London Underground A60 and A62 Stock

A60 and A62 Stock

Amersham (local) bound Metropolitan line train approaching Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.

Amersham bound A Stock Metropolitan line train approaching Chorleywood station, Hertfordshire.

The refurbished interior of an A60 Stock train in 2010

The refurbished interior of an A60 Stock train in 2010
In service 12 June 1961–26 September 2012 (51 years, 106 days)
Manufacturer Cravens (Sheffield)
Replaced T Stock
F Stock
P Stock
1938 Stock
Steam-hauled trains used on Amersham branch
Constructed 1960-1962
Entered service 1961-1963
Refurbishment 1994-1998
Scrapped 1987/1994/2011-2012
Number built 58 trains
Number in service 2 trains + 2 cars (depot only)
Number preserved 1 car
Number scrapped 55 trains + 5 cars
Formation DM-T-T-DM (per unit)
Fleet numbers DM: 5000-5233
T: 6000-6233
Capacity DM: 54 seats + 4 tip-up seats
T: 58 seats
Operator(s) London Underground
Depot(s) Neasden Depot
Line(s) served

 Metropolitan line  (1961-2012)

 East London line  (1977-1985/1987-2007)
Specifications
Car body construction Aluminium
Train length 212 ft (64.62 m) (4 cars)
Car length 636.5 in (16,167 mm)
Width 116 in (2,946 mm)
Height 145 in (3,683 mm)
Entry Level
Doors DM: two double and one single
T: three double
Wheel diameter 3 ft (914 mm)
Maximum speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Weight DM: 32.1 t (31.6 long tons; 35.4 short tons)
T: 21.8 t (21.5 long tons; 24.0 short tons)
Electric system(s) 630 V DC fourth rail
Current collection method Contact shoe
UIC classification Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

London Transport portal

The London Underground A60 and A62 Stock [1] operated on the Metropolitan line from 12 June 1961[2][3][4] to 26 September 2012, and on the East London Line from 1977 until 22 December 2007 (except in 1986, when One-man operation conversion of the fleet took place).

The stock was built in two batches (A60 and A62) by Cravens of Sheffield in the early 1960s and replaced all other trains on the line.

At the time of its withdrawal in September 2012, the stock was the oldest on the Underground, and on any Subway system in Europe. It was the only stock to have luggage racks, umbrella hooks and separate motoring and braking controls, and the last to have no automated announcements.

Development and introduction

A Stock (right) replaced F and P (left) Stocks on the Metropolitan line

The design was formulated by W S Graff-Baker of the London Passenger Transport Board as part of the electrification of the Metropolitan line from Rickmansworth to Amersham and Chesham under the 1935–1940 New Works Programme,[5] and owes much to the smaller 1938 Stock. The project was delayed by World War II and lack of funds during the austerity period after the war. In 1946 two experimental trailers similar in exterior appearance to the production trains were built using underframes from T Stock, but they were scrapped when the trials concluded.[6] Graff-Baker died in 1952, before the trains were finally built.

When electrification commenced in 1959, London Transport placed an order for 31 trains A60 Stock trains to replace T Stock on services to Watford and Rickmansworth and locomotive-hauled services to destinations north of Rickmansworth. The first units, 5004 and 5008, entered service to Watford in June 1961.[2][3][4] The Amersham/Chesham services began later that year. London Transport later ordered 27 trains A62 Stock trains, introduced in 1961–63 to replace F and P Stocks on the Uxbridge service. By December 1963, the roll-out was complete.[6]

The trains were A Stock to mark the electrification of the Metropolitan line to Amersham. Four-car units were used on the East London Line (then a branch of the Metropolitan line) June 1977-April 1985, May 1987-24 March 1995 and 25 March 1998 – 27 December 2007, when the line closed to become part of the London Overground network.[6]

Design

A Stock at Rayners Lane in their original unpainted livery

The stock was a compromise between the needs of longer distance “outer suburban” passengers on the outer reaches of the line and short distance “urban” passengers over the heavily used Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. For this reason the trailer cars have three sets of doors per car.

A distinctive feature was the use of transverse seating only, uncommon on the Underground. This is because it was designed for journeys which may last over an hour. Most of the seating was of the high capacity transverse 3 + 2 arrangement.[7] Four tip-up seats were provided at the rear of the driving motor.[8] Despite each 8-car train seating 448 passengers,[9] the stock provided fewer seats than the locomotive-hauled and T stock trains that they replaced, but more seats than the S Stock, which started to replace them on 31 July 2010. The stock had luggage racks and umbrella hooks, the only Underground stock to have these features, despite their presence on most contemporary National Rail trains.

