COP stock

[towerman]

I know Q8 said not to reply to his stories,but I'm sure CO's never ran on the District due to the guard's controls being in the cab and the short platforms.as far as I can remember CO's were confined to Circles and H&C's as they were only 6 cars long.

[Phil]

towerman said:

I know Q8 said not to reply to his stories,but I'm sure CO's never ran on the District due to the guard's controls being in the cab and the short platforms.as far as I can remember CO's were confined to Circles and H&C's as they were only 6 cars long.

According to Graeme Bruce in Steam to Silver this indeed did happen at times, but always in the car 4 or 6 position never the 8 (Extreme Eastbound)

[q8]

Oh yes CO's DID run on the District after the C69's came, generally as 6 cars until they re-marshalled and put all the "O" cars in the middle and even then they did not do them all. On one occasion a Guard and me were a bit tight for time and rushed own the yard to prepare a train (8cars) All we did was have a brake test and as that was ok we were called out on time.

All was well until we got to Ealing Broadway and changed ends. THEN we realised that the west end motor was an "O" stock. On to the phone to the old man with "I'm sorry sir we can't go east with this one" to which we got the reply "Oh yes you bloody well will Driver" followed by the instructions to uncouple the 2 car east end and shove it up the siding and be BLOODY QUICK about it. Once that was done to run east out of turn and we would be turned short for own working west. This was because he was short of stock for the evening peak as it was.

For once luck was with us as we were in 7 platform at Ealing anyway and the unit uncoupled without bother. We left Ealing 12 late and were turned an Dagenham East on the quick. All we had to do was make out a report. The controller sent a message of gratitude as well.

[Bill]

i bloody love your stories Q8! wish i'd been about in them days! ;D

[Dstock7080]

Yep, certainly ran 6-car CO's on the main up until the end in 1981.

I well remember a certain obnoxious Motorman that raced into St. James's Park WB, cut the leading door set out, so the cab stopped well into the tunnel! and promptly shouted down the 'loudaphone'- "can you see enough of the platform now?!"

The rear cab was now nearly ½way up the platform! with lots of passengers looking bewildered- standing in the space NOT occupied by the train.
It was quite difficult to lie and say- "he's a new driver, you know"!

ho ho, happy days!!