London Underground C Stock
Encyclopedia
The C Stock was built for the Metropolitan District Railway
in 1910. The additional rolling stock was required to increase the frequency of the service (particularly given the introduction of automatic electro-pneumatic signalling which allowed less headway between trains), plus the four-tracking of the section west of Hammersmith
which allowed a greater frequency of trains to and from Richmond
.
Fifty-two cars were built by Hurst Nelson
, thirty-two were driving motor cars and the remaining twenty were trailer cars. The design was based on the earlier B Stock
and was the basis for the D Stock
trains which appeared in 1912.
In 1928 the 20 trailer cars were rebuilt into motor cars. In the 1940s the C, D and E stocks were reclassified as "H Stock" (signifying hand-operated doors), along with other pre-1938 District Line rolling stock that had not been converted to have air-operated doors. The H Stock was largely eliminated by the early 1950s, following replacement by R Stock
. The remaining cars were largely confined to the Olympia shuttle service and were withdrawn by the late 1950s.
The C Stock remains the only fleet of London Underground carriages to have been built in Scotland
. No vehicles have survived into preservation. In appearance they were similar to the B Stock
.
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
in 1910. The additional rolling stock was required to increase the frequency of the service (particularly given the introduction of automatic electro-pneumatic signalling which allowed less headway between trains), plus the four-tracking of the section west of Hammersmith
Hammersmith tube station
There are two London Underground stations called Hammersmith:* Hammersmith tube station * Hammersmith tube station -See also:* Hammersmith & Chiswick railway station...
which allowed a greater frequency of trains to and from Richmond
Richmond station (London)
Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains....
.
Fifty-two cars were built by Hurst Nelson
Hurst Nelson
Hurst, Nelson and Company Ltd was a railway rolling stock manufacturer based in Motherwell, Scotland. The company also built many railway wagons, as well as trams for several local authorities.-Products:...
, thirty-two were driving motor cars and the remaining twenty were trailer cars. The design was based on the earlier B Stock
London Underground B Stock
The London Underground B Stock was built in 1905 for the Metropolitan District Railway . 420 vehicles were built, formed into sixty 7-car units....
and was the basis for the D Stock
London Underground D Stock
The D Stock was built by Metropolitan Amalgamated Railway Carriage & Wagon in Saltley, England for the Metropolitan District Railway in 1912. A total of thirty cars were built, twenty-two were driving motor cars and eight were trailers. In 1928 the eight trailer cars were rebuilt into motor cars at...
trains which appeared in 1912.
In 1928 the 20 trailer cars were rebuilt into motor cars. In the 1940s the C, D and E stocks were reclassified as "H Stock" (signifying hand-operated doors), along with other pre-1938 District Line rolling stock that had not been converted to have air-operated doors. The H Stock was largely eliminated by the early 1950s, following replacement by R Stock
London Underground R Stock
The R38, R47, R49, and R59 Stock cars were built for the District Line in 1938, 1949, 1952 and 1959. R Stock cars were driving motors and non-driving motors...
. The remaining cars were largely confined to the Olympia shuttle service and were withdrawn by the late 1950s.
The C Stock remains the only fleet of London Underground carriages to have been built in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. No vehicles have survived into preservation. In appearance they were similar to the B Stock
London Underground B Stock
The London Underground B Stock was built in 1905 for the Metropolitan District Railway . 420 vehicles were built, formed into sixty 7-car units....
.
Reference
- J. Graeme Bruce, Steam to Silver, published by the London Transport Executive, 1970, pages 89–94