London Underground L Stock

L Stock
In service	1931–1971
Manufacturer	UCC
Specifications
Car length	49 ft 8 in (15.14 m)
Width	8 ft 11+5⁄16 in (2,726 mm)
Height	12 ft 3+1⁄2 in (3,746 mm)
Weight	34.08 long tons (34.63 t; 38.17 short tons)
Seating	42
Notes/references
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London Underground L Stock was a clerestory-roofed rail stock built for the District line in 1932 and subsequently absorbed into the London Underground Q Stock, being redesignated Q31 Stock.

History

The L Stock trains were built to provide additional rolling stock for the eastward extension of the District Line from Barking to Upminster.^[1] Two new electrified tracks were added parallel to the existing steam-operated LMS lines, including several new stations such as Upminster Bridge.

Forty-five cars were built by the Union Construction Company, eight were driving motor cars and the rest were trailers. An innovation for surface stock was the provision of a sliding door at the guard's position.^[1] The eight motor cars, numbered 700-714 (even numbers only), were initially owned by the London Midland and Scottish Railway.^[2]

The L Stock was based on the 1927 K Stock.

Fate

The conversion from L Stock to Q31 Stock took place in the late 1930s, with the major modifications being the conversion of the hand-operated sliding doors to air operation and the provision of electro-pneumatic brakes.^[3] The last Q Stock trains were withdrawn in 1971.

References

1. Bruce, J Graeme (1983). Steam to Silver (Fully revised ed.). Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport. p. 88. ISBN 0-904711-45-5.
2. Bruce, J Graeme (1983). Steam to Silver (Fully revised ed.). Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport. p. 89. ISBN 0-904711-45-5.
3. Bruce, J Graeme (1983). Steam to Silver (Fully revised ed.). Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport. p. 96. ISBN 0-904711-45-5.