Marking 50 Years of A Stock

[a60]

Well, according to youtube's toppackage they wont be cared for, but I don't take it as gospel, because toppackage also is adamant that 8 cars will be saved by the LTM and have wood floors, no way would the HSE allow that, nor would the LTM see it as practical.

But, units are still being spruced up, so I think it's a case of maintaining them 'til they die.

[citysig]

Jun 21, 2011 16:57:39 GMT metman said:

Yes there are 53 x 8 car trains, but I'm sure you'll agree, having a few S8s about does allow for the A stock to get more love and care.

Indeed, because let us not lose sight of the fact that the entire fleet will be replaced in 2 batches. Some of the A-stock needs to be kept going for a while yet.

[citysig]

Jun 21, 2011 17:28:36 GMT @redsetter said:

wonder why the chesham shuttle was axed so early on then?.if problems occur in the future is it likely to return to use.

Sorry redsetter but this has been touched on so many times - in particular in a recent thread.

The introduction of through services was tow-pronged.

Firstly, the residents of Chesham had campaigned for all-day through services to London.

Secondly, in readiness for the new stock, the timetable was introduced to check that it could be operated - before the 4-car A-stocks were disposed of. After a few teething problems it can be operated reliably.

No we don't have a full fleet of S-stocks and yes we could still in theory run the shuttle. But time moves on, and in a chicken and egg scenario, we've introduced one before the other.

[t697]

Jun 19, 2011 9:19:32 GMT @glyn said:

One wonders what the annual mileage for each car is!

Varied a fair bit over the years but 100,000 - 130,000km/year or so I understand.

[redsetter]

it doesn't look if they had a lot of choice the train doesn't fit the platform bay.and upgrades seem to be ruled out.

while its ok saying in the middle of june hitches have been overcome can the same be said in the middle of January/February, when the weather bites. the weathers been quoted before causing problems.lets hope the next chesham shuttle isnt via amersham then taxi albeit seasonal . time will tell but there are concerns and the possible outcomes'.

[Deleted]

I'm surprised that the annual mileage is that low. The 'Hampshire' DEMU fleet was originally averaging 120,000 miles a year and I would imagine was used less intensively.

[graeme186]

5016 and 5018 50 years in passenger service tomorrow the 7th July. 5016 is formed up with 5205 and 5018 with 5217 (unless these formations change overnight).

[Deleted]

Jun 21, 2011 21:59:47 GMT @redsetter said:

lets hope the next chesham shuttle isnt via amersham then taxi albeit seasonal . time will tell but there are concerns and the possible outcomes'.

A possible outcome of me driving 40,000 miles plus a year is that I'm more likely to have an accident than the person who just drops his kids off to school 3 minutes from home everyday. I have concerns but I get on with it and don't let it worry me. Possible outcomes are mitigated if you choose to think positively. Somebody once told me that if you're convinced you're going to die soon you probably will.

[graeme186]

Jul 6, 2011 20:16:54 GMT graeme186 said:

5016 and 5018 50 years in passenger service tomorrow the 7th July. 5016 is formed up with 5205 and 5018 with 5217 (unless these formations change overnight).

5016 was still formed up with 5205 and these units have been working T412 today. 5018 was still formed up with 5217 today and these units have been working T452. Next passenger service 50th anniversary date is the 26th of July. Maybe 5020 will be cleaned up by then?

[metman]

or scrapped?

[graeme186]

5020 and 5022 reached 50 years in passenger service today.

For the record, 5020 is formed up with 5168 and worked T473 this AM and T460 this PM. And no, this unit still hasn't had an exterior clean and continues to look absolutely filthy!

5022 is formed up with 5199 and formed T467 both this AM and PM.

[A60stock]

any news on 5087 or 5000 to go? 5000 would be a major disappointment if it were to go

[Deleted]

The A-stock have always been slow off the mark; I think it's to do with their high top speed. Nowadays it doesn't happen, but they used to do 70 mph westbound through Neasden. In the old days they took the points eastbound through Neasden without slowing down too. In the 1960s I frequently travelled between Hillingdon and Eastcote, and the Piccadilly line trains would always out-perform the A-stock on acceleration.

[metman]

Its to do with the gear ratios on the motors. The 1959 stock on the picc would certainly be quicker off the mark. The A stock also has two settings; with the weak field flag up it has a higher top speed but slower accelaration I think.

[graeme186]

Two more 50th passenger service anniversaries today.

5024 was formed up with 5219 and worked T446 for the day.

5026 was formed up with 5169 and worked T465 this morning and T473 this evening.

[A60stock]

when the new December timetable comes into use, what % of services will be formed of a stock?

[Deleted]

Current plan is 1 'S' in each week, 1 'A' out from now on

Think there's 8 or 9 on the railway at present so keeping this level of replacement would see around 26/7 or so by the Dec WTT, so just over 50% of the MF requirement will be 'S' stock

[metman]

There is a two week gap now, but I would have thought about 50/50 too. Think there are about 10 service trains at Neasden.

[citysig]

Sounds a fair guess to me as well - remember that of late the "delay" in getting things moving has been more centred around driver training than the stock arriving. Most of the training is now complete, and so the deliveries and service introduction can forge ahead ;D

[metman]

Which units will be 50 next?

[graeme186]

Sept 6, 2011 6:45:06 GMT metman said:

Which units will be 50 next?

5038/39 this coming Friday.

[A60stock]

was out on the met today 10/09/11, any reason that no s stocks were running at all?

[Deleted]

There was one S stock I saw, which was on Uxbridge duties

[graeme186]

Perhaps worth mentioning that 5000/01 reaches 50 years in passenger service tomorrow 13/09.

[metman]

Oh, why did it enter service so late?

I may have to go out and look for her ;D

[citysig]

One of those railway anomalies I've always wondered about - both on LU and NR. The first numbered in a class of loco or unit sometimes comes up as being one of the middle-introduced. Makes you wonder how you get a job as the "One who sticks the pin in" person.

The S-stocks being delivered now have all been sitting waiting to leave, but apart from the first couple of units, the numbers are jumping around abit. One day I think 21010 is the newest train, then I get a call from 21049

Is it random? Is it down to where they were stabled after being finished? Or is it down to the "pin" person ;D

[t697]

5000/5001 and 5002/5003 formed the 8 car type test train according to various sources and photos. The first brake performance tests were in autumn 1960 ISTR from old test records. So it's likely they continued other test and development work well into 1961. They would have needed to be brought up to service standard and generally cleaned up from the test engineers' usage too! That probably accounts for 5000 not entering passenger service until Sept 61.

[metman]

Thanks, well happy birthday to the old girl.

[graeme186]

Sept 12, 2011 22:24:28 GMT metman said:

I may have to go out and look for her ;D

T473 this am, T472 this pm still formed up with 5232.

[metman]

I ended up watching the football! Should have gone out looking for her.....