Cravens Heritage Trains

History
In the early years of London's Underground rolling stock overhaul was carried out at individual depots. However after the First World War it was decided to concentrate car overhaul at a single location. Opened in 1923 Acton Works occupied a 50 acre site just to the south of Acton Town station on the District and Piccadilly lines.

An electric shunting locomotive was built for the works by cutting two cars of Hampstead stock in half and joining the driving/motor ends back-to-back. The resulting double ended loco was numbered L10. This locomotive survived until 1978.

In 1964 a replacement locomotive was constructed by the same method, this time from 2 cars of Standard Stock, 3080 and 3109 and numbered L11. Air reservoirs and brake valves were removed from the underframe and placed in the former passenger compartment. The four traction motors were retained. The Acton end of the loco was fitted with couplers at both tube and surface stock height and a special window in the cab door for improved visibility when shunting. The loco was fitted with sanding gear for hauling stock up the steep gradient to Acton Town station and painted maroon. Like other stock in the engineer's fleet it was painted yellow in the early 1980s.

From 1974 shunting at Acton was also carried out by L13A/B, a pair of 1938 TS DMs.

In the late 1980s train overhaul once again became the responsibility of the depots. The declining workload at Acton meant that the locomotive was no longer required. We have been unable to establish the date that the locomotive was last used. However, L11 was transferred to Ruislip depot on 22 June 1989. It returned to Acton for storage in 1991 joining and was officially transferred to the LU Heritage Fleet in 1993.

L11 at Acton Works in July 2002. The loco was originaly protected by a tarpaulin but this had become detached by 2002!

The dual level couplings and low level window are clearly visible.

The Preservation Plan
During the 1990s other vehicles in the heritage fleet were also stored at Acton, including some of the Standard Stock cars that returned from the Isle of Wight in 1990. A number of pilot motors and personnel carriers withdrawn from service stock were also earmarked for the heritage fleet. However by 2002 the future of these vehicles was uncertain; the space they occuppied was required for other uses while their condition continued to deteriorate.

Other Standard Stock stored at Acton includes service stock pilot motors and cars returned from the Isle of Wight. The poor condition of some of the cars is clear

In the summer of 2002 L11 was inspected by a group of CHTL members. Despite time spent in the open air and some graffiti the condition of L11 was generally good. Following discussion by members at the 2002 AGM it was agreed that CHTL would seek to place L11 on static display adjacent to Epping Signal Cabin.

Following several months of discussions and preparation of the site it was possible to confirm a loan agreement with London Underground in March 2004 and begin making arrangements to move the loco.

The Move
The night of 14th/15th April was selected for the move with departure expected around 2130. Engineering Services were chosen as haulier having vast experience of this type of work. The assistance of the Emergency Response Unit had been secured in case of difficulties moving the locomovtive - it had not moved for many years and the wheels and breaks were locked solid.

The event was recorded by a film crew from Mosaic Films. Mosaic Films produced a documentary on the Tube for Carlton TV in 2003 - a second series is in production for transmission in the Autumn and it is hoped that this will include the move of L11.

Acton works - late afternoon 14th April 2004

The film crew at work

Once loaded L11 departed from Acton Works at 2210 and arrived at Epping at 0059. Once the fence had been removed and the tractor disengaged temporary track was laid L11 could be unloaded, finally reaching it's new home just after 3am.

Safely arrived - L11 in daylight with all the hard work complete.

Work on restoring L11 has begun. The locomotive will be painted in the maroon livery carried by service stock in the 1960s.

The East End cab interior. Bob Yeldham

Interior looking towards the East End cab. Bob Yeldham

Acknowledgements
There have been many without whose help the preservation of L11 would not have been possible

• Metronet BCV - Track Panel and Land
• Barry Wilkinson - LUL
• John S Glover - HERAS fencing
• GrantRail - Ballast
• Engineering Service - Haulier
• Emergency Response Unit Acton
• Vinci - Epping Car Park
• LT Museum
• CHTL Members - Financial Support

Thanks also to Bob and Donald for providing the information and photographs used on this page.