pps - on adverts... My Aunty Noreen, then a young gal fresh from Ireland was travelling on the tube with my Aunty Pat and was caught by a fit of giggles at seeing a wartime ad over the wndow in blackout style saying "I trust you'll pardon my correction but this is here for your protection" under which some wag had written " Thank you for your explanation but we still can't see the bloody station". A mortified and embarrassed Aunty Pat dragged a hysterically laughing Aunty Noreen off the train whose next stop was Sloane Square at the same time as it was hit by a German bomb. I believe 70 + people died on that train but I'm happy to say Pat and Noreen lived on to become my two favourite aunties. To her last Aunty Noreen would laugh and laugh. As my Ma used to say "she'd laugh to see a pudding crawl" 🙂
@@simpilotadamt1012 Her laughing and my other aunty's embarrassment.... though of course neither of them were my aunties until late '53 when I was born 🙂
I was working at the LT Museum when the Depot opened. It was an exciting time. I went onto work on the open weekends and helped to conduct tours of the disused station particularly Aldwych and Euston. Eventually i took VS when the Covent Garden site closed in 2005. It was a great place to work with a great bunch of people.
I used to be a guard and latterly a motorman (driver) based at Hainault depot on the central line in the 70s-80s. During the winter months one of our night shift duties was to operate the the sleet loco. This was used to spray de-icing fluid on the rails of the open (above ground) section at the eastern end of the line. There were 18 sleet locos in total, all were built at Acton Works during 1939 and 1940. They were constructed out two former 1903 Central London Railway motor cars, back-to-back with massive de-icing fluid tanks inside them. The scariest part of driving them was when we had to do the Epping-Ongar line. At that time tube trains had 2 braking systems. The electro/pneumatic (EP) system, commonly used in normal service, and the Westinghouse system which was the original fail safe/emergency system. Because the Sleet loco's were so old they only had the Westinghouse system. The EP brakes worked as soon as you applied them which was great but the Westinghouse system which didn't come on immediately when you applied it. There was a few seconds delay before the brakes started to take effect. Also it was quite hard to judge how much brake to apply. If you held the brake handle open to long and used too much braking force the wheels of the loco could easily lock up (especially if the rails were icy) but, as I said you wouldn't realise you had misjudged it for a few seconds and if the wheels did lock up and you started to slide, the only way to free them was release the brake entirely. And try the entire process again! Once, when I was de-icing the Epping -Ongar line, I was approaching Ongar, the end of the line. As I came down the gradient (slope) towards Ongar I put on the brake and guess what? I realised after a few seconds that I'd fu**ked up big time cos the wheels locked and the loco which weighed around 10 tons started sliding on the icy rails towards The station and there wasn't time to release and re-apply the brake. Why would that be a problem I hear you ask? Well it's because at the end of the platform there is a solid brick wall built across the track! I basically closed my eyes and waited for the crash. Incredibly, the loco finally slid to a halt a few yards before the wall but both me and my guard who was in the cab with me almost sh*t ourselves. Happy days!
I remember going to the Transport Museum when it was in Clapham. I remember my Father was keen to show me the transport he rode back in his day 1906 onwards and latterly me. Great content and true history.
I used to work at Aldenham bus works, and at Chiswick works 79/84. I was an apprentice welder, best times of my life, loved it. London transport was a great company to work for, sad when it all broke up.
This is a great overview. A few years back I booked a personal tour with a couple of volunteers, there was only four of us and we spent a very happy4hr tour including many areas the open days didn’t offer. It’s an amazing place which should be a full museum in its own right!
Was taken to the British Transport Museum by my Dad when I was very small. ?Visited the Covent Garden Museum, but not the depot. The RT bus was very common around Bexleyheath in the 60s. The last route, the 51 withdrew them in about 1975. Always marvelled at the little holes in the floor through which the road was visible. A very comfortable ride compared to the one man buses, but the RTs were of course much slower.
Hi Rob, my favourite remains the D78 stock, which was here conspicuous by its absence. But I did enjoy the A-Stock on the Metropolitan with its wonderful traction motor growl, deeply sprung seats and soft suspension. At 60 mph out in the countryside, the bogie suspension would get into phase with the seat springs and catapult you out of your seat, which I greatly enjoyed. That brightened up any rainy day.
Your description of the A Stock is absolute perfection… my memories exactly 😌 Thanks so much for taking the time to write that; evoked a lot of memories
I loved the standard tube stock, they were quirky. They ran on the Piccadilly Line and were withdrawn when the new silver 1959 stock was produced. The last line they ran on was the old Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate, in 1964 the Finsbury Park platforms were converted for use in the new Victoria line which opened in1969. The standard stock contained to ply between Drayton Park to Moorgate when 1938 Stock took over. The standard cars were then converted to 3rail and used 9n the Isle of Wight.
I'm slowly working my way through your videos and I haven't found a single one I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. I've been concentrating on the ones that features the underground railway as that is my biggest love of London. You have so many fanatical fans commenting on your work I rarely comment myself but this one I simply HAD to add my comment. As I've said I live in Perth Australia and rarely get back home but I have one big regret. I never manage to plan my UK trips the same time as this L.T. Museum Depot is open. It is the one place I have never seen and watching this video made me realize just how much I have missed. I revisit the main L.T. museum each visit (and spend up in the shop) but it obviously isn't a patch on the museum you have shown me on this video. I can't thank you enough for all the work you do and you've certain made this lonely ex-pom in WA really happy. 5 stars plus 5 more
Peter, it's a pleasure my friend. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you took the time to write this, as one of the intentions of such videos is indeed to share such places with people who are unable to get to them. So it makes me very happy to know that is happening! Thanks again and stay well.
A very well constructed and presented video. I finally got to an open day in July and the vastness of the depot has to be seen to be believed. There is literally not one inch that hasn't been used. I thought the 38 stock was everyone's favourite.
A gem of a video Rob. I have been there twice on open days and only seen a fraction of what is there. The poster displays, which you did not show, are wonderful too. I lived in East Ham as a boy and must have purchased plenty of things from the Finlay's Kiosk which appears in your video. The District Line of my young days was served by Q stock with their distinctive clerestory roofs and the R stock. In their later days the rubber seals on the pneumatic doors on both types were worn out and on bitter winter days, we passengers froze. I too love the 1938 stock, and when a number of refurbished sets re-entered service on the Piccadilly Line in the 1980s, it was under the slogan 'Bring Back the Reds'. The A stock on the Met were smashing, very fast and very roomy: even having luggage racks. The early motor buses with their open top deck and exposed driver demonstrates how little respect the Transport hierarchy had for their employees and customers.
