same extensive refurishment as done to the 1972 stock on the Bakerloo Line, but after one trial refurbishment of a Northern Line 1972 stock carriage it was decided that it would be more cost-effective in the long run to have the line operated by one type of train only. Withdrawal of the 1959 Stock was a drawn-out affair, and when the last example was withdrawn on 27 January 2000, it was the only remaining tube train to be crewed with a motorman and a guard. One unit was repainted in "heritage" red and cream livery in 1990 to commemorate the line's 100th anniversary.
The 1959 Tube stock is to some extent an uncelebrated train. It was reliable and did its job, but ultimately it was overshadowed by both the classic design of its predecessor (1938 stock) and the innovations of the later 1967 stock. It remains to be seen whether in future years railway writers and enthusiasts will come to view it as a 'classic' train, as opposed to merely an old train.
Several vehicles have been preserved, at various locations, including one complete 4-car unit (1304). The complete list is shown below.
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[edit] External links
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