Union Construction Company
Encyclopedia
The Union Construction Company (UCC) was a company set up in 1901 and associated with Charles Yerkes
, an American associated with the London Underground at that time. It was part of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
(prior to the creation of London Transport
in 1933) and was based at Feltham
, Middlesex
, England
.
It stayed moribund until about 1925, and was then activated to renovate trains running on what is now the Central Line
and, following on from this, built new London Underground Standard Stock
in 1927. It also began a major tram-rebuilding programme for the Metropolitan Electric Tramways
(MET).
It became a 'shell' company in 1929, was renamed The Union & Finance Construction Co. Ltd., then built some experimental cars in 1930. These became the forerunners of a fleet of 100 double-deck tramcars for London United Tramways
(LUT) and MET, well-known as the Feltham Tram
.
It also built 60 Class A1 and A2 trolleybuses for LUT to replace trams in the Kingston area. These bore more than a passing resemblance to the 'Feltham' trams from the front.
In 1933 the London Passenger Transport Board
(better known as London Transport) was created by Act of Parliament. The Board was prohibited from directly manufacturing its own vehicles, leading to the demise of the UCC and the placing of all future orders with companies such as Metro Cammell
.
Charles Yerkes
Charles Tyson Yerkes was an American financier, born in Philadelphia. He played a major part in developing mass-transit systems in Chicago and London.-Philadelphia:...
, an American associated with the London Underground at that time. It was part of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
Underground Electric Railways Company of London
The Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited , known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for the three deep-level "tube"A "tube" railway is an underground railway constructed in a circular tunnel by the use...
(prior to the creation of London Transport
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
in 1933) and was based at Feltham
Feltham
Feltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It stayed moribund until about 1925, and was then activated to renovate trains running on what is now the Central Line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
and, following on from this, built new London Underground Standard Stock
London Underground Standard Stock
The Standard Stock title was applied to a variety of Tube stock built between 1923 and 1934, all of which shared the same basic characteristics, but with some detailed differences. This design is also sometimes referred to as 1923 Tube Stock or Pre 1938 Stock...
in 1927. It also began a major tram-rebuilding programme for the Metropolitan Electric Tramways
Metropolitan Electric Tramways
The Metropolitan Electric Tramways Company Limited operated electric tram services in suburban areas of Middlesex and Hertfordshire from 1904 to 1933, when its services passed to the London Passenger Transport Board....
(MET).
It became a 'shell' company in 1929, was renamed The Union & Finance Construction Co. Ltd., then built some experimental cars in 1930. These became the forerunners of a fleet of 100 double-deck tramcars for London United Tramways
London United Tramways
London United Tramways Company Limited was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the London Passenger Transport Board.-Origins:...
(LUT) and MET, well-known as the Feltham Tram
Feltham Tram
100 Feltham Trams were built in total, 54 for Metropolitan Electric Tramways and 46 for London United Tramways. They started to enter service in 1931....
.
It also built 60 Class A1 and A2 trolleybuses for LUT to replace trams in the Kingston area. These bore more than a passing resemblance to the 'Feltham' trams from the front.
In 1933 the London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
(better known as London Transport) was created by Act of Parliament. The Board was prohibited from directly manufacturing its own vehicles, leading to the demise of the UCC and the placing of all future orders with companies such as Metro Cammell
Metro Cammell
The Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company was a Birmingham, England based manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, based in Saltley and subsequently Washwood Heath....
.