Collections close up: Metropolitan Railway coach, 1900

The Metropolitan Railway coach in our collection, dating from 1900 and numbered 400, was one of a group of coaches designed to be hauled by steam locomotives on the Metropolitan Railway’s 80km (50 mile) extension north of Baker Street. 

Built in Birmingham by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Company, it was converted to electric working in 1921. It was changed back to steam operation in 1939 for the shuttle service to Chesham, where it stayed until the line was finally electrified in 1960.
 

Early Metropolitan Railway coaches had long wooden bodies mounted on a fixed iron frame. Unlike the Underground, there were three classes of travel. First-class and second-class compartments had upholstered seating, but third-class passengers had to sit on plain wooden benches. 

As the Metropolitan Railway’s line extended above ground from Baker Street out to Buckinghamshire, the longer journeys needed a smoother ride, and more comfortable coaches were developed. They were known as ‘Bogie stock’ to distinguish them from the Met’s earlier rigid wheelbase carriages. The main bodywork is timber, constructed mostly of teak, and varnished. This was common at the time – many considered it sacrilege to cover such fine joinery with paint.

The Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron Company of Manchester supplied most of the carriages in the batch. But one set of six coaches, including this one, was built by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Company in Birmingham.

This coach was designed for comfort on long journeys on the Metropolitan Railway’s long extension from central London northwest through the Chiltern Hills. 

Instead of running on wheels attached to a rigid underframe like older stock, the coach has a swivelling steel bogie under both ends. Each bogie houses two pairs of wheels. It can both turn on curves and flex up and down on its springs, to give a much more comfortable ride.

When built the coach had seven second-class compartments, each with moquette seating, battery-powered electric lighting and steam heat.

This coach was built in 1900 in Birmingham, for the steam services from Baker Street to the Chilterns. In 1921 it was converted to electric working on the Met’s Uxbridge branch. A driving cab replaced one end compartment, and the rest were downgraded to third-class. 

In 1939 the coach was converted again, with remote controls fitted that connected to a steam locomotive, on the shuttle service between Chalfont & Latimer and Chesham. It was withdrawn in July 1960, when the line was electrified. Three of the four coaches used on the service were sold, with this one preserved. 

The exterior was restored to its teak appearance of the 1920s, but with the 1939 control equipment retained. For display in the Museum the compartments represent three different time periods: one second-class compartment as built in 1900, one a ‘ladies only’ compartment from 1929 and four third-class compartments from the 1950s.

This vehicle, and a larger selection of this content, is on display at the Museum.

Look at the Museum Guide, plan a visit, book a ticket.