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The
origins of Cravens Heritage Trains go back to 1994 when the
Cravens Preservation Group was formed in order to save the 3-car 1960 tube stock unit
which had operated the final day's services on the Epping to Ongar section of the Central
Line on September 30th of that year. The Group took its name from the builder of the
unit's two driving motor cars - Cravens Limited of Sheffield. Sufficient funds were quickly raised to enable the purchase of the Cravens unit to proceed and subsequently a 4-car 1962 tube stock unit was also purchased. This latter unit had run on the Central Line until replaced by current 1992 stock. In early 1997 the name of the group was changed to Cravens Heritage Trains to better reflect the group's widened scope in actively pursuing the acquisition of other historic Underground rolling stock, when it becomes available. The 1960 Cravens units had originally been built as prototypes. To replace the pre-war 'Standard' stock, then operating on the Central Line. However, due to the rapid decline in serviceability of the `Standard' stock and the increase in passenger numbers following the Eastern Region electrification works, it was decided that there was no time to thoroughly test the new design. |
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Consequently the 1962 stock, |
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| Here then is the historic connection between the two units we presently own. Our Cravens unit is stabled at London Underground's Ruislip Depot in West London where, in 1997, it was given a complete external repaint by Cravens Heritage Trains ' members. It re-entered service on Sunday 27th July 1997 by operating the Metropolitan Line Passenger timetable on the Chalfont to Chesham branch. The Cravens unit thereby became the first privately-owned train to operate a scheduled passenger service on the London Underground system for some 64 years! The operation was repeated on Sunday l7th August. | ||
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In September 1997 an all-day tour on the Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Hammersmith and City and District Lines was successfully completed. The unit has also featured in the `Steam on the Met' celebrations, has appeared at Stanmore Open Days and has operated successful railtours over other parts of the system, many of which never see tube gauge rolling stock in passenger service. | |
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1962 stock unit is at Hainault Depot, at the eastern end of the Central Line,
where it is undergoing internal and external refurbishment. For London Underground's internal purposes the two units owned by Cravens Heritage Trains are classed as part of their Heritage Fleet. London Underground supply the necessary operating staff for the trains when they are running on their lines. Cravens Heritage Trains members who wish to take part in the refurbishment and maintenance of the units attend a Safety Course run by London Underground to obtain the necessary Depot Pass - these courses take place on an `as required' basis. |
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For more information
email
Bob Yeldham at or try their
own web site at
or if you are looking for the
Epping-Ongar Railway then try
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Cravens Heritage Trains is sponsored by Bywaters Recycling and Waste Management. Please call Bywaters
on 0181-558 1141 for your recycling and waste management needs UndergrounD roundel © London Transport
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