The Trains of the London Underground

Let’s roll.

[simonjohns]

Regarding the S7 and S8 stock naming, I was the Rolling Stock Asset Manager for Infraco SSL (the mock-privatised infraco for the sub-surface lines which predated the actual PPP companies). I can confirm the "S" in S-stock stands for Sub-Surface, since I was the one who renamed them from Bombardier's manufacturing classifications of Movia 236, 237 and 238, being respectively the 6-car, 7-car and 8-car variants. I cheekily used my new terminology in the Infraco SSL Rolling Stock Asset Management Plan in 2002, and Metronet and the rest of LU assumed this was an official decision. I knew LU traditionally used a letter for subsurface stock, and whilst historical fleets followed an alphabetical pattern (e.g. B to H, K to R, T) a more 'modern'' pattern was to somehow reflect the letter in the fleet's route, so A60/62 for Amersham, C69/77 for Circle, D78 for District. A fairly dim lightbulb moment suggested S for Subsurface, since I was not aware of a previous S stock - although I now know there was a very small (experimental?) S stock fleet in the 1930s. I also thought from an operational perspective it would be necessary to differentiate 6/7/8 car trains, so added the train length to S. This went against the grain of adding the order year (e.g. A60), but I thought the train length was more important than the order year. Of course subsequently (and with huge amounts of resignalling and civils works) we were able to dispense with the S6 train and create a combined S7 fleet that could be timetabled anywhere on the H&C, Circle and District.

[camerastooge]

You're not the only one who loves the sound of those traction motors powering up, Jago. I love that sound.

[pj_naylor]

In the mid 80s I used to take a slightly circuitous route home to Tooting Bec for the chance of getting on a 1938 stock Bakerloo line train between Embankment and Elephant & Castle. You could imagine yourself in some 1940s movie, hanging from a leather strap in the dim glow of the filament light bulbs. Happy days.

[julianaylor]

Your old...I'm so old I not only do I remember 1938 trains, but the 1920s trains on the tube, I was a child at the time and can't remember the year of them, but they had opening windows with wood surrounds and were a bright dark green inside. Then there's the trains that had skirts and the 1961 on the Metropolitan Line, that were the same age as me. The large bent windows on the trains that were based on the Victoria Line trains, remind me of being 10 years old and wearing black boots and a shocking pink check coat on a Victoria Line train. 😁

[ocphish]

As large an audience as possible? Yep, that's me. MUST go on a diet soon. Great video Jago. Thanks.

[ZGryphon]

This brings back a memory: 20+ years ago, when I lived in greater Boston, there were two kinds of train in service on the MBTA Red Line, which we non-detail-oriented types knew only as the "old" and "new" trains. The "new" ones were silver, with red fabric seats and a recorded message system to make the announcements. The "old" ones were white, with black vinyl seats, and the driver had to make the PA announcements in real time. I always liked it when I got one of the old ones, because MBTA personnel _hate_ having to speak to the public, and the gruff brevity of their announcements always tickled me for some reason. Where the recorded system said "Now entering: Porter Square. Change here for the Commuter Rail, " the live driver would just pick up the mic and bark "Pawtah, " if you were lucky enough that he did anything at all. :)

[peterflegg]

I'm an ex-London boy who has lived in Australia for many many years I love watching your videos which keeps me up to date with what is going on on the Underground. Although I live in Australia I try and visit London as often as I can (every four of five years when covid allows) and when I visit I visit as a tourist and enjoy travelling on the underground. I have to admit I dislike how 'transverse' seating is nowadays almost non-existent. The underground travels far more on the surface than it does underground and looking out the window is extremely difficult when sitting in longitude seating.

[SgtMcNasty]

I built the High Voltage unit for the 2009 and later stock at Bombardier in Västerås Sweden. All propultion units where built in Sweden.
We refered to the two different units as VLU and SSL. I guess it stands for Victoria Line Undergound and Sub Surface Line.

