Piccadilly Medley - 1938 stock outings

[bluegoblin7]

Tickets have just gone on sale for a trio of Piccadilly line outings using the 1938 stock: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/heritage-vehicle-outings

Friday 11 July: Northfields to Northfields via T4 loop
Saturday 12 July: Acton Town to Acton Town via Uxbridge
Sunday 13 July: Ealing Broadway to Cockfosters and Cockfosters to Ealing Broadway

It has also be confirmed that the 1938 stock will be out on the top end of the Met September 5-7 - full details awaited (and all being well a certain other heritage locomotive should be out too...!).

 

[73Stock]

Cocokfosters is a nice long run!

 

[UP13]

Got myself some tickets for the Sunday.

Quick question for those who've done these trips before...

Does the ticket on your phone get you in and out of the station?

 

[Dstock7080]

Does the ticket on your phone get you in and out of the station?

“About your ticket” at the bottom of the page says:

Your ticket will be emailed to you. Please show your ticket (preferably on an electronic device) to a member of our team, who will scan your ticket in the station ticket hall on the day of the event.

 

[UP13]

“About your ticket” at the bottom of the page says:

So obvious.... Thanks for pointing that out! I'll read the small print next time!

 

[Russel]

Noticed there is now 1938 stock tours pencilled in for September on the Metropolitan line.

Anyone know what route they normally take on the Met?

The Met interests me more than the Picc so this is quite appealing to me.

 

[Dstock7080]

Noticed there is now 1938 stock tours pencilled in for September on the Metropolitan line.

Anyone know what route they normally take on the Met?

Harrow-on-the-Hill-Amersham/Watford
Amersham-Watford

 

[Trainlog]

I did one of the 38 stock tours on the Heathrow loop a couple of years ago. I would say it's worth it; the 38 stock is certainly different enough to be interesting in comparison to the 73 stock. The Art Deco interior was definitely the selling point for me.

The London Transport Museum certainly goes all out for these tours. I recall that trade stands were available at Northfields before you went on the tour.

The only thing I will say is that I also did this tour during July, its definitely boiling on these units. If you insist on doing the Heathrow loop just bare this in mind. Maybe the September Metropolitan line ones might fare better with the heat, though it's early September, so it might still be a little stuffy on these trains. I would have thought any other season would be perfect to do these tours instead.

 

[UP13]

I see you mentioned the heat. I'm doing the Cockfosters route in July (I wanted to do the Uxbridge route but my son insisted on Cockfosters).

Is it notably more unbearable than the heat on more 'modern' deep level tubes?

 

[Dstock7080]

Is it notably more unbearable than the heat on more 'modern' deep level tubes?

No, as you have the luxury of side opening windows which do circulate the air, along with the inter-car windows and large over-cab vents.

 

[Trainlog]

I see you mentioned the heat. I'm doing the Cockfosters route in July (I wanted to do the Uxbridge route but my son insisted on Cockfosters).

Is it notably more unbearable than the heat on more 'modern' deep level tubes?

No, as you have the luxury of side opening windows which do circulate the air, along with the inter-car windows and large over-cab vents.

I would agree that the side windows did help cool the stock, and the fact that it was a loop tour that didnt stop helped with cooling the train down. However, it was still a little warm onboard, it was the underground in summer. I took a bottle of water with me and it did help.

Other than that, as said in my original post I certainly enjoyed my go on the 38 stock railtour and would still reccomend it.

 

[73Stock]

Saw it doing a test run to Cockfosters today.

 

[3141]

I see you mentioned the heat. I'm doing the Cockfosters route in July (I wanted to do the Uxbridge route but my son insisted on Cockfosters).

Is it notably more unbearable than the heat on more 'modern' deep level tubes?

I know that temperatures generally are higher in 2025 than they were in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, but there were very hot days in those times, when I regularly travelled on the Piccadilly Line in standard stock and 1938 and 1959 stocks. And in the rush hours trains had lots of standing passengers, whereas on these tours it will be just 40 or 42 passengers per car. So I confidently expect at least 99% of those on the tours to survive the experience.

 

[Russel]

Is there usually many photo opportunities during these tours?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Is there usually many photo opportunities during these tours?

No - they are out and back. The Timetable Notice (internal only) is showing a handful of photo opportunities on the Uxbridge runs, but plan for nothing and expect a bonus would be my advice. There simply isn’t the time to open the doors, let people move to the front, get them back on, and close the doors whilst fitting in with the ordinary passenger service.

