London Underground Tube Stock

The tube stock of the London Underground is built to a smaller loading gauge (size) than normal railways, having a lower floor height, coupler height and lower roof height, and is used on the Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City Lines. Because of the lower coupler height they cannot couple to surface stock without the use of a match wagon.

Standard (pre 1938) Stock

The so called 'standard' stock was actually anything but standard, being built over 12 years by five different builders. It was the largest group of stock ever to operate on the Underground, comprising 1466 cars built between 1922 and 1934, and incorporating many differences, some minor, and some fairly substantial. These differences included different bogies with different wheelsize, front light and headcode box re-arrangement, door centre pillars fitted or not, different clerestory designs, different roof ventilators, different window ventilators ,different lengths, and even re-arrangement of the number and position of doors and windows on trailer cars. This stock was used on the Bakerloo Line, Central Line, Northern Line and Piccadilly Line. On withdrawal from LU stock in the 1960s, 43 cars were refurbished and transfered to the Isle of Wight, becoming Class 485 & 486, the last of these being withdrawn in 1991.

It is intended to use the Acton Shunter model in a reverse of real life, and convert it into Standard stock. The sheer number of these built, and their length in service mean there is a bewildering array of different variants and liveries that could be modeled. The first variant represents 1931 or 1934 Metro-Camell stock in plain "train red" livery with the "London Transport" logo. The destinations available include all standard stock destination boards known for the Bakerloo, Central, Northern and Piccadilly Lines, so are not all appropriate for this variant and livery.A BR livery version as used on the IOW is also in development.

1935 Stock

Four 6 car trains trains of experimental stock (all DMs) were ordered in 1935, and delivered between 1936 and 1938. All the equipment was placed under the floor, rather than having a separate equipment compartment as in the standard stock. This enabled the same amount of passengers to be carried in a 6 car train as in a 7 car train of standard stock. The first three trains were given a streamlined cab, whilst the fourth had a flat front, and this unit became the prototype for the 1938 stock. This stock was used on the Piccadilly line, but was mothballed in 1940 due to the manpower requirements of experimental units in wartime conditions. After the war it was decided to convert the streamlined units into trailer cars for use with the 1938 stock, and the flat fronted units were used as 2 car shuttle units for use on the central line.

1938 Stock

The formation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 made possible large scale planning, and the 1935/40 New Works Programme planned for extensions to the Central Line (which were completed) and to the Northern Line (which were curtailed by the war and never restarted). To support these extensions a considerable amount of rolling stock would be required. Following the experience with the 1935 stock, and several modified standard stock units, an order was placed with Metropolitan-Cammell for 751 Motor cars, and with Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co for 370 trailers and Non-Driving motors. These were all based on a slight modification of the 1935 stock flat fronted design. A further 58 trailers were created at Acton Works by modifying 1927 standard stock trailers. The cars were made up into 6 car trains on the Bakerloo Line formed as (DM-T-DM + DM-T-DM) and 7 car trains formed as (DM-T-DM + DM-NDM-T-DM) on the Northern Line. After the lengthening of the Bakerloo Line platforms in December 1939, this line also used 7-car trains.

Scrapping commenced in 1972 with the introduction of the 1972 MkI stock, but in the mid 1970s, 1938 stock was used on the East London Line, and the East end of the Central Line. The last units were withdrawn from London Underground service in 1988. 20 of these last cars were sold to BR for use on the Isle of Wight, where they became Class 483. On arrival on the island they were liveried in NSE livery, this was later replaced by 'dinosaur' livery. They have now been returned to an approximation of London Underground livery, but with yellow ends (as required by mainline running regulations).

I have a very crude model of a trailer car, done many years ago as one of my first creations in Trainz. I must get round to updating this sometime, or at least produce a matching DM.

A 1938 stock DM (Class 483) by Tempest70 exists on the Auran DLS in LU livery (but with yellow end) and NSE livery.