[johnfry]

An excellent brief overview, just a couple of (probably not very) interesting facts.
The W&C and Central Line trains are not interchangeable, and upcoming modifications will make them even less so.
There was a plan at one point for an S6 train to replace C stock on the H&C and Circle Lines, until it was decided that it would be more sensible to use the same S7 as on the District Line.

[sevenacregreen]

Having grown up in london from 53 to 72 this all looks rather modern. I remember the victoria line being new. The sound during acceloration was clunk clunk clunk as the motor windings changed, rather than the 'musical' whine. Thanks for these videos they great.

[PlanetoftheDeaf]

It's easy to get the S7s confused with the S Club 7s, though since the full circle of the Circle Line was broken, its trains no longer "Don't Stop Movin' "

[baxtermarrison]

I, for one, am very much looking forward to the presentation on the oddities and engineering trains.

I am old enough to recall the guard operated door stock, but can't recall when this vanished.

[AndreiTupolev]

You're quite right, the bouncy seating and bouncy ride do give the Bakerloo line a certain character

[kevinliley]

Great video as usual. I know that you didn't want to get too technical, Jago. But it is worth mentioning automatic train operation (ATO) and why the Victoria Line, for example, can achieve so many trains per hour. The 1967 stock on the Victoria Line was an adopter from the start (although some early trials had been done on the Central Line with older trains) and was replaced by the 2009 stock; these units have stepped up the performance pace further with superior acceleration and distance to go signalling. Central (1992), Northern (1995), and Jubilee (1996) line stocks were driven manually to begin with until new signalling was introduced and then they went to ATO. Automation is gradually being rolled out on the S Stock (there is a auto/manual changeover point at Finchley Road on the Met heading north, for example). Bakerloo (1972) and Piccadilly (1973) line stock are the only ones to be driven completely manually until signalling upgrades and eventual train replacement allows a switch. Automation isn't just confined to London Underground, though. Thameslink and Crossrail trains use ATO in the 'core' section of the city and are driven manually elsewhere.

[TefiTheWaterGipsy]

I loved the old Met line trains, they were almost like a railway car, and it went to the city and Hammersmith and all the way to where I lived in Pinner. I could see them from my kitchen window and would sit and watch them. I know they needed updating, but I loved the old ones and haven't seen a new one yet. Another great tale from the tube, thank you.

[cawsha]

The S7s have maps in them for all three lines, presumably so that individual trains can be used on any line, depending on servicing schedules or whatever.

[JaapFilius]

Thank you for this awesome video (again)! The first time I visited London, back in 1976, it was the 1938 stock on the Bakerloo- and the Northernline that I liked the most: the sounds, the light bulbs, the partly wooden interior, the bauncing.... It just had an ambiance we can't experience in modern trains with their (too) bright lightning and clinical interior. Not that there is something wrong with modern trains, but the difference is huge. From the modern Underground trains I do like the S-Stock the most because of their very comfortable ride.

[tonys]

The Bakerloo is a living museum as always had the oldest stock, the 1927 stock still running in the '70s, lovely early Art Deco features with the lighting and ventilation grills, comfy but often dusty horsehair and spring seats, the moquette leather edged. The guard in a section at the rear of the motor carriage, opposite end to driving cab, a little fold down seat for him/her (no female drivers yet, then) on the longer stretches between stations in the suberbs. The '38 stock still had some Deco style features remaining in the 70's, was just a bit more modern than the '27, less rattles, shaking and squeaks as a part steel framed body, the '27 being all wood framed. Metro-Cammell built both. (later Metro-Cammell-Weyman in the '60's) and built buses as well.

[caileanshields]

Ah, my geeky train nerd heart skipped a beat when this notification popped up. Cheers for indulging us hardcore train geeks for a moment, Jag. :)

And all this is without getting into the departmental/engineering stock, most notably the battery locos. An intriguing set of beasts they are to say the least.

[ianhills]

Loved the space-age looking 1967 stock on the Victoria line when it opened. Curved cab windows and panels like brushed chrome.