DLR preservation

[wanstead]

With the B90 and B92 stock now into their last few years of service, I was wondering if there are any plans to preserve a unit or two? Obviously any such preservation would be for purely static display, given it's probably more likely the Fleet Line would be built than TFL keeping an obsolete three-car set for DLR railtours on the system! 

I could imagine the London Transport Museum taking one unit as a representation of the most ubiquitous class of DLR units, and maybe the Museum of London Docklands taking part of a carriage for an interactive display, but other than that I don't think any others would escape the cutter's torch. 

As an aside, do any of the P86/P89s survive? I know Wikipedia states they're still in service around Essen, but I swear that part of the page hasn't been edited in over a decade. I could perhaps see someone trying to secure P11 given its historical status, but then again they've all been so heavily rebuilt it probably makes any restoration programme prohibitively expensive. 

[taylor]

Without access to my German files (since Covid-19) I’m pretty sure that units of both the P86 and P89 series are in still in operation in Essen on the U11. When EVAG bought them (they were nearly new, but not authorised to run in the Bank tunnel), driving cabs and pantographs were installed. One or two cars have been withdrawn due to accidents. More (in German) below. Incidentally both internally and affectionately they are/were referred to as ‘Dockland(s)’ and ran in the original blue/red DLR livery for quite a while. If you really want to know, I can check with friends locally.

web.archive.org/web/20131105012112/http://bahn-deutschland.de.tl/Docklands.htm

[Tom]

I last visited Essen in 2018 and both P86 and P89 cars were in operation then, though with sliding doors replacing the original 'bat-wing' ones.

[spsmiler]

Its my understanding that whilst they are indeed running in Essen (even as 'ye olde traditional' street trams, for part of route U17) No.11, which was first used in Manchester and later carried HM The Queen as part of the official opening ceremony, has been scrapped. I am not sure why, it might be related to damage after a fire but I am not 100% sure.

As with the London B90 and B92's, the P86 / P89 units are scheduled for replacement. I do not know whether Essen intends to preserve any of them.

[d7666]

Still in Essen squadron service:

www.tram-info.de/wagenp/essen.php

scroll about 40% down page

list states updated to 31\05\21

I suppose I'm drifting even further off topic now ........

[joshua]

What about if they had batteries fitted and where run on heritage railways like the Epping and Ongar Railway?

[moquette]

There have been, I understand, some preliminary discussions about the possibility of preserving one of the Essen units as they're due for replacement I understand in 2023 onwards. However, as can be understood, such a proposition is fraught with some serious considerations.

[Chris L]

Apr 11, 2022 19:38:14 GMT moquette said:

There have been, I understand, some preliminary discussions about the possibility of preserving one of the Essen units as they're due for replacement I understand in 2023 onwards. However, as can be understood, such a proposition is fraught with some serious considerations.

TfL are obliged to preserve vehicles of historical importance to London.

They do not have to be displayed.

[moquette]

Apr 11, 2022 21:05:55 GMT Chris L said:

Apr 11, 2022 19:38:14 GMT moquette said:

There have been, I understand, some preliminary discussions about the possibility of preserving one of the Essen units as they're due for replacement I understand in 2023 onwards. However, as can be understood, such a proposition is fraught with some serious considerations.

TfL are obliged to preserve vehicles of historical importance to London.

They do not have to be displayed.

I'm not going to wander off thread here - but it isn't that simple. The legislation that governs the requirement (1968 Transport Act/1999 GLA Act) makes certain requirements/provisions for TfL to consider historic "records & relics" and sets out a form of retention/disposals process. The LTM, in some cases, discharges some of those requirements for TfL through its Collections Policy & acquisitions process that includes a Collections Development Group who advise the Museum Board. None of the Acts require display nor the operation of a Museum - that is TfL's choice via its subsidiary companies, the Museum as a charitable trust being one such subsidiary.