As for the heat: it will be warm, but no warmer than a modern deep tube train, with far more of a breeze within the cars. I wouldn’t be unduly worried. I survived wearing a ball gown on one of the Heathrow trips last year.

 

[Russel]

No - they are out and back. The Timetable Notice (internal only) is showing a handful of photo opportunities on the Uxbridge runs, but plan for nothing and expect a bonus would be my advice. There simply isn’t the time to open the doors, let people move to the front, get them back on, and close the doors whilst fitting in with the ordinary passenger service.

Thanks, makes sense.

Given they run multiple times a day, I guess there is the option of hanging around at one of the stations it passes.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Definitely. The timings are pretty predictable around ordinary run times, and staff will be expecting photographers. Stay behind the yellow line, no flash and no tripods and there should be some great photos on offer.

 

[Bikeman78]

I see you mentioned the heat. I'm doing the Cockfosters route in July (I wanted to do the Uxbridge route but my son insisted on Cockfosters).

Is it notably more unbearable than the heat on more 'modern' deep level tubes?

In New York City a few years ago, I chanced upon some runs using 100 year old Subway cars. The weather was hot and humid, high 20s, so I expected it to be grim on board. In fact, it was fine. They had big ceiling fans which definitely helped.

 

[Harpo]

What makes the tube especially hot is the huge mass of crush-loaded humanity crammed in and standing body to body with no air moving around or between them. Conditions on a (comparatively) lightly loaded railtour, with the air able to move, will be much more civilised.

 

[73Stock]

Forecast is currently predicting 30 degrees next weekend.

 

[AlterEgo]

Great little trip out today. The weather was hot but the open windows meant it wasn’t unbearable.

 

[Mawkie]

Great little trip out today. The weather was hot but the open windows meant it wasn’t unbearable.

Was another diabolical day for the Piccadilly Line today.

Were there any delays to the heritage train, or was it plane sailing for each trip? The folks I saw looked delighted. (My own passengers, not so much.)

 

[bluegoblin7]

Was another diabolical day for the Piccadilly Line today.

Were there any delays to the heritage train, or was it plane sailing for each trip? The folks I saw looked delighted. (My own passengers, not so much.)

24 minute stand at T23 on the last trip, and very slow progress there after in the queue, but we were able to arrange a door release and everyone seemed in excellent spirits.

I can’t speak for the rest of the service but some excellent decisions were made with regards to the heritage run (although it did mean the loss of some bonus bobbins).

It was certainly warm on board but no worse (arguably better than) a 73 stock on the same stretch.

Looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow!

 

[Rhinojerry]

I am on the 1440 from Acton,fingers crossed it all goes well.Going to be warmer as well.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I am on the 1440 from Acton,fingers crossed it all goes well.Going to be warmer as well.

There will always be a trip somewhere. The 38TS and LTM team are extremely dedicated to that!

Trips may run late, they may get delayed - indeed, they may even get diverted to a different branch as happened on the Met last year - but every effort is made to provide guests with a memorable experience (and I truly mean those words! This is one of the few times there’s no sarcasm or cynicism) and hopefully you’ll have a lovely day.

As ever - if anyone is out and about and sees me (pink hair, albeit somewhat faded at the moment) please do feel free to say hello.

 

[njr001]

Can you explain bonus bobbins

 

[BerkshireRails]

This is it on the 12:40 Acton Town to Acton Town via Uxbridge at South Harrow.

 

[UP13]

Glad to hear people enjoyed it yesterday.

I'm on the Cockfosters trip tomorrow and hope it is equally enjoyable.

Am I right in thinking that with the upcoming signal upgrades ahead of the 2024 stock introduction, that this is the last time that the heritage stock can go on the Piccadilly?

 

[Dstock7080]

Am I right in thinking that with the upcoming signal upgrades ahead of the 2024 stock introduction, that this is the last time that the heritage stock can go on the Piccadilly?

There are no planned signalling upgrades for the Piccadilly, except the continual fitting of co-actor signals at existing ones for sighting issues.

 

[BerkshireRails]

Am I right in thinking that with the upcoming signal upgrades ahead of the 2024 stock introduction, that this is the last time that the heritage stock can go on the Piccadilly?

I remember watching a hidden London hangouts video and they said the 1938 stock will gain either TBTC or CBTC or ETCS.