Thanks for a brilliant video, Rob. It brings back lots of memories. Although my family moved away from London back when I was 12, I do recall riding on R Stock District trains with their sweeping curves, the 1938 stock on the Piccadilly as well as a rare occasional trip on some original standard stock before the incoming 1959 stock ousted them completely. Our local station was Hounslow West and, just before we moved, I remember the building work starting at the station to extend the line to Hatton Cross and Heathrow - back then you could stand on the old platforms and see the new line curve away to enter the tunnels where the new platforms were being constructed. My father also worked for AEC in the 1960s and I have vague memories of seeing the last trolley buses. Most of our bus trips were on Routemasters and the RTs.
The Acton Museum Depot would most likely still have a rail connection to the national railway network/underground so it would allow them to do public tours with running their heritage trains on the network! :)
My dad was a trolley bus driver in Walsall and Wolverhampton during the early 60's. That's where he met my mom who was a 'ticket lady' on the same route. When the trolly's were fazed out he transerred to Routmasters based out of Walsall then moved onto coach driving, usually the longer routes taking people to the coast and holiday camps; especially during miners' fortnight when he would be working 7 days a week ferrying folk to and fro.
Very informative, I remember travelling on the tune in 1970 - St Pancras to |Notting Hill to school, sometimes changing at Edgware Rd to get a green District Line train. Thanks for showing
happy memories As a young child I used to travel from Crouch End to Carpenters Park to see my Nanna Starting with a single decker 212 bus (TD?) to Finsbury Park Underground 38 Stock ,change at Kings Cross with lifts to Euston then Midland Electric and seeing Bakerloo stock on the way Also having to go by bus to Chalk Farm after the Harrow disaster in 1952
Thanks so much Chris, fascinating memories- and from the area I grew up around too. I knew an old fireman many years ago who was on duty at the Harrow disaster... horrendous.
Nice to see two things I knew and had forgotten. I used Aldwych station when I worked at Bush House in The Strand. At East Ham, The Findlays kiosk as well, I used to buy my NME from there.
@@Robslondon an odd thing i also remember from trains as a 70s kid, as the train pulled into the station there was a smell. A pleasant smell, almost sweet.
Outstanding! I didn’t want this to end. Absolutely brilliantly put together and love how you tell the history and find footage. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into all your videos. ❤ And as for chocolate I do remember Marathons and had forgotten Bangos until you had shown it. Happy Days! ❤
Thanks so much for doing this video. I visited the museum last year and absolutely loved it - this video brings the museum to life. I'd strongly recommend a visit - I travelled from Glasgow to see it and it was well worth it. I loved the Waterloo and City stock, the 1938 and 1923 tube stock and the trolleybuses in particular.
It’s a pleasure Alasdair, thank you so much for watching,l 😊 Glasgow is one of my favourite cities (my other half is from there) in case you haven’t seen it yet I did a series a while back on the history of the Glasgow Subway; a great wee system 😉 Thanks again and stay well
@@Robslondon Hi Rob - I'm glad you love Glasgow too. I did see your Glasgow Subway video and absolutely loved it. You'll have to come back and film the new trains when they start - I believe there is going to be a changeover period with one circle running with the old train and the other with the new which should be very interesting!
Well Rob , you gave us hints of what we could look forward to and you did not fail detailed and interesting from the start. The trams and trolley buses took me back to my childhood You mentioned the transport museum i was there the day they pulled the Mallard out onto a low loader to take it to Clapham junction from there to be pulled to York, the tender went separately The iconic Route Master, in the early 1990's I was driving. around London sight seeing tours in Route Masters which had been converted to open top this was with the original hop on hop off bus tours circa 1951. So much interest in this video I hope you did not mind me sharing my memories with
I was taken to the Clapham museum as a bairn and it was one of the best days out of my childhood. I enjoyedvisits to many museums but would usually get bored after a couple of hours. We spent the entire day in that place and I still didn't want to leave. York is wonderful, a national treasure, but I preferred the old facility way more atmosphere. The same is true of the Glasgow version; the old transport museum in Albert Drive was far more fun than the Kelvin Hall replacement. Even 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 has since been moved but sadly each new venue seems to get more sterile, lacking atmosphere. Apparently, we must move with the times but it might be nice if they would leave things alone.😂
I visited the Transport Museum in Covent Garden in the early 1980’s. A pleasant museum, with enough space (and light) for taking pictures. Informative, too. :) As for the storage facility, i have to figue out when they’re open and fly over, I’d love to have a closer look at the old old old Tube & Surface stock! :)
You know it never matters what you talk about, these videos rival the best documentaries and are always interesting. Did you train in film or is this something you've just figured out for yourself?
Thank you so much! I didn’t train in film, no…. Just love being creative with London’s history 😉 Couldn’t do it without all of the kind support I receive though. Cheers and stay well
First class video interesting as always. I went to the open day at Acton from my home here near Wakefield in Yorkshire, Train to Kings cross then tube to Acton and back home all in the day long day but well a visit and i am glad I went many years ago i also went to the museum when it was at Syon park and the Covert garden museum is also well worth a visit.
I missed this vid Rob, was on a canal boat for a week with no Internet 🤣 Absolutely superb museum, right up my street this. I defo need to go here. Fantastic 👏👏👏
This appeared in my suggestions and I'm so glad it did - great video! I remember going on a school trip to Syon Park in the 70s to see the London Transport Collection. Man, that makes me feel OLD!
Thanks for a great video Rob. Been on my hit list for a long time to do an Acton depot open day, this will encourage me to bring it further up the priority list of days out!
I arranged the donation of the old mercury arc battery charger that we had and used at the old Two Waters (HH) LT / LCBS Bus Garage to the museum. They also took some of the old bricks and tiles from the gents' toilets when the garage was being pulled down. Great museum.
great, very informative thanks. I like watching the secrets of the London Underground on the Yesterday Channel. Hoping (and I think there is going to be - yippee) a third series of it.
