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London Underground F Stock

The F Stock was built for the District Railway in the early 1920s to increase capacity and to replace deteriorating B Stock [1], the construction was partly funded by the government to help British industry transition back to civil manufacture. The F Stock was built at a factory that had built armoured vehicles in the war, that and their steel construction may be why they gained the nickname of "tanks"!
F Stock on delivery [3]



Information
Number built: 100
Built: 1920-21
Builder: Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Company
Motor: British Thomson-Houston electrical equipment
(600v DC fourth rail)

The F Stock was more powerful than earlier District Line stock which gave them a superior performance. Despite their high passenger capacity they were unpopular due to their interior appearance. This was improved in service. The F Stock had non-standard control equipment and thus could not work with other District Railway stock.

The F Stock was transferred to the Metropolitan Line in the 1950s. They were fitted with air operated doors and other enhancements including windscreen wipers [2] to the distinctive (though troublesome) oval windows. The F Stock was finally withdrawn in 1963 after replacement by A Stock. None have been preserved.
Interior view [3]



[1] Brian Hardy, Surface Stock 1933-1959 (Underground Train File) (Capital Transport, 2002) p. 38
[2] Ibid. p. 40
[3] "New District Railway rolling stock", Electrical Review Vol. 87 No. 2, 249 (December 31 1920) p. 838