1903 Stock

The Central London Railway Stock were electric multiple units composed of trailers that had been converted from carriages designed to be hauled by electric locomotives with new motor cars. The Central London Railway opened in 1900 with electric locomotives hauling wooden carriages, but the heavy locomotives caused vibrations that could be felt in the buildings above the route. Following investigation it was found that conversion to electric multiple units solved the problem, so new motor cars were bought and replaced all the locomotives by June 1903. Trains normally ran with six-cars, four trailers and two motor-cars, although some trailers were equipped with control equipment to allow trains to be formed with 3 cars.

Work started in 1912 on an extension to Ealing Broadway, and new more powerful motor cars were ordered. These arrived in 1915, but completion of the extension was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I, and the cars were stored. In 1917, they were lent to the Bakerloo line, where they ran on the newly opened extension to Watford Junction. They returned in 1920/21 when, formed with trailers converted from the original stock, they became the Ealing Stock.

In 1925–28 the trains were reconstructed, replacing the gated ends with air-operated doors, allowing the number of guards to be reduced to two. After reconstruction of the Central London Railway tunnels, the trains were replaced by Standard Stock and the last of the original trains ran in service in 1939. Subsequently a number of motor cars were rebuilt as sleet locomotives.

Preservation
Unit number: ESL107 has been preserved at the London Transport Musesum.undefined