A60 and A62 stocks were nearly identical in appearance. The most significant differences were the border around the destination window on A62 motor cars and the make of compressor under the trailer cars: A60 stock used the Westinghouse DHC 5A, A62 cars the Reavell TBC 38Z.[10]

At 116 in (2,900 mm) they were the Underground's widest trains.[11] The stock was refurbished between 1993 and 1998 by Adtranz (now Bombardier) Derby. Car end windows were installed, the seating was reupholstered, and the livery was updated.[9] At the time of refurbishment the Metropolitan line had a low priority for receiving new trains.[12]

Operation

A Stock at Whitechapel station in 1979

Each unit consisted of four cars: two powered driving motors at each end and two non-powered trailers in between. Each unit was further divided into two semi-permanently-coupled sets, a driving motor and trailer. Although the intention was to operate four-car trains in the off-peak, this practice was short lived, except for the Chalfont & Latimer-Chesham shuttle which was always operated by a single four-car unit. For its main services the stock operated in a two-unit formation of eight cars between Aldgate and Amersham, Chesham (peak hours only), Uxbridge and Watford.

When built it had a top speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) (world's fastest 4th-rail train), but from the late 1990s/early 2000s it was restricted to 50 mph (80 km/h) to improve reliability.

Roster

Name and manufacture year of an A62 Stock carriage in the doorway

Cars had a four-digit number. The first digit identified the type of car (driver or trailer), the last three digits the set (000 to 231).

Sub-type Driving Motors (DM) Trailers (T)
A60 5000 to 5123 6000 to 6123
A62 5124 to 5231 6124 to 6231
Citation: Hardy 2002, p. 36

In further detail:

   Renumbered - unit exists, number withdrawn (x23x )
(original unit) Scrapped before 2010
Withdrawn
Scrapped after the introduction of S Stock
Rail Adhesion Train (not in service)

^ operational DM
† Renumbered
+ Replaced/formed with a renumbered car

A60
A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM
^5000600060015001 ^5022602260235023 ^5044604460455045 ^5066606660675067^ ^5088608860895089^ ^5110611061115111^
^5002600260035003 ^5024602460255025 ^5046604660475047 ^5068606860695069 ^5090609060915091 5112611261135113^
^5004600460055005[2] ^5026602660275027 ^5048604860495049 ^5070607060715071 ^5092609260935093^ ^5114611461155115^
^5006600660075007[2] ^5028†[c]6028†[c] 60295029 ^5050605060515051 ^5072607260735073 ^5094609460955095^ ^5116+[d]61166117†+[e]5117^†+[e]
5008†+[a]6008†[a]6009†[b]5009†[b] ^5030603060315031 ^5052605260535053 ^5074607460755075 ^5096609660975097^ ^5118611861195119^
^5010601060115011 ^5032603260335033 ^5054605460555055 ^5076607660775077 ^5098609860995099^ ^5120612061215121^+[g]
^5012601260135013 5034†+[a]603460355035 ^5056605660575057^ ^5078607860795079 ^5100610061015101^ ^5122612261235123^
^5014601460155015 5036†[d]6036[s]6037†[e]5037†[e] ^5058605860595059^ ^5080608060815081 ^5102610261035103^ ^5232+[c]6232+[c]6233+[e]5233^+[e]
^5016601660175017 ^5038603860395039 ^5060606060615061^ ^5082608260835083 ^5104610461055105^ ^5234+[a]6234+[a]6235+[b]5235^+[b]
^5018601860195019 ^5040604060415041 5062606260635063^ ^5084608460855085 ^5106610661075107^     
^5020602060215021 ^5042604260435043 ^5064606460655065^ ^5086608660875087 ^5108610861095109^     
A62
A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM  A DMTD DM
^5124612461255125 ^5142614261435143[2] 5160616061615161^ 5178617861795179^[2] 5196619661975197^[1] 5214621462155215^
^5126612661275127 5144614461455145^ 5162616261635163^ 5180618061815181^ 5198619861995199^ 5216621662175217^
^5128612861295129 5146614661475147^ 5164616461655165^ 5182618261835183^ 5200620062015201^ 5218+[f]621862195219^
^5130613061315131 5148614861495149^ 5166616661675167^ 5184618461855185^ 5202620262035203^ 5220622062215221^
^51326132[s]61335133 5150615061515151^ 5168616861695169^ 5186618661875187^ 5204620462055205^ 5222622262235223^
^5134613461355135 5152615261535153^ 5170617061715171 5188618861895189^ 5206620662075207^ 5224622462255225^
^5136613661375137 5154615461555155^ 5172617261735173^[1] 5190619061915191^ 5208†[f]620862095209†[g] 5226622662275227^
^5138613861395139 5156615661575157^ 5174617461755175^ 5192619261935193^ 5210621062115211^ 5228622862295229^
5140614061415141^ 5158615861595159^ 5176617661775177^ 5194619461955195^ 5212621262135213^ 5230623062315231^

