Second Vintage Tube train arrives at Cynheidre

London Transport   Traction Group  

Registered Address:43, Brunswick Road, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, CT7 0ED

The Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway and the London Transport Traction Group (LTTG) are delighted to announce that the second of two ex-London tube trains acquired by the LTTG has now arrived at the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railways (L&MMR) base at the site of the former Cynheidre Colliery near Llanelli. The two cars of 483008 arrived late on Thursday 17^th February just missing Storm Eunice which caused much disruption in the South Wales area.

The unit had been in storage for some time, latterly under tarpaulins at Sandown. During its time in storage it had suffered several broken windows, but these will be replaced as soon as possible. It was loaded at Sandown and crossed to the mainland by ferry on Thursday 17^th February. Onward travel was via the M4 with an anticipated overnight stop at a service area near Cardiff. Instead the crew decided to continue to Cynheidre in order to beat the storm. Following an overnight crew break the unit was offloaded onto an isolated piece of track during the morning of Friday 18^th February.

The LTTG’s plan is to use one of the cars from 483008 to carry batteries in order that the trains may operate on heritage railways; originally they ran using current taken from conductor rails. 483008 requires significant work before it can be made accessible to the public, hence the decision to place it on an isolated section of track for the time being. The group’s other unit 483006 resides on a rail connected siding, and following initial work, has already proved an invaluable asset to the railway by acting as Santa’s Grotto during the festive period.

The London Transport Traction Group was set up with the intention of securing one of these veteran trains for preservation, and subsequently managed to secure two. After several months of trying to find a home for the train, and its sister 483008, and after hopes of returning them to a former tube line were dashed, the group found a home at the L&MMR where restoration towards an eventual return to passenger use will be undertaken.

The railway will next be open on Saturday 26^th March when a Mixed Traction day will kick start the 2022 season.

Please check the websites for the LT Traction Group and the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway at www.lttractiongroup.co.uk and www.llanellirailway.co.uk for details of future developments with the LTTG and the L&MMR.