Thank you so much Andy! And yes, that’s an excellent series- Tim Dunn is a gentleman; have you seen the other programme he hosts- The Architecture That Railways Built? Well worth a watch too.
Thanks for another interesting video Rob. I remember the museum in the former Clapham Bus Garage, having been taken there as a small boy. I've been to the LT Museum Depot and it's well worth booking a visit.
@@Robslondon The Baker Street Station train indicator board stood in the main concours. It was there from the 1950s until it was replaced by modern screens around the Millennium.
Thank you Rob. My granddad drove busses in London in the 1920’s. Now I know it would have been a K2. I was told during the general strike he had a policeman sitting beside him as he did his journey. As you said the driver, and in that case the policeman also were open to the elements. He was a bus driver in south London for a great many years and things improved greatly for drivers in the second world war. Thank you a lovely video as I’ve never had the chance to visit the depot, only Covent Garden.
I kept saying to myself when we got on to the tube trains, '1938? 1938?' as that stock has always been my favourite. Then, lo and behold, there is the wonderful 1938 example and we learn it's also the favourite of our host!!! Just a shout out about Rob's mugs - I bought myself a complete set of the tube mugs and one of the Routemaster mugs and I have to say that they are absolutely brilliant!!!
Oh, thank you so much David! What a lovely comment! And thank you so much too for your custom; it means a lot to me and really does help the channel :-) Cheers, stay well and thanks again!
Visited Covent Garden in 1998. Have much memorabilia from that day including posters and books (which severely endangered our return luggage limits back to Australia!), Acton was then just a twinkle in the eye I think. Favourites from growing up in and around Croydon in the 50s and 60s? The Feltham trams, of which I have vague memories trundling over the bridge at Thornton Heath station when I was just a nipper. The later trolley buses, which used to purr into and out of the interchange at West Croydon. And most of all the trusty RTs, which were more of an icon for me than the Routemasters - and one of which nearly killed me in 1962! Oh, and a particular favourite from Covent Garden - all those superb scale models (of trams especially), any of which I could happily have run off with...
Wonderful memories. I was born in the middle of WW2 and after being bombed in Bromley we moved to Sevenoaks. We had a Green Line service in the 50;s and I think early 60's that ran from Sevenoaks to Windsor. You showed a d/decker bus with an advert for Picture Post and the 2 large eyes. I well remember it seemed every second bus in London had those eyes displayed. Great fun and thanks for the memories. Alan Bideleux
I remember catching the AEC Merlins to school. Some of the them had mid doors as well as the front. They also had machines next to the driver where you could pay your fare, as well as paying the driver directly. I suspect that they were on a trail as after a couple of years the machines stopped working & were eventually removed.
Very, very interesting and superbly put together. My favourite underground cars were the Q27 motor cars on the District Line, and my favourite buses were the open-staircase LTs with the rounded cabs starting at LT50.
I was born and brought up in London but left in 1980, and have only been back since for occasional visits. To me the 1938 stock is part of my childhood and teenaged years as I was brought up near Clapham South tube station. I remember encountering the occasional standard stock cars, which even back then felt old fashioned compared with the 1938 stock. I would love to visit but as its only open 3 times a year and I live over 200 miles away now its fairly unlikely. A nice video, well done.
Thanks very much, Rob. Very entertaining and a nice bit of London history made available on UA-cam. Personally, I liked the old Victoria Line rolling stock with its reference to Metro Cammell on the door step plates, with historic connections to Cammell Laird ship builders.
The 1983 tube stock interestingly use large 1970s Dewherst generic lift buttons for the door opening buttons which were also the same buttons that were commonly used in lifts on the Underground network that were installed/modernised in the 1970s/1980s! :)
@@Robslondon I also first saw the button design in the lifts at Flinders Street station in Melbourne as a kid but it wasn’t until more recently when I found out it was actually a commonly used British Dewhurst button design from the 1970s that was also used into the 1980s! :)
Great video Rob. I didn't even know that depot existed. So many memories of my tube and bus days from the 60's to the early 2000's in London, including all the old adverts! The Met line board was definitely in use during the 70's. I also remember when you could just buy a platform ticket so you could go down and meet or say goodbye. Not that you would ever try and travel on one!! Thanks again for such a well researched and presented video. Lance
Great video! I'm glad this turned up in my suggestions. Thanks also for focusing not just on the buses and rolling stock. I loved seeing the kiosks and ticket machines. Well remember those, and have always loved the design of those news kiosks and ticket booths, so thanks for including them. I think I travelled the network most when I was a kid during the 70s, and my favourite trains have always been the 38 and CO/CP/R stock, especially the CO/CP/R. Love to be able to have a trip on one of those flare sided beauties again! And yep! Well remember Banjo bars coming out, but was more a fan of the Drifter bar myself.
Hi Rob I had my robs london trellick tower mug, topped up with tea and had a front row 1st class ticket of the tour. Being born in the 60's I have taken a ride on an awful lot of the carriages you showed. Wow did it bring back some memories especially the bakerloo line, ye gods the smell of electric motor brushes burning away, and a ride that would quite literally rattle your fillings loose, no HSE them days. Great video Rob As always Mike
Thanks! I lived in London in the late 1980s.. When I think of the tube, it's in terms of my memories of the stock I used back then, so it's very weird to see those trains in a museum!
I remember the 1992 Central Line trains caused a massive scandal for London Underground. They had to close down the central line from White City to Bank from December 92 to mid 93.
Awesome thanks for sharing 👍🏼 , i was born in 1948 i don't rember the trams . I do rember going on a trolley bus with my dad , we left Clapham jct to Enfield to visit my aunty . I especially remember the RT and of course the Route master . Cheers again , all the best form down under . 👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That's fascinating James, I had no idea.... just looking at a picture of one now; yes I can see how similar they are: lovely looking trains! Thanks and stay well.
Despite my early days in Sth Ken/Earls Court I am now a Northfields dweller so you were just down the road from me here, and most interesting too. I always imagine I can remember trams in Putney but I think they were certainly trolley buses... and on the subject of buses i so miss the Routemasters with the open back platform and the two face to face 'sofa' seats at the back and sensible seats to the front, the little nook upstairs at the back over the stairwell and, of course, conductors. I am absolutely convinced that every London double decker bus currently in service was designed by someone who has never been on a bus in their lives.
