London Underground coaching stock
Encyclopedia
In 1989, the first 'Steam on the Met' event took place, and London Underground
, hired British Rail
coaching stock for the excursions. It was found that it was actually cheaper to buy the coaches instead of hiring them. Thus, London Underground has acquired numerous former British Rail coaching stock for these special excursion trains on the Metropolitan Line
, usually hauled by either steam locomotives, or the preserved electric locomotive
No. 12 "Sarah Siddons".
The fleet consisted of several Mark 1 and Mark 2
vehicles, and eight former British Rail Class 438
electrical multiple unit trailer set vehicles. The two coaches bought in the late 1980s were initially painted in red, white and blue of LUL. After the acquisition of more coaches in 1992, all vehicles were painted in the maroon livery of the Metropolitan Railway
. They were normally based at West Ruislip depot.
Even though the last 'Steam on the Met' event took place in 2000, the fleet remained in use until 2003, when all vehicles were stored. In 2005, Metronet
decided to dispose of its coaching stock. The Mark 2 vehicles and one 4-car trailer set have been sold for preservation, and the rest remained advertised for sale. However, after the refurbishment of Sarah Siddons by Metronet in 2007, the remaining coaching stock is now being used on occasional specials with the Met loco. They are now painted in faux teak as shown in the pictures on this page.
The full list of vehicles is given below.
4TC vehicles, and were purchased in 1992.
Between 1992 and 2003, one vehicle, TFK no. 70855 was used as a support coach for locomotives. The remaining seven vehicles were marshalled into two coaching sets. The 3-car unit was formed of 76298+70823+76322, whilst the 4-car unit was formed of 76297+70824+71163+76324.
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, hired British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
coaching stock for the excursions. It was found that it was actually cheaper to buy the coaches instead of hiring them. Thus, London Underground has acquired numerous former British Rail coaching stock for these special excursion trains on the Metropolitan Line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
, usually hauled by either steam locomotives, or the preserved electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
No. 12 "Sarah Siddons".
The fleet consisted of several Mark 1 and Mark 2
British Rail Mark 2
The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...
vehicles, and eight former British Rail Class 438
British Rail Class 438
The British Rail TC multiple units were un-powered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR at York Works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1966-1967 and 1974. The units built on experience gained from the prototype 6TC unit...
electrical multiple unit trailer set vehicles. The two coaches bought in the late 1980s were initially painted in red, white and blue of LUL. After the acquisition of more coaches in 1992, all vehicles were painted in the maroon livery of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
. They were normally based at West Ruislip depot.
Even though the last 'Steam on the Met' event took place in 2000, the fleet remained in use until 2003, when all vehicles were stored. In 2005, Metronet
Metronet
Metronet Rail was one of two companies in a public-private partnership with London Underground.Metronet was responsible for the maintenance, renewal, and upgrade of the infrastructure on nine London Underground lines from 2003 to 2008. This included track, trains, signals, civil work and stations...
decided to dispose of its coaching stock. The Mark 2 vehicles and one 4-car trailer set have been sold for preservation, and the rest remained advertised for sale. However, after the refurbishment of Sarah Siddons by Metronet in 2007, the remaining coaching stock is now being used on occasional specials with the Met loco. They are now painted in faux teak as shown in the pictures on this page.
The full list of vehicles is given below.
| Key: | In Service | Preserved |
|---|
Trailer Control Units
These are former Class 438British Rail Class 438
The British Rail TC multiple units were un-powered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR at York Works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1966-1967 and 1974. The units built on experience gained from the prototype 6TC unit...
4TC vehicles, and were purchased in 1992.
| Number | Unit number | Vehicle type | Year acquired | Year withdrawn | Year sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70823 | 8012 | TBSK | 1992 | - | - | - |
| 70824 | 8013 | TBSK | 1992 | 2003 | 2005 | Sold for preservation |
| 70855 | 8012 | TFK | 1992 | 2003 | 2005 | Sold for preservation |
| 71163 | 8030 | TFK | 1992 | - | - | - |
| 76297 | 8015 | DTSO | 1992 | - | - | - |
| 76298 | 8015 | DTSO | 1992 | 2003 | 2005 | Sold for preservation |
| 76322 | 8027 | DTSO | 1992 | 2003 | 2005 | Sold for preservation |
| 76324 | 8028 | DTSO | 1992 | - | - | - |
Between 1992 and 2003, one vehicle, TFK no. 70855 was used as a support coach for locomotives. The remaining seven vehicles were marshalled into two coaching sets. The 3-car unit was formed of 76298+70823+76322, whilst the 4-car unit was formed of 76297+70824+71163+76324.
Coaches
These vehicles were used as standard locomotive-hauled coaching stock. Mark 1 BSK 35011 and Mark 2 3152, prior to purchase by London Underground, were used as brake force runners, and numbered 977588 and 977547 respectively.| Number | Vehicle type | Year built | Year acquired | Year withdrawn | Year sold | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3152 | Mk.2C British Rail Mark 2 The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975... |
FO First Open A First Open or FO, is a type of railway carriage used by British Rail. They were first produced as British Railways Mark 1, and subsequently Mark 2, Mark 3, and Mark 4 variants were produced.-Mark 4:... |
1969 | 1989 | 2003 | 2005 | Sold for Preservation |
| 5458 | Mk.2B British Rail Mark 2 The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975... |
TSO Tourist Standard Open Tourist Second Open or Tourist Standard Open, abbreviated to TSO, is a type of British Railways coach. The designation "Tourist" was originally as opposed to a normal SO coach... |
1969 | 1995 | 2003 | 2005 | Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... |
| 5495 | Mk.2B British Rail Mark 2 The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975... |
TSO Tourist Standard Open Tourist Second Open or Tourist Standard Open, abbreviated to TSO, is a type of British Railways coach. The designation "Tourist" was originally as opposed to a normal SO coach... |
1971 | 1995 | 2003 | 2005 | Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... |
| 5497 | Mk.2B British Rail Mark 2 The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975... |
TSO Tourist Standard Open Tourist Second Open or Tourist Standard Open, abbreviated to TSO, is a type of British Railways coach. The designation "Tourist" was originally as opposed to a normal SO coach... |
1971 | 1995 | 2003 | 2005 | Preserved on Mid-Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway.... |
| 35011 | Mk.1 | BSK | 1957 | 1988 | - | - | - |