From A to S - Documentary

Originally released as a 30 minute DVD, this is the 14 minute version of the 2012 Documentary 'A to S' in which we accompany driver Richard Griffin in the spring of 2012 - the time when A-Stock trains were being phased out and replaced by newer S-Stock trains on the Metropolitan Line.
All old A-Stock trains were gone by September 2012.
The full-length documentary is no longer available to buy on DVD, only this edited down version will be published here.

[@allancoelho6905]

Honestly, Richard seems like a driver who's really fond of his work and loves the trains he's working with

[@tieshaazen5733]

Mine name is Richard

[@westanstuffcuzperiodt.]

@Ties Haazen it's "my" not "mine"

[@johnlane5874]

Went to a chaps house in Poole the other day to fix his oven and on the way out of his house I noticed a poster about the last journey of the A stock train and he told me he is an instructor for new train drivers. He also has a luggage rack from an A stock that came from Eastleigh where they were broken up. Small world 😊 Nice video and thanks for sharing it.

[@johnbouttell5827]

What an erudite chap Richard is.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Indeed

[@waxingthenip]

Bet he's a scream at parties!

[@braydonquek9340]

What does erudite mean?

[@ZLDSmogless]

@@braydonquek9340 it means good at talking and narrating

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@braydonquek9340 Ever heard of a dictionary?

[@TylerDickey1]

Have you caught up again with Richard since filming? Some long term portraits of the interesting people you meet on your journeys would be fascinating!

[@irenec4876]

Tyler Dickey Richard was in the video of the new Jubilee Line Interior Design by Geoff and also Least Used Longcross (I think)

[@Josh_Funnell]

I wonder if he would be quite as cynical!

[@squarewheelsorguk]

@@Josh_Funnell You bet!

[@shaanali689]

I love these mini underground documentaries - it's clear a lot of hard work has gone into it so well done because this is brilliant!

[@AFCManUk]

Geoff, just a thought. . . With the S-Stock now in full service on the Met, would its Walk-Thru carriages now mean you could position yourself better within the train for a quicker run at the All Tube Stations record?

[@DavidShepheard]

I would presume so. All you have to do is get on a train, *before* the doors close, an then you can move to the part of the train closest to the exit or the bridge or tunnel that leads to another line you need to change onto.

[@AFCManUk]

@Raymond Cai Really? Is that on KZbin anywhere?

[@henrybn14ar]

Funny. People were sorry when the A stock replaced the locomotive hauled trains and T-stock fifty years ago. Among the trains replaced were the Ashbury stock of 1898, which had been used on the Chesham branch. Four coaches went to the Bluebell Railway and are now restored.

[@send2gl]

Great enthusiasm from the young guys near the end.

[@jonistan9268]

At 11:59 there is this guy shouting 'three cheers for the A-Stock'. Isn't that the same guy as the one in the video about the last old train on the Victoria line?

[@danwoodhouse9290]

yes it is he's ruined a lot of videos with his mouth

[@hi-viz]

Overheard him when I filmed both C Stock tours and the D stock one.

[@ZLDSmogless]

Lol he also says (we love you A stock)

[@williamnayak3079]

I wish that you could still get the DVD

[@AndrewSmith-ks9xi]

William Nayak KZbin to mp4 burn it onto a dvd

[@tanithrosenbaum]

@@AndrewSmith-ks9xi The original version is 30 minutes, this one is just 12 minutes. That's what William Nayak was referring to. And I have to agree with him there, I'd love to be able to get my hands on the original 30 minutes version as well.

[@thebestalan5685]

What dvd

[@zaphod888]

the best Alan - see the video details (click the drop-down arrow to see the full video description)

[@AdityaJaokar]

@@tanithrosenbaum I think Geoff said tht they do not sell the dvds anymore.

[@Taitset]

Great doco! One of my biggest failings in life was that I was in London in July 2012, but didn’t know much about sub-surface stock at the time so didnt seek out the A stock.

[@kornelkiss221]

Isn't this the intro which reminded Geoff in the Fanatics show about the numbers of stations on Metropolitan Line?

[@EM81YT]

yup!

