London Banter - View Single Post - Last unpainted D Stock (last "silver" Underground train)

Colin Rosenstiel · January 11th 08, 05:26 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article
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() wrote:

The last unrefurbished D Stock train is scheduled to operate on the
District Line on 21st February 2007. This will bring to an end the era
of unpainted aluminium UndergrounD trains which first began in 1949
(and also on the District Line with the R49 Stock).

Workings should be as train 106 ex-Upminster Depot at 16:08 and
finishing at Ealing Common Depot at 00:33.

The "silver" UndergrounD train was seen as the future in the late-40s,
perhaps almost space age; alas brought down by the importation of New
York-style graffiti crime in the 1980s.

Shame! In fact the first unpainted train entered service in 1952. The
original trial was of just one R49 car. I don't think that was as early
as 1949 either. The R stock is another case of the years in the stock
codes representing more aspiration than fact. The programme to switch all
R stock trains to silver (mostly painted) wasn't completed until 1965.

--
Colin Rosenstiel