1938 Stock variations

Last week I visited the Isle of Wight for a day riding on heritage trains, the steam line and the old LT 38 stock.

Its a few years since I visited and the fleet has had an overhaul and repaint back into original LT colours.

When I went back through my photo collection I realised I had photographed most of the livery variations used on the 38's so I thought I would post them here

The original Livery with the window bars painted cream, many of the last units used on the Northern Line also had this livery variation to mark the end of service

This is the preserved Unit seen in 1996 at Cockfosters Depot

This is the more conventional livery seen on the vehicle preserved at the LT Museum at Covent Garden

Some units were used by the engineers and received yellow livery

This is the weedkilling unit which was taken out out service a couple of years ago but still survives at West Ruislip Depot

And now for something completely different, The tunnel cleaning train.

A heavily converted 38 stock has been turned into what is basically a giant vacuum cleaner.

Like the weedkiller was withdrawn a few years ago as the job is now done using a few modified wagons.

These are the last 38's still owned by the Underground

The Isle of Wight

 When the 38's were first taken over to the Island they had been given a full overhaul at Eastleigh and recived Network South East Livery.

When the NSE livery was getting a little shabby it was given a pale blue with dinosaur graphics, as many dinosaurs have been found on the island over the years.

For me personally I didn't like it and it cheapened the look of the classic 38's

Bringing us up to date is the original livery.

A few years ago the the Dino livery faded rather quickly and one set was painted in London Transport red allbeit with a yellow warning panel to comply with todays regulations.

It was planned for the fleet to have different liveries from various companies I.e. Southern and BR but this never emerged and the lot were pained LT red 

One unit which was never mentioned on the Island was the spares train.

The Idea was if a spare body shell was need they had two to chose from but these were stripped for spares in 1991 when the fleet was reduced in size. 

A bit of a sad ending is unit 001.

When the fleet was reduced by half in the 90's the best vehicles were kept and the rest were kept for spares.

001 is seen in the grave yard having been partially stripped of spares and was later cut up