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London Transport Museum and the London Transport Museum Friends are committed to a joint project to restore to operational condition the Q-stock Underground cars currently stored at The Museum Depot at Acton.
The Q-stock restoration plans are part of a wider joint project to support the conservation and operation of Heritage Underground Trains generally. The Friends provided most of the funding for the restoration of the Museum's four-car 1938 tube stock set, which now operates special runs for the public at weekends. The dates and booking details for these trips are usually advertised on the Museum's website: http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/
The four Q-stock cars currently on display in unrestored condition at Acton date from 1923-1938 and are typical of trains operated on the District and East London Lines up to their withdrawal in the early 1970s. The cars are:
- 4416/17: Driving motor cars built in 1938, withdrawn from passenger service in 1972 and later used on engineers' trains
- 08063: An unpowered trailer car built in 1936 It was withdrawn from passenger service in 1971 and presented to the Museum in 1997 by the London Underground Railway Society whose members had undertaken some restoration of this car
- 4184: A driving motor car dating from 1923, withdrawn in 1971 and later displayed outside the factory where it was built in Gloucester
Initial project planning work on the Q-stock restoration was funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2005.
It is now proposed to take forward the restoration plans in a two-stage project. The London Transport Museum Friends already have significant funding available, from a substantial bequest, from other reserves and from recent, generous donations and pledges. In total, these sums amount to near £400,000.
Using this money, the Friends believe that they can make an early start towards restoring the four Q-stock cars to what is called "static museum standard plus". This initial stage of work would aim to restore the cars to display condition, internally and externally above the solebars. It would also include any additional attention to mechanical and electrical items within and beneath the bodywork that is sensibly done now, to avoid any work being done twice when further funds are available for a full restoration to operational condition. This extra work is the "plus" factor.
A full technical specification for the first stage of the restoration work was completed in 2008. A detailed audit of the cars and their equipment has also been undertaken, along with a photographic record of the cars in their unrestored state. The next stage- moving the cars to Acton Works for work to start on the first stage of restoration, including the removal of asbestos- took place in early September 2009. This first stage of restoration work should be completed by Spring 2010, after which the cars will return to the Museum's Acton Depot, where they will again be on public display. It is the Friends' intention to involve volunteers in as much of the restoration work as possible.
Support this project
Restoration of all four Q-stock cars to operational condition remains the ultimate objective. Committing now to "static plus" is a positive move in that direction. An operational restoration will require considerable further funding, currently estimated at £1.6 million, from external sources. Fundraising plans are being put in place to achieve this, drawing on the expertise of a number of senior transport industry figures and other interested parties.
If you would like to support the project financially, by a one-off donation or regular payments, please download our donation form.
If you would like to volunteer your expertise in support of Q-stock restoration, please download the volunteers form.
It remains the Friends' intention to involve volunteers in as much of the restoration work as possible. If you would like to get involved, please contact Paul Hopper, the Friends' Project Manager, by email at qstock@hotmail.co.uk; or by post to:
London Transport Museum Friends
39 Wellington Street
London
WC2E 7BB