Renumberings:[13]
a. 5034 and 5008 swapped numbers in July 1985; new 5008 and 6008 became set 234 on September 1994, 5034 preserved at the London Transport Museum, Acton.
b. set 9 renumbered 235 in September 1994.
c. set 28 renumbered 232 in June 1985.
d. 5036 renumbered 5116 in April 1993 (original 5116 scrapped in 1987 - collision at Kilburn, December 1984)
e. set 117 renumbered 233 in August 1985; set 37 renumbered 117 in April 1993.
f. 5208 renumbered 5218 in August 1992 (original 5218 scrapped in 1994 - experimental suspension)
g. 5209 renumbered 5121 in March 1993 (original 5121 scrapped in 1994 - collision at Neasden depot, October 1986)
Converted works vehicles:
s. Sandite dispenser car.
Withdrawals:
1. Underground News (London Underground Railway Society) (588): 737. December 2010.  Missing or empty |title= (help);
2. Underground News (London Underground Railway Society) (591). March 2011.  Missing or empty |title= (help);

Withdrawal

A60 stock train at C. F. Booth in Rotherham, waiting to be scrapped

A60 Stock reached 50 years of service on 12 June 2011.[14] The age of the stock made spare parts harder to obtain and vehicles had to be cannibalised to keep the rest of the stock in operation.

S8 Stock replaced the stock, with the first unit was introduced on 31 July 2010.[15] Similar to the S7 Stock for the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, the main differences are the layout and number of seats and the provision of two sand hoppers for each rail due to the different conditions at the country end of the line.[16] The withdrawal of A Stock commenced on 9 October 2010.

In February 2012 London Transport Museum began offering luggage racks from withdrawn A stock for sale.[17]

The old and the new. A Stock (left) and S Stock (right) at Baker Street

The last train ran in passenger service on 26 September 2012, formed of 5034 + 5062.[18] The same train was used on 29 September 2012 for the final ticket-only railtour, organised by the London Transport Museum. It ran from Moorgate along the entire Metropolitan line, including Watford, Amersham, Aldgate, Uxbridge, Chesham and the Watford North curve. The tour ended at Wembley Park: on the final stretch from Finchley Road, the train was unofficially recorded at 74 mph. One of the driving motor cars, 5034, was part of the first (as 5008) and also the last A Stock train, giving it a life of over 51 years. It was sent to Northwood sidings on 8 October 2012 and loaded onto lorries for disposal: The historical age and significance of No.5034 saw it taken to the Acton Museum Depot for preservation but vehicle 5062 was scrapped.

The stock outlasted many former British Rail EMUs: the Scottish Class 303 managed 43 years, the Class 309 Clacton Express units 38 years and British Rail Class 312 only 28 years. The former Southern Region 4CIG and 4CEP managed 46 years and 49 respectively. The stock was one of Britain's longest-serving types of train, although far from the ex-1938 Stock still in use on the Isle of Wight around 77 years after construction, or the 81 years of Glasgow Subway rolling stock between 1896 and 1977. The stock may be outlasted by the InterCity 125 HSTs and the Bakerloo Line 1972 tube stock.[19]

Citations

  1. ↑ Rolling Stock Information Sheets (PDF), Transport for London, March 2007, pp. 16–17, retrieved 23 September 2010
  2. 1 2 Hardy, Brian (1988). London Underground Rolling Stock (11th ed.). Capital Transport. p. 35. ISBN 0904711943.
  3. 1 2 Hardy, Brian (2002). London Underground Rolling Stock (15th ed.). p. 36. ISBN 1854142631. The first train of A60 stock entered passenger service on 12 June 1961 (units 5004 and 5008).
  4. 1 2 Metropolitan Line No 2 Section Working Timetable No 189 12.6.61 (Working Timetable), London Underground, 1961
  5. ↑ Glancey, Jonathan (2007-10-22). "Classics of everyday design No 33". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  6. 1 2 3 Hardy 2002, p. 36
  7. ↑ "A60/62 stock". SQUAREWHEELS.org.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  8. ↑ Hardy 2002, p. 37
  9. 1 2 "'A' Stock". Transport for London. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  10. ↑ Mugridge, Peter (8 August 2012). "Tube's A-listers bow out". Rail (Bauer Media) (702): 54–59. ISSN 0953-4563.
  11. ↑ "London Underground Rolling Stock Dimensions". London Underground. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  12. ↑ Bayman, Bob (2008), London Underground: Official Handbook (6th ed.), Capital Transport, p. 33, ISBN 978-1-85414-317-4
  13. ↑ Hardy 2002, p. 98
  14. ↑ "Marking 50 Years of A Stock | District Dave's London Underground Site". Districtdavesforum.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Underground News (London Underground Railway Society) (585): 516–517. September 2010. ISSN 0306-8617. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  16. ↑ Underground News (London Underground Railway Society) (584): 440A–444A. August 2010. ISSN 0306-8617. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  17. ↑ "Metropolitan Line luggage racks". Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "A Stock last day on the Metropolitan Line". Railways Today. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Saying goodbye to oldest tube train". London Tonight - ITV London. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.(subscription required)

Further reading

External links

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