I remember the Standard Stock as feeling cosy inside and because the motors were mounted in carriage compartments, they used to roar through the tunnels like dragons!! 😆👍
Very interesting and enjoyable 😉😀👍😊 presentation. I was looking for my old bus 🚌 numbers but didn't see them. I remember some of the buses 🚌 and underground 🚇 trains. It's a shame that this place is only open for 3 times a year. My brother would love it and my dad 👨❤ would have. I want some of the station 🚉 names signs.
@@Robslondon and I used to speak with one of last tram drivers in Bolton he was a waggon driver in the war delivering to Manchester and Liverpool docks during the blitz . He started on trams and trained the tram drivers to drive buses he was well into his 80s when I first met him
Thank you Rob for this fascinating upload. I lived in Chessington, Surrey in the 1960s and was familiar with the red buses. I visited the old Clapham museum on a school trip.
Banjo bars were delicious but my fondest memories are reserved for the nestle chocolate bar machines on train platforms and stations in the 1960’s, I would love to own one. I will be sharing this film with my son, I think he would like to visit the museums extra vehicles not at Covent Garden.
@@Robslondon You are so welcomed. I appreciate your efforts on the subject matter. I can tell how passionate you are about the Evolution of the Underground.
Often rode the 38 stock to Burnt oak and Edgware. At Edgware would see the single decker TD's on route 240 to Totterridge before being taken over by the RF's. The red RF's never had doors fitted like there green country bus and the greenline counterparts edgware
I love this video, I am an absolute nerd for old vehicles. My personal favoruite was hands-down the B-Type, if you're ever going to do a video about The Imperial War Museum, there is another B-Type : affectionally nick-named "Old Bill" there. I can't wait to see what videos you will produce in the future.
Great video, didn't know about the 3 open days. I have a large collection of ticket machines and punches including London transport dating back to the early days of LCCT up to the first electric machines after the Gibson. I think I have all the decades covered including some that where trield but didn't see much service. So a visit is on the list. Thanks again,
Thanks for this video. I now live in the USA so it is most unlikely that I'll ever see these items again. Several of them are indeed memories for me as well. Again... Thanks.
The met line board still has missenden on it. That indicates that it was commissioned before the early 1960s when the met line was cut back to Amersham.
pps - on adverts... My Aunty Noreen, then a young gal fresh from Ireland was travelling on the tube with my Aunty Pat and was caught by a fit of giggles at seeing a wartime ad over the wndow in blackout style saying "I trust you'll pardon my correction but this is here for your protection" under which some wag had written " Thank you for your explanation but we still can't see the bloody station". A mortified and embarrassed Aunty Pat dragged a hysterically laughing Aunty Noreen off the train whose next stop was Sloane Square at the same time as it was hit by a German bomb. I believe 70 + people died on that train but I'm happy to say Pat and Noreen lived on to become my two favourite aunties. To her last Aunty Noreen would laugh and laugh. As my Ma used to say "she'd laugh to see a pudding crawl" 🙂
😂
So her laughing saved both of their lives? Wow.
@@simpilotadamt1012 Her laughing and my other aunty's embarrassment.... though of course neither of them were my aunties until late '53 when I was born 🙂
I was working at the LT Museum when the Depot opened. It was an exciting time. I went onto work on the open weekends and helped to conduct tours of the disused station particularly Aldwych and Euston. Eventually i took VS when the Covent Garden site closed in 2005. It was a great place to work with a great bunch of people.
Nice comment Rob, thanks.
The 1938 stock is also my favourite as I remember it from my childhood in London.
☺️
Me too, loved them!
And me.
I used to be a guard and latterly a motorman (driver) based at Hainault depot on the central line in the 70s-80s.
During the winter months one of our night shift duties was to operate the the sleet loco. This was used to spray de-icing fluid on the rails of the open (above ground) section at the eastern end of the line.
There were 18 sleet locos in total, all were built at Acton Works during 1939 and 1940. They were constructed out two former 1903 Central London Railway motor cars, back-to-back with massive de-icing fluid tanks inside them.
The scariest part of driving them was when we had to do the Epping-Ongar line. At that time tube trains had 2 braking systems. The electro/pneumatic (EP) system, commonly used in normal service, and the Westinghouse system which was the original fail safe/emergency system. Because the Sleet loco's were so old they only had the Westinghouse system.
The EP brakes worked as soon as you applied them which was great but the Westinghouse system which didn't come on immediately when you applied it. There was a few seconds delay before the brakes started to take effect.
Also it was quite hard to judge how much brake to apply. If you held the brake handle open to long and used too much braking force the wheels of the loco could easily lock up (especially if the rails were icy) but, as I said you wouldn't realise you had misjudged it for a few seconds and if the wheels did lock up and you started to slide, the only way to free them was release the brake entirely. And try the entire process again!
Once, when I was de-icing the Epping -Ongar line, I was approaching Ongar, the end of the line. As I came down the gradient (slope) towards Ongar I put on the brake and guess what? I realised after a few seconds that I'd fu**ked up big time cos the wheels locked and the loco which weighed around 10 tons started sliding on the icy rails towards The station and there wasn't time to release and re-apply the brake.
Why would that be a problem I hear you ask? Well it's because at the end of the platform there is a solid brick wall built across the track! I basically closed my eyes and waited for the crash. Incredibly, the loco finally slid to a halt a few yards before the wall but both me and my guard who was in the cab with me almost sh*t ourselves.
Happy days!
Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading that!
I remember going to the Transport Museum when it was in Clapham. I remember my Father was keen to show me the transport he rode back in his day 1906 onwards and latterly me. Great content and true history.
Lovely comment, thank you so much for sharing.
I used to work at Aldenham bus works, and at Chiswick works 79/84. I was an apprentice welder, best times of my life, loved it. London transport was a great company to work for, sad when it all broke up.
Lovely comment, but very sad too... cheers Billy
This is a great overview. A few years back I booked a personal tour with a couple of volunteers, there was only four of us and we spent a very happy4hr tour including many areas the open days didn’t offer. It’s an amazing place which should be a full museum in its own right!
Thanks so much 😊
Was taken to the British Transport Museum by my Dad when I was very small. ?Visited the Covent Garden Museum, but not the depot. The RT bus was very common around Bexleyheath in the 60s. The last route, the 51 withdrew them in about 1975. Always marvelled at the little holes in the floor through which the road was visible. A very comfortable ride compared to the one man buses, but the RTs were of course much slower.
