Favorite tube stock

[Retropractor]

My son started his training, on the new 'S' stock, this week. Strictly theory atm. He hasn't 'had a go' yet. But is very impressed.
Apparently, they are like extremely long bendy buses, rather than separate carriages .

 

[theblackwatch]

Get over to the Isle of White then, still running over there.

There's also the 38 set preserved which does the odd forays I think. I'm waiting for a trip with it doing the Charing Cross
Jubilee branch which I missed.

I always found the Class 487 units had character, used to enjoy doing them from Waterloo to Bank!

 

[DJ737]

Driving a 67 in coded manual is awful; having to keep your right hand on the vigillance button.

It was a good way of focussing the mind on the 1st trips in the the morning when on nights.

Back in the '80's night shifts generally consisted of a couple of trips, stable at Northumberland Park, then four hours of Cards, Curried Goat & Cockspur Rum. and a couple of trips in the morning.

Brixton nights were crap, used to go upstairs and watch the riots for entertainment. :roll:

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[tubeprune]

When I was on nights, it was a quick bite, cup of tea and heads down on specially arranged seat squabs on a trailer car with the compressor isolated and heaters on. Best location was the exam shed at Neasden in winter. We were allowed to put the leads in ourselves then because we were treated like grown-ups most of the time. Just make sure you remember to switch the compressors back when you get up in the morning!!!

So, best stock? A Stock of course, followed closely by 62TS. Two-handled trains are easier to work than one arm bandits!

 

[Goldfish62]

I just think we are becoming a nation of softies with all this aircon rubbish!

Then so is the rest of the world, where generally aircon has been in widespread use on public transport for longer than in the UK.

Personally, I feel the heat badly and for me aircon is anything but rubbish. OK, it's not environmentally friendly and it uses energy, but these disbenefits are cancelled out if it provides a more comfortable travelling environment and encourages people out of their cars.

 

[Metadyneman]

Then so is the rest of the world, where generally aircon has been in widespread use on public transport for longer than in the UK.

Personally, I feel the heat badly and for me aircon is anything but rubbish. OK, it's not environmentally friendly and it uses energy, but these disbenefits are cancelled out if it provides a more comfortable travelling environment and encourages people out of their cars.

I still think that aircon is next to useless on trains where the doors are opened and shut every few seconds such as on the Underground.. as soon as the doors are opened the hot air wafts in overworking the aircon.. I can't see it being robust enough to cope with that kind of atmosphere on a daily basis.

 

[A60K]

It does work when properly designed - if this is your presumption about air con on metro trains take a trip to Barcelona or Madrid and you'll see that it's very effective. Makes the stations feel incredibly hot though!

 

[Engineer EA]

It does work when properly designed - if this is your presumption about air con on metro trains take a trip to Barcelona or Madrid and you'll see that it's very effective. Makes the stations feel incredibly hot though!

OK, BUT, we’re talking UK. here, probably just a few warm weeks in summer. Is it all really worth it?
As for the pipe, the coolest trains in 1999 were the ‘59s on the Northern Line!
BTW My Favourite stock, 1938 TS.

 

[jon0844]

OK, BUT, we’re talking UK. here, probably just a few warm weeks in summer. Is it all really worth it?

I hear that all the time. We've had hot weather on and off for more than a few weeks so far this year (how quick people forget) and it will remain hot in August and even September going on previous years.

I bought a car with aircon as a 'must' back in 1997, and everyone thought I was mad. Then it was 'only hot a couple of days a year'. Now, of course, nearly every car has aircon - and why wouldn't you? I've just driven throughout Europe for two weeks in 30-34 degree heat, and I am not going to drive on an autobahn with the windows open!!

It doesn't have to be 30 degrees at street level for it to be totally uncomfortable on the tube. I do however agree that the doors being open can cause an issue, but it works elsewhere so I am sure a decent HVAC system can cope - and the doors will stay shut on those trains if people don't alight or board (and autoclose after as little as 10 seconds for the very reason mentioned).

I've often wondered why we can't air condition stations on the underground. If you can't do the trains, doing the stations themselves would make waiting for trains a lot more pleasant - and also allow more cool air into the trains when they stop. For all but the sub-surface lines, this might actually solve some of the summer heat problems.