[@irenec4876]

Yes it is

[@JudsonMatt88]

Thanks for uploading this Geoff. Wonderful video. I miss the A Stock they had so much character and agree with the opinions of fans interviewed in the video. The old world feel and the great British Engineering as they stood the test of time for over 50 years. Richard is a great guy too

[@JudsonMatt88]

😊

[@mrkipling2201]

Agreed 👍👍

[@crazysharkgaming8947]

I just realised that the driver here is the person with Geoff in the Longcross video

[@tashvadj4914]

The Big Met. The A stock. GOAT design on LT, never to be bettered. Easily Hall of Fame Queens. Rest easy old girls, you were magnificent.

[@send2gl]

Richard was an excellent presenter.

[@lon3don]

Richard should be a broadcaster, please have him on more of your videos. Can we see the full version one day?

[@roberthuron9160]

The New York equivalent are the St. LOUIS CAR Redbirds,both IRT and BMT versions! Thankfully they were preserved,by the MTA,and are now,in the Transit Museum! Great Video,well produced and definitely gives the feel of the rolling stock,and the people's reaction to the termination of the series! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@geekface2981]

Finally, I've been waiting for years for this to be on KZbin! Thanks Geoff!!

[@Cyarrick1]

just lovely those A stocks, the way the driver enters around 4:50, all the noises and physicality of it. Gorgeous.

[@paulyh4531]

Another great video , am amazed you guys are not on mainstream television such a professional job as always 👍

[@lukeboulding4971]

I was really enjoyed watching this! Thanks for posting this Geoff! I wish I could watch the whole documentary 😭

[@WhiteTiger333]

Brilliant! I greatly enjoyed every second of it. And I learned quite a lot. The engineer did a great job of staying alert to his driving while also speaking very well. So cool that he demonstrated the Westinghouse brake.

[@kentoncanary]

Thanks Geoff, enjoyed watching. Been a metline commuter for many years, and was on the final A Class back in the day. Think it left Liverpool Street around 5.45pm. All I can remember was that my usual carriage was very crowded!

[@48snapper]

A lovely video. Very skilfully shot and edited. I used the Met for over 20 years, to get me from home in Uxbridge to work in Farringdon.

[@shaundaniels2127]

I brought one of ur new books must say I’m very impressed with the amount of work you done

[@vishengro]

This a really good documentary covering many interesting aspects not only of A stock but of railway procedure. I grew up with A stock trains on the Rickmansworth to Amersham stretch and have a special affection for them.

[@dat581]

The same thing is happening down here in Sydney. Our 40 year old S-Sets are being replaced by brand new B-Sets. They have been such an essential but unsung part of Sydney since the late 1970s. It’s like an old friend is moving away.

[@ivanhermann3]

Congratulations Geoff! I'm brazilian enthusiast of the subway and other railway systems, and see this documentary is amazing and also really emotional. I've discovered your channel yesterday, so thank you very much for your content, and be safe for these days!

[@CarlWilson82]

Such a professional production 👏🏻

[@benjeffery1415]

I'm watching this in Metroland, on a train, ticking off my last few stations of the year. Good timing Geoff!

[@vrishled1sh]

Man i remember riding these trains when i used to go to London with my parents. I rlly didn’t think I would regret taking those moments for granted.

[@swiper1818]

Superb commentary by Richard the driver - very interesting video👍

[@MatthewPlato91]

I remember being allowed in the front cab on a very quiet trip from Amersham to Chalfont once. Loved those bumpy old cars.

[@regulator67bj]

A fitting end shot with Geoffs piece to the camera a the "A" stock coming into frame "Perfect"

[@squarewheelsorguk]

john salsbury It was a fluke :)

[@haz05-06]

Thank you for uploading this 😀

[@billymillest1529]

I love the fact I got this on dvd after waiting for so long!

[@roboghostdog]

They were very hot in summer! Had to open car divider doors just to let in some cool air, almost got roasted on the way back to Baker St

[@robz7846]

Wow it’s finally being released! Remember having to purchase this on DVD

[@thelasttimelord7550]

Wait you have the DVD version of it ?

[@meanderingmedic]

A really well produced bit of TV. That driver is a natural... Needs his own series...

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

Thank You Geoff! This was needed! (I love the tube stock and had Questions)

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, a great Documentary, very informative, Richard is very knowledgeable. Cheers Peter :)

[@matthewlynn793]

Nicely done! Very enjoyable video!