Nice comment. Thank you.
Hi Rob, my favourite remains the D78 stock, which was here conspicuous by its absence. But I did enjoy the A-Stock on the Metropolitan with its wonderful traction motor growl, deeply sprung seats and soft suspension. At 60 mph out in the countryside, the bogie suspension would get into phase with the seat springs and catapult you out of your seat, which I greatly enjoyed. That brightened up any rainy day.
Your description of the A Stock is absolute perfection… my memories exactly 😌 Thanks so much for taking the time to write that; evoked a lot of memories
I loved the standard tube stock, they were quirky.
They ran on the Piccadilly Line and were withdrawn when the new silver 1959 stock was produced.
The last line they ran on was the old Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate, in 1964 the Finsbury Park platforms were converted for use in the new Victoria line which opened in1969.
The standard stock contained to ply between Drayton Park to Moorgate when 1938 Stock took over.
The standard cars were then converted to 3rail and used 9n the Isle of Wight.
I have visited the Tram Depot at Acton and was amazed at what was in there some 300000 items
I'm slowly working my way through your videos and I haven't found a single one I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. I've been concentrating on the ones that features the underground railway as that is my biggest love of London. You have so many fanatical fans commenting on your work I rarely comment myself but this one I simply HAD to add my comment. As I've said I live in Perth Australia and rarely get back home but I have one big regret. I never manage to plan my UK trips the same time as this L.T. Museum Depot is open. It is the one place I have never seen and watching this video made me realize just how much I have missed. I revisit the main L.T. museum each visit (and spend up in the shop) but it obviously isn't a patch on the museum you have shown me on this video. I can't thank you enough for all the work you do and you've certain made this lonely ex-pom in WA really happy. 5 stars plus 5 more
Peter, it's a pleasure my friend. Thank you so much for your kind words.
I'm so glad you took the time to write this, as one of the intentions of such videos is indeed to share such places with people who are unable to get to them. So it makes me very happy to know that is happening!
Thanks again and stay well.
Amazing content once again rob! Jago Hazzard should be watching out since there’s a competitor heading his way 😊
Thanks so much Wan 😊
Two of my all time favorite channels on the tube. ☺️
A very well constructed and presented video. I finally got to an open day in July and the vastness of the depot has to be seen to be believed. There is literally not one inch that hasn't been used. I thought the 38 stock was everyone's favourite.
Great comment, and thanks for watching 😊
A gem of a video Rob. I have been there twice on open days and only seen a fraction of what is there. The poster displays, which you did not show, are wonderful too. I lived in East Ham as a boy and must have purchased plenty of things from the Finlay's Kiosk which appears in your video. The District Line of my young days was served by Q stock with their distinctive clerestory roofs and the R stock. In their later days the rubber seals on the pneumatic doors on both types were worn out and on bitter winter days, we passengers froze. I too love the 1938 stock, and when a number of refurbished sets re-entered service on the Piccadilly Line in the 1980s, it was under the slogan 'Bring Back the Reds'. The A stock on the Met were smashing, very fast and very roomy: even having luggage racks. The early motor buses with their open top deck and exposed driver demonstrates how little respect the Transport hierarchy had for their employees and customers.
Lovely comment John, thanks so much. Sounds like we share the same taste in tube stock!
Thanks for a brilliant video, Rob. It brings back lots of memories. Although my family moved away from London back when I was 12, I do recall riding on R Stock District trains with their sweeping curves, the 1938 stock on the Piccadilly as well as a rare occasional trip on some original standard stock before the incoming 1959 stock ousted them completely. Our local station was Hounslow West and, just before we moved, I remember the building work starting at the station to extend the line to Hatton Cross and Heathrow - back then you could stand on the old platforms and see the new line curve away to enter the tunnels where the new platforms were being constructed. My father also worked for AEC in the 1960s and I have vague memories of seeing the last trolley buses. Most of our bus trips were on Routemasters and the RTs.
Beautiful comment David, thanks for taking the time to write
The Acton Museum Depot would most likely still have a rail connection to the national railway network/underground so it would allow them to do public tours with running their heritage trains on the network! :)
Really interesting point 😉 Not sure how the process works though: would love to hear if someone knows
What a cracking video!! Ok, am extremely biased as a bus lover, but thanks for the stroll down memory lane and making my Sunday. C.👍
Lovely comment Clive, thank you! Stay well
My dad was a trolley bus driver in Walsall and Wolverhampton during the early 60's. That's where he met my mom who was a 'ticket lady' on the same route. When the trolly's were fazed out he transerred to Routmasters based out of Walsall then moved onto coach driving, usually the longer routes taking people to the coast and holiday camps; especially during miners' fortnight when he would be working 7 days a week ferrying folk to and fro.
Lovely comment, thanks for sharing 🙂
Ayyit
Excellent video Rob, thanks. My favourite is also the 1938 tube stock, grew up travelling the Bakerloo line on them. Fond memories indeed.
Thank you so much 😊
Very informative, I remember travelling on the tune in 1970 - St Pancras to |Notting Hill to school, sometimes changing at Edgware Rd to get a green District Line train. Thanks for showing
It's a pleasure Simon :-) Stay well.
I'm across the pond... but I still appreciate your video. Cool. The mug you designed / are offering is a nice touch.
Thank you!
That was fun. Watch out you don’t have Jago after you for stepping on his pitch! 😉
Thanks Jason ! If you track down my oldest website you’ll see I’ve been writing about London’s transport for a very long time 😉
@@Robslondon I know mate. I’ve watched your entire output. Just pulling your leg. 😉
😉
happy memories As a young child I used to travel from Crouch End to Carpenters Park to see my Nanna Starting with a single decker 212 bus (TD?) to Finsbury Park Underground 38 Stock ,change at Kings Cross with lifts to Euston then Midland Electric and seeing Bakerloo stock on the way Also having to go by bus to Chalk Farm after the Harrow disaster in 1952
Thanks so much Chris, fascinating memories- and from the area I grew up around too. I knew an old fireman many years ago who was on duty at the Harrow disaster... horrendous.
