London Transport Museum Depot
Branch visit to London Transport Museum Depot at Acton – Monday 11th August 2008
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| 1938 Tube Stock car 11012 |
A group of 12 Society members met outside Acton Town station at 11:45 before crossing the road and walking up the drive to the London Transport Museum adjacent to Ealing Common District Line depot for a visit which was to start at 12:00.
On arrival we were shown into a meeting room and after a safety briefing we were introduced to our four volunteer guides. We were split into two groups and set off to view the contents of the museum.
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| Departmental Sleet Locomotive ESL107 |
In the Poster store we had the opportunity to look at a large number of London Transport posters throughout the ages along with Bus and Tube maps going back many years. In the artefacts store we were shown around showcases ranging from models through uniforms to sports and first aid trophies and a large collection of cutlery and crockery. In the drawers were further fascinating collections from tube station wall tiles to gauging tools, signs and bus stop route number plates.
In the main museum area we saw lift machinery and bus engines before being shown around a large collection of signs, station roundels and maps. Some of the signs go back many years, for example showing when stations were renamed to modern station name boards from the Docklands Light Railway.
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| No: 12 Sarah Siddons |
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| Trolleybus 1768 |
Over in the road transport section we saw a vast range of buses from the solid tyred K class right up to the Leyland Titan of 1980s vintage and an Optare Minibus used at the introduction of the Roundabout services in Orpington. There were also a couple of trams and trolleybuses and some LT service vehicles and examples of modern London Taxis.
A question from the other group led to the guides searching some artefacts out, and at this point both groups recombined to be shown what was left of a circular escalator that was found at the bottom of a lift shaft during renewal work. Whether there are enough components to enable a working example to be recreated only time will tell, as little is known about its construction and operation.
All too soon our visit had come to an end and we left the museum having had a wonderful insight into the restoration work of London’s transport heritage.
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| NS1995 and K424 |
Our thanks go to all the Volunteer guides who gave of their time to show us around and give us such an informative visit.
If you have not visited this museum before look out for the Public Open days that are held over several weekends each year.
Steve Ollive
Chairman, Windsor & Maidenhead branch
11/08/08