[@mauricecoggins3861]

Thank you for this video really informative and interesting love to see more of this type

[@dronespace]

Great video. Miss the beloved A Stock

[@iangascoigne8231]

They have certainly earned their keep. I'd be surprised if the new ones last 50 years but they have done 6 years so only 44 to go.

[@underwaterdick]

It all depends on investment. Nothing is built with a 60 year service in mind, but if they can keep them limping on, no-one has to cough up the cash for new stock. I work on 1960s aircraft, they were not built to be going this long, we should be living on the moon and have flying cars by now. No-one wanted to replace them so we put incredible effort into keeping them going. 'It's a testament to 1960s British Engineering' said a guy in the video, well it's also a testiment to 2000's maintenance and engineers.

[@tonymaries1652]

I expect the body shells and bogies will last 50 years but the electronics will not. They will probably have a major rebuild with new electronics and control systems half way through their lives. The ex District Line trains turned into diesel multiple units are already 40 years old and will probably be in service for another 20.

[@MMG_MoonManGuitar]

Been waiting for this a longggg time

[@HenrysAdventures]

Brilliant video which brings back happy memories! Such a shame they didn't preserve an A Stock train for doing heritage runs on the London Underground.

[@SyntheticWitch]

I always feel a bit sorry for the S stock in these situations. They're perfectly good too, even if they don't have the same character as the old trains. I'm sure in a few years everyone will find the charm in them too, and when it's their turn to retire people will be just as affectionate towards them. I love both varieties of train quite a lot, honestly.

[@damienmanu117]

That's how it goes lol, some people are just long :D, it takes them time to clock

[@jackandemily5937]

:( miss them

[@iiExplosionz12]

I know that I am about 4 years late as it popped into my recommendations, but I do miss the A stock for sure and I don't mind the S stock too. I never realised there was a guard that operates the opening the doors along with a slide seating and the luggage racks above too Loved the documentary too!

[@andydrew2003]

My lasting memories of the A Stock would be on my local line: the East London!

[@brianrussell8030]

A nice trip down memory lane. I remember the A - stock replacing the P - stock on the Aldgate/Baker Street to Uxbridge run, and not being very impressed. "Nothing wrong with the old ones, just a waste of money" (austere days). My favourite at the time was the T - stock which ran to Watford; slam doors and lots of swaying about. Now they were PROPER trains !

[@Mgameing123]

Wait so your telling me each branch of the met had different trains?

[@tantaf123]

4:49 Just seeing Richard turn on the train is so fascinating

[@TheOiyou]

First time I changed ends at Watford (my second day after passing out as a driver) I got no audible warning when opening up the train and found the EP was cut out and the handle sawn off so the cover could be refitted. Out of service and met by the Police at Wembley Park. They had to satisfy themselves I wasn't responsible.

[@marksamways6363]

Thanks Geoff. Loved the Westinghouse explanation. Just sent you a msg about them. 🌲😀

[@EricksonJunior]

I love your videos about the Tube!

[@100tijs]

Very nice video, really enjoyed it

[@IBLRG]

A stock built by Cravens, Darnall, Sheffield, site near the railway station is now a new housing site.

[@dream.machine]

Very good video.

[@DangItshere]

For me London Underground rolling stocks are much interesting than disused stations Thanks for uploading, Geoff!

[@chuckyzzz]

Very informative video.

[@yayeet3607]

Wow! I do miss A stocks and I actually saw Richard today on the metropolitan line from Wembley park to Harrow then he went to the workers place.

[@squarewheelsorguk]

I saw me there today too.

[@johnhood3172]

Hi, as a little boy in the 60s I loved the A stock giant comfortable seats and privacy new trains the exact opposite. I miss the 60s London like Syria or worse. Regards JH

[@Gregobars]

this is amazing

[@faithdenelzen8808]

Wow Richard knew his A stock 😳 they would be like our Tait trains in Melbourne

[@Taitset]

More in line with the Harris trains actually!

[@MNalias]

S Stock > A Stock. You ask why? I answer AC.

[@sunshubian]

5:01 you can see the east London line destinations incl SHORDITCH rip

[@tonymcgurk5411]

Used to go to school every day on the old A stock love to see the plate that read Metro Cammell 1962 the year I was born

[@Zkkr429]

I use to change at Amersham from Aylesbury to get on these trains. Some time in the nighties Chiltern railways started running a lot more services straight through to Marylebone with sprinters. Not going to lie, when they came in it seemed like luxury.