Nice to see two things I knew and had forgotten. I used Aldwych station when I worked at Bush House in The Strand. At East Ham, The Findlays kiosk as well, I used to buy my NME from there.
Nice comment, thank you 🙂
@@Robslondon an odd thing i also remember from trains as a 70s kid, as the train pulled into the station there was a smell. A pleasant smell, almost sweet.
Great video Rob. I especially liked your mention of Charles Yerkes, general all round bounder and nemesis of Jago Hazzard!
:-)
Outstanding! I didn’t want this to end. Absolutely brilliantly put together and love how you tell the history and find footage. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into all your videos. ❤
And as for chocolate I do remember Marathons and had forgotten Bangos until you had shown it. Happy Days! ❤
Thank you so much Gill for your kind words and continued support, it means a lot to me 😊 Stay well
Thanks so much for doing this video. I visited the museum last year and absolutely loved it - this video brings the museum to life. I'd strongly recommend a visit - I travelled from Glasgow to see it and it was well worth it. I loved the Waterloo and City stock, the 1938 and 1923 tube stock and the trolleybuses in particular.
It’s a pleasure Alasdair, thank you so much for watching,l 😊 Glasgow is one of my favourite cities (my other half is from there) in case you haven’t seen it yet I did a series a while back on the history of the Glasgow Subway; a great wee system 😉 Thanks again and stay well
@@Robslondon Hi Rob - I'm glad you love Glasgow too. I did see your Glasgow Subway video and absolutely loved it. You'll have to come back and film the new trains when they start - I believe there is going to be a changeover period with one circle running with the old train and the other with the new which should be very interesting!
@@AlasdairMacCaluim Cheers Alasdair- always love being in Glasgow; although the new rolling stock seems to be taking forever to appear! Stay well ;-)
Well Rob , you gave us hints of what we could look forward to and you did not fail detailed and interesting from the start. The trams and trolley buses took me back to my childhood
You mentioned the transport museum i was there the day they pulled the Mallard out onto a low loader to take it to Clapham junction from there to be pulled to York, the tender went separately
The iconic Route Master, in the early 1990's I was driving. around London sight seeing tours in Route Masters which had been converted to open top this was with the original hop on hop off bus tours circa 1951. So much interest in this video I hope you did not mind me sharing my memories with
Thanks Butch, brilliant comment- really enjoyed reading that. Stay well
More excellent programming! 👍
Thanks 😉
@@Robslondon 😄
I still like to watch your videos. Very interesting once again. Thanks Robert.👍👍👍😍😍😍
Thanks so much Sharon 😊
I was taken to the Clapham museum as a bairn and it was one of the best days out of my childhood. I enjoyedvisits to many museums but would usually get bored after a couple of hours. We spent the entire day in that place and I still didn't want to leave. York is wonderful, a national treasure, but I preferred the old facility way more atmosphere.
The same is true of the Glasgow version; the old transport museum in Albert Drive was far more fun than the Kelvin Hall replacement. Even 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 has since been moved but sadly each new venue seems to get more sterile, lacking atmosphere. Apparently, we must move with the times but it might be nice if they would leave things alone.😂
What a wonderful comment- and very well said 😉
Rob, your narration as well as being so informative is also so cheerful. I can actually hear you smiling!
Thanks so much Ian, that means a lot to me :-) Stay well.
I spent a day at the Acton shed last September, so your film was a welcome reminder of that. Thanks for all the effort and attention to detail. Bravo!
Thank you so much 😊
I visited the Transport Museum in Covent Garden in the early 1980’s. A pleasant museum, with enough space (and light) for taking pictures. Informative, too. :) As for the storage facility, i have to figue out when they’re open and fly over, I’d love to have a closer look at the old old old Tube & Surface stock! :)
Thanks for the lovely comment Ciel :-) Hope you make it to the depot soon. Stay well.
Excellent! I loved waching it. It covered so much.
Thanks so much Roger, truly appreciate your kind words. Thanks for watching and stay well
I loved Banjo Bars. They were 10p. ❤❤❤❤❤😊
Ha ha! Nice 🙂
You know it never matters what you talk about, these videos rival the best documentaries and are always interesting. Did you train in film or is this something you've just figured out for yourself?
Thank you so much! I didn’t train in film, no…. Just love being creative with London’s history 😉 Couldn’t do it without all of the kind support I receive though. Cheers and stay well
Great video, thanks for sharing.
It’s a pleasure, thanks Stephen
First class video interesting as always. I went to the open day at Acton from my home here near Wakefield in Yorkshire, Train to Kings cross then tube to Acton and back home all in the day long day but well a visit and i am glad I went many years ago i also went to the museum when it was at Syon park and the Covert garden museum is also well worth a visit.
Brilliant comment Tony, thank you. Cheers and stay well.
I'd love ❤️ it there. Very informative video
Thank you ☺️ Hope you get to see it sometime
@@Robslondon Ha! If only I could afford a plane ticket to the UK first
@@user-nl9ib4dk8i You never know ;-)
I missed this vid Rob, was on a canal boat for a week with no Internet 🤣 Absolutely superb museum, right up my street this. I defo need to go here. Fantastic 👏👏👏
Cheers Dave! A week on a canal boat sounds like a lovely idea, hope you had a good time ;-) Stay well mate.
This appeared in my suggestions and I'm so glad it did - great video! I remember going on a school trip to Syon Park in the 70s to see the London Transport Collection. Man, that makes me feel OLD!
Lovely comment: thanks so much for watching 😉
Thanks for a great video Rob. Been on my hit list for a long time to do an Acton depot open day, this will encourage me to bring it further up the priority list of days out!
Thanks Marion! Hope you make it there soon
I arranged the donation of the old mercury arc battery charger that we had and used at the old Two Waters (HH) LT / LCBS Bus Garage to the museum.
They also took some of the old bricks and tiles from the gents' toilets when the garage was being pulled down.
Great museum.
great, very informative thanks. I like watching the secrets of the London Underground on the Yesterday Channel. Hoping (and I think there is going to be - yippee) a third series of it.
Thank you so much Andy!
And yes, that’s an excellent series- Tim Dunn is a gentleman; have you seen the other programme he hosts- The Architecture That Railways Built? Well worth a watch too.
Brilliant video 👌
Thanks Paul 😊
Thanks for another interesting video Rob. I remember the museum in the former Clapham Bus Garage, having been taken there as a small boy. I've been to the LT Museum Depot and it's well worth booking a visit.
