For those who have yet to encounter it, the SouthernRailwayFilms channel on Youtube has a veritable treasure-trove of videos related to the history of the old Southern Railway Company.
The Waterloo & City line was, of course, not technically part of the London Underground for some time. Originally constructed for the London & South Western to connect Waterloo to the City across the river, it was taken over by Southern in 1923 and did not officially become part of the Underground until privitisation in the 1990s.
For a long time, it had a single connection to the mainline railway – an Armstrong Lift located next to the main Waterloo terminus where the old Eurostar terminal is now. The first video below shows this lift in action, with it being used as part of the process to remove the old 1898 Jackson and Sharp wooden rolling stock and replace it with the new 1940 stock built by English Electric (Class 487s to their friends).
Ultimately, the 487s would have an impressively long life. They would remain in service until 1992, when the line would receive the current 1992 stock. The second video, below, shows the 487s and the Armstrong Lift towards the end of both their service lives.
The sight of an Underground train in British Rail colours will certainly seem strange to anyone born after about 1985, but helps demonstrate that London Transport (and its governance) has always been an ever-changing beast. Indeed its tempting to wonder what comes next – perhaps future generations will find the idea of London suburban services in non-Overground colours equally bizarre.
When I first used The Drain (prior to 1992) the stock had lovely old leather seats and appeared quite nostalgic.
I have been trying to find photos of the interiors to show my wife as she hates the newer stock. No luck so far… so if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Adrian,
There are some illustrations of interiors here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_487
and here
http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class487.html
and here:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=thedrain
Detailed history of stock (no photos) here:
http://www.bloodandcustard.com/wc001.html
With reference to various posters 3 years ago, on new build London tunnelling projects the datum (on the Jubilee and Crossrail which I worked on) was set at 100 metres below ODN. This was to ensure that all levels used in construction were positive.
@Adrian
I can’t find any illustrations suggesting the 1940 W&C stock had leather seat, – although they were much softer and bouncier than the current planks-with-carpet. The the only mention of the 1898 stock seats that I can find suggests they were wooden.
http://www.bloodandcustard.com/wc001.html
states rexine coverings, succeeded by moquette
Actually states “As new, seats were trimmed in surplus ‘Bournemouth Limited’ material identical to that used in loco-hauled coaches recently built or overhauled for use on that line”
It was the “Interior panelling [which] was covered in cotton-rexine”
And for those interested in more video of the line in operation in 1992, there’s this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzcrAnf-bwE
Includes interior views especially towards the end.
I was watching a dvd waterloo & City Line past & present
waterloo & City Line network southeast 1940-1992.
You be amazing seening the 1940 stock at acton depot weekend
23rd to 24th september
It’s sad that the YouTube channel has been suspended due “to alleged copyright infringements”