London Underground A60 and A62 Stock - Development and Introduction

Development and Introduction

The core design of the A Stock was formulated by W S Graff-Baker of the London Passenger Transport Board as part of the electrification of the Metropolitan Line from Rickmansworth to Amersham and Chesham under the 1935–1940 New Works Programme. The project was delayed by the events of World War II and the lack of funds available during the austerity period after the war: however, in 1946 two experimental trailers similar in exterior appearance to the production trains were built using underframes of the T Stock. The trailers were scrapped when the trials concluded.

When electrification commenced in 1959, London Transport placed an order for 31 trains, later known as the A60 Stock to replace the T Stock on the services to Watford and the locomotive hauled services to destinations north of Rickmansworth. The first A Stock units (5004 and 5008) entered passenger service beginning with the Watford service in June 1961. The Amersham/Chesham services began later that year. London Transport later ordered a further 27 trains, which became known as the A62 Stock. This second batch were introduced between 1961–63 to replace the F and P Stocks on the Uxbridge service. Both batches were built by Cravens of Sheffield. By December 1963, the roll-out was complete.

The trains were designated as the A Stock to mark the electrification of the Metropolitan Line to Amersham. The A Stock was also used on the East London Line (then a branch of the Metropolitan Line) between June 1977 to April 1985, May 1987 to 24 March 1995 and from 25 March 1998 until the line closed permanently on 22 December 2007. It is now part of the London Overground network.