London Underground O Stock

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O Stock / P Stock
Manufacturer	GRC&W BRC&W
In Service	1937-1981
Length per car	49'
Width	9' 8 3/8"
Height	11' 9 1/2"
Weight	35.75 tons
Seating	42

Originally the red coloured CO / CP / COP trains were painted in dark red and featured gilt coloured (with black edging) lettering. In 1973 the policy was changed so that when repainted 'bus' red with white lettering was used instead. This image shows the two variants side by side.

Inside a red P Stock train. The internal doorways (without doors) date from when the District line included provision for 1st class pasengers: 1st class was split into two sections (smoking and non-smoking) and the rest of the carriage was for 3rd class passengers. 1st class was abolished in 1940 as a war-time economy.

Inside a COP trailer. Note the decorative 'half moon' shaped glass on some of the seat backs.

A end DM car O (CO) stock.

D end DM car O (CO) stock.

The O and P Stock was built for the Metropolitan Line and Hammersmith & City Line in 1937-1940 by Gloucester RC&W and Birmingham RC&W. In all there were 262 driving motors (DM) and 103 trailers. The trailers were constructed to the same physical design as the DM's, with provision for the fitting out of a driving cab at one end of the car, although while used as a trailer the the unused cab doors were locked closed.

The O stock was built for the Hammersmith & City service and the P stock for the Metropolitan Line service to Uxbridge, although initially some worked on the District Line's Putney Bridge to Edgware Road service. The guards position on the O stock DM's was in the cab, this being a continuation of a policy of the former Metropolitan Railway. As a contrast, the guards' position on the P stock was at the trailing end of the DM's, following the practise of the District Line (and the tube lines).

[edit] History

As built the units had Metadyne equipment, being classifed as O Stock and P Stock. The units were originally built as two-car sets, but an intermediate trailer was later added.

Starting in 1955 the Metadyne equipment was removed from the DMs and was replaced with PCM equipment. Cars that were convereted were renumbered from 1xxxx to 5xxxx and reclassified with a C (meaning Converted) before the O or the P.

The last examples were replaced in 1981, when the new batch of C77 Stock entered service.

[edit] War time losses

During World War II several cars were lost as a result of bombing by the Luftwaffe.

14199 (O stock DM) was destroyed at Neasden on 27 September 1940, 13036, 14042, 14049 (all O stock DM), 13229, 14229 (all P Stock DM), 014080 (O stock trailer) at Moorgate station on 29 December 1941, and 14263 (P stock DM) at Baker Street in 10 May 1941 .

To make up for the number of 'D' end DMs (14xxx) cars destroyed three 'D' end trailer cars were rebuilt into DMs. These were 014270 - 014272 which were renumbered 14270 - 14272 when converted.

During the war 'D' end DM 14233 was damaged during bombing of Neasden depot, with one end of the car being destroyed. Instead of the car being scrapped one end of Q38 Stock trailer 013167 (which had been badly damaged when a bomb hit Plaistow station) was used to rebuild 14233. The DM returned to service, being renumbered 54233 in 1963, and was eventually preserved.

[edit] P1 Stock

Six 'A' end P stock DMs, numbered 13264 - 13269, were not fitted with any guards controls, which were fitted on other P stock DMs. These six cars, designated P1 Stock, were used on the through Uxbridge - Barking service in the 1930s and 1940s. Guards controls were fitted in the 1960s when the Metadyne equipment was replaced by PCM equipment, and the six cars were redesignated P stock.

[edit] Numbering

As built the numbers were as follows:

Cars 13264 - 13269 were designated P1 stock

[edit] Preservation

One complete unit, and a driving motor have been preserved.

Vehicles 53028 and 013063 are CO Stock, and 54233 and 54256 are CP Stock.

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