[@BaileyChap]

It's sad that only a single car of this old stock survives.

[@richardshanahan7776]

I took "a class" to rickmansworth for school and they bounced so much at speed .

[@de-fault_de-fault]

Just watching this in 2022 and thinking about the fact that New York's contemporaries to the A stock (the Budd R32, introduced in 1964) only left the rails for the last time a few months ago. I spent 5 months in London in 2005 and the A stock seemed so old, yet back home I regularly rode trains of the same vintage and thought nothing of it.

[@mikeheard4859]

I used to travel on these A stock trains when l commuted from Liverpool St to the west end, l always found them more comfortable to ride on than the newer stock that ran on the circle line, just more solid & well built.

[@AppleOranges12]

I love the old rickety trains. They're simple and made for the purpose of transporting people on rail. Everything is purely mechanical controlled by physical switches, contacts, relays and linkages. Simple and pure mechanical engineering. No computers or indeed a single silicon chip is was used to control these trains, unlike trains built nowadays, where the driver if they were manually driving, is only moving a glorified computer joystick to send inputs to a computer telling it how to drive the train. Why can't we go by using simple technology nowadays?

[@JLT05]

I remember the first time going on the jubilee line, almost fell over from the acceleration leaving Stratford so now I always stand near a wall on them trains

[@arniepatel9841]

I miss the A stock - it had such character 😭

[@juansdf1]

Simon Smiler? They did this documentary with citytransportinfo? Talk about quality!!

[@evancortez2]

I wish our train drivers were as eloquent and efficient as Richard

[@shaunedwards4328]

hey geoff what is the opening music and where can i find the full song to

[@theguy6809]

I would love to see an update with Richard. I would certainly like to know his thoughts on the change after all these years and if the trains still feel soulless. It might actually make for a fun video!! ;)

[@squarewheelsorguk]

Richard still misses the old trains, but ultimately you get used to what you use every day. Whoops! Spoiler alert. :)

[@theguy6809]

@@squarewheelsorguk is over here dropping spoilers! I always wonder what happens to folks after the camera stops rolling in a documentary. I really do appreciate that update. Thanks :)

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@squarewheelsorguk We love you Richard!

[@Stanf954]

Proper old train. Not much of the SMEE equipment left in the NYC Subway that we operated. The New Technology Train has become the mainstay in the system. I was lucky to be able to operate them from my first day to just before thier retirement and then it was my turn to go.

[@stephthestar90]

Great video. Shame that most of the old A Stock trains have probably ended up now as frying pans and baked bean tins. Have any of them been preserved?

[@ooc115]

I heard Geoff’s Christmas announcement at Temple Meads today 👍👍👍👍

[@TheBradleyClarke]

Hey Geoff, bit of a random question but you're probably the man to ask. When I get the Thameslink train from Brighton To Bedford, there is what looks like an old abandoned station just before St Pancras where I alight from said service? Whenever I got past it, there are a whole row of red "Do Not Alight Here" boards and what looks like doors that would open up for passengers to leave the station platform from. Now I know its before St Pancras station but I cant remember right now if its before Farringdon (which I believe is one stop before St Pancras) or if its between St Pancras and Farringdon. Just has always puzzled me whenever I go past it and I wonder if its an old Mainline Station that was closed down at some point in time, something maybe that was built and never used or if its a "short cut" station for Non Civilian personel to use to get behind the inner workings of the nearby Platforms (like Engineers.) If you know what I'm harping on about, would be great to be enlightened on what that station was/is

[@danielmarrs-gant9669]

That's the old Kings Cross Thameslink station, it's between Farringdon and St Pancras and was closed as part of the Thameslink Programme to allow 12 car trains to stop. St Pancras directly replaced it in December 2007. The corridor between Kings Cross St Pancras tube station and the old ticket office at Kings Cross Thameslink is still open Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm.

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

Just to add to the Kings Cross Thameslink info. It was not only an utterly vile station; but at peak times it was downright dangerous. In the evening peak you'd not only have more than a full train of commuters both boarding and leaving via the same nightmare small staircase, but you'd have confused long distance travellers coming from Gatwick with massive luggage. The fact nobody tripped and caused deaths by crushing was just plain lucky.