You wouldn't need to condition the whole station, but just certain areas. I am sure anyone with a scientific knowledge could work out the movement of air to ensure that you can cool certain zones effectively - even if other zones remain warmer.

Even just reducing the humidity would make people feel a lot more comfortable.

And buses - why the hell can't they be air conditioned? They're AWFUL in the heat - and especially when the sun is right on the top deck. If you're stuck in traffic, as buses often are, they're almost unbearable and you're better off walking.

 

[Metadyneman]

The aircon thing really needs a new thread to be honest. This one is about favourite underground stock and should remain as such (OK yes i know.. I moaned about aircon. Aircon is not everyones cup of tea though.. personally if I wanted aircon everywhere I would live inside a fridge!)

 

[jon0844]

I agree about splitting the thread.. and about living in a fridge (just as I have for the last two weeks when driving!)

 

[LE Greys]

To wade in, my favourite would probably be A-Stock. When going to Paddington, I often let a C go at King's Cross in favour of an A (it helps that they are usually almost empty). The seats are everything a train seat should be, high-backed, springy and wide. I suppose that a Met-Bakerloo route avoids the Bishop's Road footbridge, which is an added advantage with luggage, and even more so with the current route.

As for the aircon... I'll wait for the new thread.

 

[Engineer EA]

The aircon thing really needs a new thread to be honest. This one is about favourite underground stock and should remain as such (OK yes i know.. I moaned about aircon. Aircon is not everyones cup of tea though.. personally if I wanted aircon everywhere I would live inside a fridge!)

A very good suggestion, but has been deeply discussed on DD’s site, so not many takers I suspect.

I shall start a new thread anyway.

 

[317 forever]

I think mine are the 1972 Mark II and 1973 stocks. I was pleased to read that replacement of the 1973 stock has been deferred from 2014 to 2022 as they are still in good condition and it means another 8 years to ride them from time to time!

Conversely the Central Line 1962 and 1992 stocks have tended to be my least favourites although C class is rather uninspiring too.

 

[kentuckytony]

Going back a bit - as an old-tmer - I liked F stock because of the oval front windows.
But that's just me.

 

[W-on-Sea]

1938 stock has the cosiest seats and the best overall "feel" of any I've been on (last 30+ years or so). I'll put that down as my favourite tube stock (would loved to have seen the 1935 stock with the very art deco styling had more been made, though..). And yes, not LT stock, but the old 487s on the Waterloo and City were...padded cells, almost. No-nonsense. And (unlike the journeys on which pendolinos run) who really needs a proper window view on that line?

Sub-surface. Yeah, A stock - sad that they've clearly seen better days know, a lot of 'em have given the impression of being on borrowed time for the best part of the decade. But certainly, when they were in better nick, my favourites of the sub-surface stock (at least: since the Rs and CO/CPs went..)

C stock - horrid, although the refurbishment improved them IMMEASURABLY. Made them like new, almost, and got rid of a lot of the worst features of them as they had been.

D stock - not keen on them when they were introduced (before the opening windows were added: they were unbearably stuffy and hot) , but they've aged really well, and feel like a "classic": sad that they have not much longer to go. (Refurbishment improved them, too, albeit not to the same extent as the C's: although doing away with that hideous late 70s/early 80s yellow/orange/brown/black moquette - not before time)

 

[Controller1]

Picc trains were better before the refurb. Sterdy and quick.

 

[jon0844]

although doing away with that hideous late 70s/early 80s yellow/orange/brown/black moquette - not before time)

Now brought back by someone who thought they were lovely!

C Stock looks great but there's almost no ventilation in these things and they're incredibly stuffy and hot once they've been exposed to the sun for a bit.

 

[WESSEX158]

To wade in, my favourite would probably be A-Stock. When going to Paddington, I often let a C go at King's Cross in favour of an A (it helps that they are usually almost empty). The seats are everything a train seat should be, high-backed, springy and wide.

I've done exactly the same

It will be interesting to see the new S-stock and their performance when the voltage is raised to 750v.

 

[Patrick]

Favourite would probably be the 1996 stock, they sound awesome when departing and arriving, and I like the interior. The D stock are a close second because I usually travel on the District line when I'm in London and the trains are much better now they have been refurbished.