1962 Tube Stock
The mainstay of the Central Line fleet from the early 1960’s until its replacement by the 1992 Tube Stock in the mid-nineties. Originally the plan was to re-equip the line with the newly developed 1960 Tube stock, but time did not permit full evaluation of the stock as the existing Standard was struggling to deliver the required service. To maintain a satisfactory level of service, deliveries of 1959 Tube Stock were diverted from the intended Piccadilly Line to support the Central Line operations. These trains were seven cars and to complete an eight-car train required for the Central Line, an additional 57 Non-Driving Motor Cars were ordered from Metro Cammell.
The decision was taken to place a follow-on order of almost identical trains designated 1962 Tube Stock for the Central Line. Tenders were invited to supply and Birmingham Railway and Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) together with British Railways Workshops Derby were selected to manufacture the new stock. In early 1961 BRCW was placed into Receivership and their portion of the order was assigned to Metro Cammell.
In almost all aspects the 1962 Tube Stock was identical to its 1959 forebear. Traction motors and braking systems were almost same, with minor modifications to the brake control valves. A useful innovation was the incorporation of solid-state voltage regulation and rectification systems, similar in design to the 1960 Tube Stock, replacing the carbon type used before.
This was a period when engineering conservatism dominated senior management thinking and the linage back to the iconic 1938 Tube Stock is evident, albeit with developments in suspension and lighting and control circuits.
February 1995 saw the conclusion of Central Line operations with a few units transferred to the Northern Line prior to the introduction of the 1995 Tube Stock. Some still operate in departmental service today and one unit is owned by Cravens Heritage Trains Limited pending restoration.