[@grahamlea2160]

THAT WAS ALSO THE OLD KINGS CROSS ST PANCRAS MET AND CIRCLE LINE AND WIDENED LINES STATION AT BOTTOM OF PENTONVILLE ROAD HILL. MET AND CIRCLE TRINS MOVED WEST TO PRESENT STATION IN 1935.

[@montyandmaryv9340]

I'm watching this in December 27th 2018.

[@agent_605]

So is everyone

[@JamesTaylorMain]

You can put this out on Blu-ray, if you would like to.

[@adrianmcdonagh57]

Thank you. Victoria thanks Geoff and the Londonist. Fb page really fascinating love it so much

[@f1stc47]

Geoff, is there any way that the people that were never able to buy or watch the original documentary, to watch it now? Thanks.

[@HORNETSTV1881]

I miss these trains

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Nice video I liked and subbed to your channel 👍

[@313pep-iamaegg-backup8]

I like the A stock because it has luggage rack

[@c2c312]

I agree with Richard it is sad to see them go

[@Fluteboy]

Re the Westinghouse brake. I assume this is what would apply when - in days of old - a passenger would operate the old style alarm handles. This leads me to two questions: * At Highgate on the Northern Line, the driver of a 1959 stock train would usually discharge the Westinghouse brake, before recharging the air reservoir. Why? * On the 1959 stock, the old style alarm handles were usually retained above the guard's control panel. In the 1990's, someone was going round with a marker pen and writing the word "JOBS" on the handle. Was this a protest or some kind of in-joke? I will forever miss this sound though: else.fluteboy.co.uk/Clips/Westinghouse%20DHC%205A%20Compressor.mp3

[@squarewheelsorguk]

Yes, pulling the old (pre-1990s) emergency handles would physically exhaust the Train Line to atmosphere, applying the automatic (Westinghouse) brake. This arrangement was modified after the King's Cross fire so that the driver could still move the train if required after an alarm was operated, e.g. to get to the next station. To answer your questions: 1) It was an unofficial custom to brake using the Westinghouse at Highgate, perhaps because of the long platform giving plenty of leeway for error. On the 1959 tube stock the triple valve was of a less user-friendly design which was somewhat prone to failing to release brakes fully; to avoid dragging brakes after using the Westinghouse, some drivers would fully discharge the train line before recharging it. 2) No idea.

[@artemoleinikov4817]

What is the music in the introduction of this? Anyone know the track name?

[@gingerelvis]

Love the old rolling stock. Does anyone know when the last of the unpainted stock was running up until? I'm almost certain my first time on the tube was riding one but reading around it seems like the dates don't line up.

[@opeydopeykenobi6517]

The un-painted stock was also the A Stock , the same trains , so ran until 2012 But if you mean when was the last time they ran AS un-painted trains , I think I remember it as being around 1996 or so

[@gingerelvis]

@@opeydopeykenobi6517 Thanks, I think my memory must be playing tricks on me, looking back it again it was most likely un-refurbished 72 MK1 stock on the Bakerloo with the old forward and rear facing seats. I do love the old unpainted stock though, very reminiscent of old aircraft.

[@opeydopeykenobi6517]

@@gingerelvis I prefer them as they were too . I grew up as a kid during the time they were un-painted , the 59 stock , 72 stock , 73 stock , D stock and all the rest of them were all that un-painted livery . They were supposed to be silver , but the colour got tainted with age , tunnel dirt , etc . So they became an off white (Google any pictures of those trains when they were un-painted and you will see what I mean ) I remember when the interior of the A Stock had a red wall paper ( before they were painted and refurbished ) Every thing looks too clinical now

[@NC-002]

I'm guessing that the C Stock video will be following soon?

[@gstakktransport5227]

hey, I’d like to know what the music you used in the intro is if possible? if you can answer, is it copyrighted? thanks

[@danwoodhouse9290]

The last segment is made to sound like its post A stock then an A stock turns up

[@chaoringmeister]

As someone who used to do the Amersham-Aldgate commute, the old trains definitely had better seating arrangement. Find the S-stock seats are too firm too. However air conditioning is a godsend.

[@BoredInNW6]

Agreed on all counts. Also, the walk-through nature of the S-stock is better when the train is crowded.

[@London1064]

What was the banging of the two switches required for when changing driving ends?

[@squarewheelsorguk]

I was turning on the headlights and turning off the tail-lights.