D Stock Farewell Railtour - Interior Photographs

The withdrawal of the D Stock also signifies the end of hopper windows on the Underground. Originally, there were no plans to include windows that opened on the D Stock; however, they were installed as a modification early in the fleet’s life, owing to the saloons becoming unbearably hot in the summer months.

Sadly, while time stands still for the D Stock, the pace of life continues relentlessly outside the door.

Detail of the lower style of grab rail connector. These were re-used when the trains were refurbished, although the prototype refurbishment unit saw them replaced.

The upper connectors are also original.

Still at High Street Kensington, this view is looking towards (what will become) the back of the train.

This roundel is incorporated into the railings surrounding the end of platform 4.

Although they look very similar, the Central London Tube maps differ slightly depending on the type of train to which they are fitted, owing to differences in available space.

This particular type of map will never be seen again.

The original slatted maple wood floor was replaced with a vinyl covering as part of the Stock’s refurbishment. Understandably, the colour green features in the colouring of the new flooring.

Flooring of a similar pattern, but with a black background, was installed in door vestibule areas, as a way of enabling visually-impaired people to distinguish the locations of the doors.

A further visual enhancement is the existence of a bright yellow strip between the flooring and the tread plate.

New handgrips were added to the transverse seating as another feature of the refurbishment.

The green grab poles are a feature that has not been continued with the replacement S7 Stock trains.

The D Stock fleet was the first Surface Stock on the Underground to be equipped with scrolling LED dot-matrix indicator displays. These were also added during refurbishment.

One of the imposing platform roundels at Earl’s Court, which also doubles up as a seat.

By comparison, this roundel at Barons Court, on the wall opposite the platform, is not quite as ornamental. Then again, as a baron carries a lower ranking than an earl does in British nobility, this is to be expected!

The saloon lighting comprises a v-shaped diffuser, with the side facing the side of the train being open, and the side facing towards the middle of the train being diffused. Previously, bare fluorescent lamps were positioned at approximately the same position, though they were of the slightly wider "T12" diameter, whereas the new lighting uses thinner "T8"-sized lamps. Prior to refurbishment, there were no overhead grab poles; instead, sprung bobble hangers were suspended from the ceiling. The new grab bars weave inwards over seats, and outwards over doors.

The internal-facing sides of the doors were painted charcoal grey upon refurbishment. Originally, they were bright orange (which, ironically, would have made them stand out considerably to a visually-impaired person!). The tops of the door pillars were brown, whilst the pillars themselves were slightly patterned cream Formica. Notice the new cable brackets installed on the wall at High Street Kensington.

Adjacent the centre doors are two seats designed to cater for only a single occupant - I call these the "Billy No-Mates" seats, and yes; this was my seat for the tour!

Refurbishment also saw the introduction of tip-up seating to the D Stock; the idea being that wheelchairs and pushchairs could be situated in this area.

The windows of the future are seen through the windows of the past.

A Second World War pillbox is still extant at the southern end of Putney Bridge’s platform 2. By the time that the tour occurred, platform 2 had been changed to a through platform (it had previously been a bay but was decommissioned after C Stock services ceased - these being the only Surface Stock trains of recent years that could be accommodated in it) and the original southbound through platform 3 (joined to platform 2) was abandoned.

Car 8007 was an Uncoupling Non-Driving Motor Car (UNDM), which meant that it contained basic driving controls that allowed the full unit (7007-17007-8007) to be driven from this end, rather than the cab. Of course, this activity was limited to depots and other non-passenger areas. With the installation of end windows to the cars as another feature of the D Stock refurbishment, the shunting controls required slight relocation. An interesting video revealing the controls can be seen by clicking here.

Overall view of the car during our lunch break at Northfields.

Two eras of platform roundels at Northfields.

Hinged panels secure the advertisement posters. These are magnetic, and simply pull forward, in order to release the posters.

The historical train describers at Earl’s Court; still in operation in 2017, following restoration a few years previously.

Passing the disused outer platform at South Kensington , on the long eastbound journey to Upminster via Plaistow and the West Ham siding.

Passing the very-much-still-in-use eastbound platform at West Ham.

The train terminated at the bay platform at Plaistow. From there, it headed back westbound for a short distance, where it would reverse in the West Ham siding and continue to Upminster.

One of the Earl’s Court describers again; this time, seen heading westbound to Ealing Broadway.