BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting historical look at the old "MET" (Metropolitan Railway; the oldest underground railway in the world); steam and electric power was utilized over the years......

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/transport/metropolitan-line

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another interesting historical page on "The Met"

Note, also, the photo of the experimental electric MU train that ran in 1900; there are a number of rare photos, advertisements, and maps on this page as well......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Railway

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here in New York, the "Circle Line" refers to the world-famous sightseeing boat operation; in London, however, it refers to a sub-surface Underground line.....

https://railtransportinlondon.fandom.com/wiki/London_Underground_Circle_Line

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Today, London's sub-surface Underground lines are served by the modern "S7" and "S8" stock; this type of equipment would be more along the lines of the rolling stock used on the former BMT/IND routes here in New York.

As you can see, this stock is much larger and roomier than the rolling stock used on the deep-level Tube lines.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_S7_and_S8_Stock

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Though it is difficult to believe that Pullman services were once even remotely connected with London's Underground, electric* Pullman service was offered on the "Met" from 1910 to 1939........

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/photographs/item/1998-88235

*(Note the center-of-track contact rail, used instead of the usual third rail; this practice was commonplace on the Underground, as well as in Great Britain)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://districtdavesforum.co.uk/thread/15992/metropolitan-pullman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Railway_electric_multiple_units

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just like the main-line British railways of the era, "compartment" stock was once commonplace on the early Underground.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_carriages

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting (illustrated) historical/information page on the old Central London Railway..........


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_London_Railway

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London Underground rolling stock (summaries, dimensions, measurements, etc.).......

www.trainweb.org/tubeprune/Dimensions.htm#Dimensions

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London Underground coaching stock (coaches hauled by steam or electric power).....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_coaching_stock

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

London "straphangers".....

From about 1900 onwards, leather straps for standees became commonplace on Underground stock; by the 1920's, metal/leather straps came into use.

The 1938 Stock introduced ceiling-mounted, spring-type grips, that were dubbed "gear level knob on a chain insert".

These "grips" were used on all new new Underground stock through 1983.

Just as straps are no longer used on NY subways, the time-honored "grips", once so commonplace in London, have likewise vanished......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This 2003 photo, taken just beyond the Metropolitan Line's platforms at Rayners Lane, gives one an excellent comparison between a sub-surface train and a deep-level Tube train.

The Tube train looks almost toylike in comparison.

Also, note the old-style British conductor rails.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23597

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another interesting "comparison" view, taken at Amersham station in 2013.

On the left, we see an older model "sub-surface" train standing alongside a new train of "Overground" stock, whose design hints at "deep-level" Tube equipment.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140226

(Courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A magnificent machine indeed is restored "METROPOLITAN" electric locomotive #12, "SARAH SIDDONS", here seen at Aversham on an special excursion run, back in 2002.

Back in the 1920's and 1930's, the famed British toy train-maker HORNBY made this handsome electric locomotive in tinplate, for both three-rail electric and mechanical operation.

Needless to say, these once-commonplace toys are rare collectors's items today.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24266

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This photo shows a beautifully-restored train of the 1938 Tube stock on a 2013 fantrip

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140227

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

These handsome trains were indeed "London's Redbirds"; the last were not retired until the early 1980's.

Note the unusual arrangement of the marker lights beneath the destination sign; markers such as this became commonplace during the 1920's, the 1959 Stock marked the first time that "modern" tube stock had dispensed with end marker lights.

Though marker lights on the older equipment continued to be used for some time afterwards, the closure of most signal boxes (towers) led to the disuse of markers on the Tube, when centralised control/command center saw the closing of all signal boxes (except for the box at Park Lane, used for shunting moves) by 1976......