Lovely comment Roy, thank you
@@Robslondon The Baker Street Station train indicator board stood in the main concours. It was there from the 1950s until it was replaced by modern screens around the Millennium.
Thanks again John in Chicago
Cheers John
We used to travel up to London in the late 50s and early 60s on the train and Underground to visit family. Happy memories
Beautiful comment Ian, thank you
Thank you from America for such enjoyable information.
It’s a pleasure Trudy, thanks so much for watching 😊
Thank you Rob. My granddad drove busses in London in the 1920’s. Now I know it would have been a K2. I was told during the general strike he had a policeman sitting beside him as he did his journey. As you said the driver, and in that case the policeman also were open to the elements. He was a bus driver in south London for a great many years and things improved greatly for drivers in the second world war. Thank you a lovely video as I’ve never had the chance to visit the depot, only Covent Garden.
Such a lovely comment, thank you!
I kept saying to myself when we got on to the tube trains, '1938? 1938?' as that stock has always been my favourite. Then, lo and behold, there is the wonderful 1938 example and we learn it's also the favourite of our host!!! Just a shout out about Rob's mugs - I bought myself a complete set of the tube mugs and one of the Routemaster mugs and I have to say that they are absolutely brilliant!!!
Oh, thank you so much David! What a lovely comment! And thank you so much too for your custom; it means a lot to me and really does help the channel :-) Cheers, stay well and thanks again!
Visited Covent Garden in 1998. Have much memorabilia from that day including posters and books (which severely endangered our return luggage limits back to Australia!), Acton was then just a twinkle in the eye I think. Favourites from growing up in and around Croydon in the 50s and 60s? The Feltham trams, of which I have vague memories trundling over the bridge at Thornton Heath station when I was just a nipper. The later trolley buses, which used to purr into and out of the interchange at West Croydon. And most of all the trusty RTs, which were more of an icon for me than the Routemasters - and one of which nearly killed me in 1962! Oh, and a particular favourite from Covent Garden - all those superb scale models (of trams especially), any of which I could happily have run off with...
Thanks so much for sharing your memories here Geoff; lovely stuff- really enjoyed reading them 😊 Stay well mate
Lovely documentary.
Thank you so much 😊
Excellent video again Rob, really enjoy watching these little slices of London's history. 👍
It’s a pleasure Tony, thanks
Wonderful memories. I was born in the middle of WW2 and after being bombed in Bromley we moved to Sevenoaks. We had a Green Line service in the 50;s and I think early 60's that ran from Sevenoaks to Windsor. You showed a d/decker bus with an advert for Picture Post and the 2 large eyes. I well remember it seemed every second bus in London had those eyes displayed. Great fun and thanks for the memories.
Alan Bideleux
Such a lovely comment Alan, thanks for sharing your memories
I enjoy using my 60+ card and spend my time exploring this great city with it. Thanks for this video.
It's a pleasure; thanks so much for watching.
I remember catching the AEC Merlins to school. Some of the them had mid doors as well as the front.
They also had machines next to the driver where you could pay your fare, as well as paying the driver directly. I suspect that they were on a trail as after a couple of years the machines stopped working & were eventually removed.
Interesting memories Simon, thanks for sharing
Very, very interesting and superbly put together. My favourite underground cars were the Q27 motor cars on the District Line, and my favourite buses were the open-staircase LTs with the rounded cabs starting at LT50.
Beautiful comment, thank you- and thank you too for the kind words 😊
I was born and brought up in London but left in 1980, and have only been back since for occasional visits. To me the 1938 stock is part of my childhood and teenaged years as I was brought up near Clapham South tube station. I remember encountering the occasional standard stock cars, which even back then felt old fashioned compared with the 1938 stock. I would love to visit but as its only open 3 times a year and I live over 200 miles away now its fairly unlikely. A nice video, well done.
Thanks Mike; lovely comment- enjoyed reading it. Stay well.
Thanks very much, Rob. Very entertaining and a nice bit of London history made available on UA-cam. Personally, I liked the old Victoria Line rolling stock with its reference to Metro Cammell on the door step plates, with historic connections to Cammell Laird ship builders.
Thanks so much Richard, I had no idea about the ship building connection, very interesting
The 1983 tube stock interestingly use large 1970s Dewherst generic lift buttons for the door opening buttons which were also the same buttons that were commonly used in lifts on the Underground network that were installed/modernised in the 1970s/1980s! :)
Fascinating! Had no idea
@@Robslondon
I also first saw the button design in the lifts at Flinders Street station in Melbourne as a kid but it wasn’t until more recently when I found out it was actually a commonly used British Dewhurst button design from the 1970s that was also used into the 1980s! :)
Great video Rob. I didn't even know that depot existed. So many memories of my tube and bus days from the 60's to the early 2000's in London, including all the old adverts! The Met line board was definitely in use during the 70's. I also remember when you could just buy a platform ticket so you could go down and meet or say goodbye. Not that you would ever try and travel on one!! Thanks again for such a well researched and presented video. Lance
Thanks so much Lance; great comment. Stay well.
Wonderful - thank you 😊
Thanks Barbara 😊
Great video! I'm glad this turned up in my suggestions. Thanks also for focusing not just on the buses and rolling stock. I loved seeing the kiosks and ticket machines. Well remember those, and have always loved the design of those news kiosks and ticket booths, so thanks for including them. I think I travelled the network most when I was a kid during the 70s, and my favourite trains have always been the 38 and CO/CP/R stock, especially the CO/CP/R. Love to be able to have a trip on one of those flare sided beauties again! And yep! Well remember Banjo bars coming out, but was more a fan of the Drifter bar myself.
Thanks so much for the kind words; lovely comment and memories 😊 Cheers and stay well.
Hi Rob
I had my robs london trellick tower mug, topped up with tea and had a front row 1st class ticket of the tour.
Being born in the 60's I have taken a ride on an awful lot of the carriages you showed. Wow did it bring back some memories especially the bakerloo line, ye gods the smell of electric motor brushes burning away, and a ride that would quite literally rattle your fillings loose, no HSE them days.