1956/1959/1962 Stock

When the standard stock on the Piccadilly Line was becoming due for replacement, three prototype trains were ordered from three different suppliers (Metro-Camell, Birmingham RC&W, and Gloucester RC&W) in anticipation of a larger contract. These became the 1956 stock, and were each 7 car trains comprising a 3 car and a 4 car unit  formed as (DM-T-DM + DM-NDM-T-DM). They were all supplied in unpainted aluminium, and used fluorescent lighting, but each manufacturers offering was subtly different. They entered service on the Piccadilly Line during 1957 and 1958. The Metro-Camell unit was then used as the prototype for the production order of 1959 stock (but with the marker lights replaced with twin headlights).

Following the successful trials of the 1956 stock, an order was placed with Metro-Camell for 76 seven car trains to replace a similar quantity of standard stock on the Piccadilly Line.  Before the stock was all delivered however, plans were changed, and the last 57 trains were diverted to the Central Line, along with an additional 57 NDMs to make up eight car trains. Further orders were then made for an additional 88 trains which were to be the 1962 stock, with Birmingham RC&W. They were unable to fulfill the contract, so this was transfered to Metro-Camell. When the 1962 stock was finally delivered, the 57 trains of 1959 stock on the Central Line were transfered back to the Piccadilly.

With the introduction of 1973 stock to the Piccadilly Line, the 1956 and 1959 stock were transfered to the Northern Line, replacing 1938 stock units, where they operated until withdrawn. The last unit being withdrawn from service in 2000.

The 1959 stock model has a mid grey roof, twin headlights, with a stabling light inside these. The 1962 stock model has a black roof, twin headlights, with a stabling light outside. The 1956 stock model is based on the Metro-Cammell prototype with a silver (unpainted) roof as first delivered. The DM for the Birmingham prototype is also available with the later black roof (1962 stock trailers and NDMs can be used with this by selecting suitable running numbers).

1960 Stock

In anticipation of a large order, 12 prototype DMs were produced in 1960, to operate with 12 converted 'standard' stock trailers to operate in 4 cars units as DM-T-T-DM. In the event, further orders of 1960 stock were not made, and the 1962 stock ordered instead based on the proven 1959 stock. By 1974 the standard stock trailers were becoming a maintenance nightmare, and were replaced by half the number of converted 1938 stock trailers, making up 3 car units as DM-T-DM. The 1960 stock spent all it's life on the Central Line, latterly 5 of the sets being used to trial ATO equipment, and the 6th set became an Engineers Test Train and subsequently became a track recording unit. The track recording train is still in use, but the remaining 1960 stock was withdrawn with the closure of the Epping-Ongar line in 1994.

1967 Stock

The 1967 stock was built by Metro-Cammell for the opening of the then new Victoria line between Walthamstow and Victoria. They were designed for automatic operation, and were initially finished in unpainted aluminium livery. The initial order was for 61 four car sets made up as DM-T-T-DM. When the extension from Victoria to Brixton was authorised, an additional 18 four car sets were ordered. Normal operational use on the Victoria Line would be for a train to consist of two of the four car sets. In addition to service on the Victoria line, a single four car set was used on the Central Line for the Hainnault-Woodford shuttle service until September 1984.

Beginning in 1989, the 1967 stock was refurbished, being given given the corporate red, white and blue livery, and new interiors. The 1967 stock was replaced by the 2009 stock, the last unit being withdrawn in 2011.

A model of the 1967 stock in refurbished condition, by Spanner exists on the Auran DLS

1972 Stock

The 1972 stock was ordered for use on the Northern Line, and was very similar to the Victoria Line's 1967 stock, but designed for crew rather than automatic operation. They consist of 7 car sets rather than the Victoria Line's 8 car sets and are made up as DM-T-T-DM + UNDM-T-DM. The initial order from Metro-Cammell was for 30 seven car sets, known as the 1972 MkI stock, all finished in unpainted aluminium, and with  a  'London Underground' logo. A further 33 seven car sets, known as the 1972 MkII stock was ordered for the first stage of the Jubilee Line. The differed from the MkI stock, by having red painted doors, the 'red roundel' logo, and different interiors.