Great video Rob As always
Mike
What a lovely comment Mike, so much- your kind words and memories made my day 😊 Stay well and thanks again
Thanks! I lived in London in the late 1980s.. When I think of the tube, it's in terms of my memories of the stock I used back then, so it's very weird to see those trains in a museum!
Thanks- I know the feeling! 😉
I remember the 1992 Central Line trains caused a massive scandal for London Underground. They had to close down the central line from White City to Bank from December 92 to mid 93.
Interesting, I don't remember that. Cheers.
Should deffo check out the London Bus Museum at Brooklands! Lots of vehicles that were once stored at the Transport Museum Depot.
Cheers Rich; good recommendation. it’s been on my radar for a while but I’ve never been… hope to at some point though for sure
Awesome thanks for sharing 👍🏼 , i was born in 1948 i don't rember the trams . I do rember going on a trolley bus with my dad , we left Clapham jct to Enfield to visit my aunty . I especially remember the RT and of course the Route master . Cheers again , all the best form down under . 👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Great memory Peter, cheers 😉
Q&R stocks were the basis behind the original G-Series rolling stock of the Toronto Subway which were operated between 1954 and 1990
That's fascinating James, I had no idea.... just looking at a picture of one now; yes I can see how similar they are: lovely looking trains! Thanks and stay well.
An excellent and brilliant produced video - Thanks for posting.
Really appreciate your kind words; many thanks 😊
Despite my early days in Sth Ken/Earls Court I am now a Northfields dweller so you were just down the road from me here, and most interesting too.
I always imagine I can remember trams in Putney but I think they were certainly trolley buses... and on the subject of buses i so miss the Routemasters with the open back platform and the two face to face 'sofa' seats at the back and sensible seats to the front, the little nook upstairs at the back over the stairwell and, of course, conductors. I am absolutely convinced that every London double decker bus currently in service was designed by someone who has never been on a bus in their lives.
Thanks Paul and very well said. Since the routemasters were phased out I’ve barely used a bus in London!
This is a very fun video. Thanks!
Thank you 😊
I remember Paul McCartney's music video 'Press' riding the subway car...🎸🎵
Music 🎵😉
Thank you
Thank you Treve
I remember the Standard Stock as feeling cosy inside and because the motors were mounted in carriage compartments, they used to roar through the tunnels like dragons!! 😆👍
Oh!! What a memory Johnny, thanks so much for sharing 😁
London has the most fascinating transport history,well done Rob.
Thank you so much James, stay well.
Very interesting and enjoyable 😉😀👍😊 presentation. I was looking for my old bus 🚌 numbers but didn't see them. I remember some of the buses 🚌 and underground 🚇 trains. It's a shame that this place is only open for 3 times a year. My brother would love it and my dad 👨❤ would have. I want some of the station 🚉 names signs.
Thanks Lesley, a really lovely comment. Stay well 😊
thank you sooooo much! they’d have to drag me kicking and screaming out of there! ❤❤❤❤❤
😅
Hey mate great videos, brings me back to my youth. I'm from Bethnal Green but moved to the States in 1994.
Thanks again 👍
Cheers Hugh; much appreciated and thanks for your great comment. Stay well mate.
Excellent!
Thank you! 🙂
As a child in the 1950s I remember Lancashire United trolley buses and in pretoria trams in 1966 before my return
Nice 😊
@@Robslondon and I used to speak with one of last tram drivers in Bolton he was a waggon driver in the war delivering to Manchester and Liverpool docks during the blitz . He started on trams and trained the tram drivers to drive buses he was well into his 80s when I first met him
Thank you Rob for this fascinating upload. I lived in Chessington, Surrey in the 1960s and was familiar with the red buses. I visited the old Clapham museum on a school trip.
Lovely comment Mark, thanks for sharing your memories
Banjo bars were delicious but my fondest memories are reserved for the nestle chocolate bar machines on train platforms and stations in the 1960’s, I would love to own one.
I will be sharing this film with my son, I think he would like to visit the museums extra vehicles not at Covent Garden.
Thanks so much Kerry ☺️ I remember those machines too, they always seemed to be stuck!
Excellent
Thanks Ian
Tremendous stuff again Rob loved it!
Thank you so much John 😊
Thank you for your content .
I've always been interested in the London underground and one day, plan to visit.
Thanks again.
Thank you so much 😊
@@Robslondon You are so welcomed.
I appreciate your efforts on the subject matter.
I can tell how passionate you are about the Evolution of the Underground.
Lovely stuff Rob. Great to see all the old transport stock.
Thank you Paul 😊
Brilliant! and really interesting for a busman who loves transport history especially the London Underground.
Cheers David, really appreciate your kind words. Stay well
Often rode the 38 stock to Burnt oak and Edgware. At Edgware would see the single decker TD's on route 240 to Totterridge before being taken over by the RF's. The red RF's never had doors fitted like there green country bus and the greenline counterparts
edgware
Interesting, thanks John
Very good.
Thanks
Only ever traveled once on the R stock trains in 1976.
5he next time i ever saw an R stock train was on You Tube!
😄
I love this video, I am an absolute nerd for old vehicles. My personal favoruite was hands-down the B-Type, if you're ever going to do a video about The Imperial War Museum, there is another B-Type : affectionally nick-named "Old Bill" there. I can't wait to see what videos you will produce in the future.
Great comment, many thanks! I do hope to cover more museums, the RAF Museum being a personal favourite. Thanks again for the kind words and stay well.
@@Robslondon Thank you so much for the friendly response!
You're very welcome!@@lordbarristertimsh8050
Great video, didn't know about the 3 open days. I have a large collection of ticket machines and punches including London transport dating back to the early days of LCCT up to the first electric machines after the Gibson.
I think I have all the decades covered including some that where trield but didn't see much service. So a visit is on the list.
Thanks again,
Brilliant comment, thanks 😊
Thanks for this video. I now live in the USA so it is most unlikely that I'll ever see these items again. Several of them are indeed memories for me as well. Again... Thanks.
Lovely comment Brian, thank you so much. Stay well
The met line board still has missenden on it. That indicates that it was commissioned before the early 1960s when the met line was cut back to Amersham.
Interesting, thank you Chao Chi
Super Rob one of your best yet,quite like these longer video’s and don’t mind waiting,take care and see you soon 👍👍
Thanks so much Nicholas 😉 Stay well
Great detailed information on so many historical London transport items...
Thanks 😊