With the introduction of the 1983 stock to the Jubilee line, The 1972 MkII was transfered to the Northern Line, joining the MkI stock. All the 1972 stock was refurbished in the 1990s, and after being displaced from the Northern Line by the 1995 stock, was mostly transfered to the Bakerloo Line, with a few units moving to the Victoria Line to join the 1967 stock. The 1972 stock is now the oldest tube stock in regular operation, and design proposals for it's replacement are being sought from Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens.

 1973 Stock

A Sketchup model of the 1973 stock exists in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse by MrNK94. This is being used as the basis of a Trainz model.

A crude (very high poly) conversion by Redmanb11 of the original Sketchup model is available on the Auran DLS.

1983 Stock

The 1983 stock was originally to have been 60 trains of 1978 stock, for use on the new Jubilee line, but delays in the construction of the line put back the ordering of the new trains, the D stock for the District Line being ordered instead. Only 15 trains were eventually ordered from Metro-Cammell in 1983 as passenger numbers were dropping, and Jubilee line constructionhad been postponed south of Charing Cross. The trains were made up as 6 car sets as (DM-T-DM + DM-T-DM). A further batch of 16.5 trains were ordered in 1986, which differed only in detail from the first batch. The stock was  not a success, encountering reliability problems, and causing delays because of the single leaf doors.

When the Jubilee Line Extension was finally approved, there were plans to upgrade the 1983 stock fleet to double doors, and make up the numbers of trains required with 1996 stock. However it proved cheaper to provide a totally new fleet, and so the 1983 stock was withdrawn, the last train running in 1998.

A Sketchup model of the 1983 stock exists in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse by Jamie98Marquis. This was being used as the basis of a Trainz model. As can be seen the Sketchup Model was pretty crude and inaccurate and has now been largely replaced.

1992 Stock

In 1993, 85 eight car trains of 1992 stock were delivered for use on the Central Line to replace the 1962 stock and 1960 stock.  An additional 10 two car sets were delivered for use on the Waterloo & City Line which at that time was still part of BR, so these were in NetworkSouthEast livery. These operated with 2 two car units semi-permanently coupled as a 4 car train.

A Sketchup model of the 1992 stock exists in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse by Jamie98Marquis. This is being used as the basis of a Trainz model.

1995 Stock

Between 1997 and 2000, 106 six car trains of 1995 stock were delivered for use on the Northern Line, replacing the earlier 1959 and 1972 stock. The trains are made up from two 3 car units each composed DM-T-UNDM.

The 1995 stock is actually more advanced than the 1996 stock on the Jubilee Line, having a more modern traction control system and air suspension, being designed for cheaper maintainance rather than cheaper initial cost.

A model of the 1995 stock exists in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse by MindTheGap. This is being used as the basis of a Trainz model.

1996 Stock

In 1997 & 1998, 63 six car trains of 1996 stock were delivered for use on the Jubilee Line, replacing the 1983 stock previously used. The trains were made up from two 3 car sets each composed DM-T-UNDM. In 2005 63 extra trailers were delivered to convert the six car trains to seven cars. The 1996 stock is very similar to the 1995 stock, but differs in having a different internal layout, and different bogies with rubber suspension rather than air suspension.

A model of the 1996 stock by USER.RO exists on Trainz Luvr. A version modified (by Andi06) to run under later versions of Trainz exists on the Auran DLS.

2009 Stock

The new 2009 stock is used on the Victoria line. Part of the Movia range by Bombadier, built at it's Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. 47 eight car trains, each formed from two 4 car units as DM-T-NDM-UNDM ,entered service between July 2009 and June 2011. It replaced the 1967 stock used previously, having a higher top speed of 50mph and better acceleration.

A model of the 2009 stock exists in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse by MindTheGap. This was used as the basis of a Trainz model, which although having a passenger enabled interior and opening doors, does not include my later refinements such as changeable destinations, set numbers, auto-numbering and cab detail. Only the DM and Trailer cars were modeled, the NDM and UNDM cars looking very similar to trailer cars, there are also dimensional inaccuracies in this model due to lack of information at the time this model was made. An updated version is under development which should remedy some of the deficiencies.

Page updated : 19 Dec 2015