R Stock

The London Underground R Stock electric multiple units were used on London Underground's District line from 1949 to 1983. Composed of new cars and converted Q38 Stock trailers, the cars were built and converted in three batches between 1949 and 1959. The cars were driving motors (DM) or non-driving motors (NDM), there being no unpowered trailers. The second batch, introduced in 1952, was constructed from aluminium, saving weight and one train was left unpainted as an experiment. Considered a success, trains were left unpainted or painted white or grey to match in 1963–68. Originally designed to operate in trains with 6 off-peak and 8 cars during peak hours, the trains were reformed as fixed 7-car trains in 1971. R Stock trains were replaced by the D78 Stock and withdrawn between 1981 and 1983.

Withdrawal and Preservation
Twenty-one cars were withdrawn between October 1971 and February 1972 as a result of the reformation into 7-car trains and others were withdrawn between 1971 and 1982 due to fire damage. General withdrawal began in March 1981 and was completed in March 1983.undefined The Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways showed interest in purchasing 60 cars of R stock, for use in five-car trains, since the dimensions of that system were similar to the District Line, but the deal fell through.undefined

They were replaced by the new D78 Stock, except on the Edgware Road-Wimbledon route, where shorter platforms necessitated the use of C Stock.

Three vehicles have been preserved.
 * R38 DM no. 22624 – Mangapps Railway Museumundefined
 * R49 DM no. 21147 – Egham - Stored on a trading estate by a TV & Film Prop company called "Men At Work"undefined
 * R49 DM no. 22679 – London Transport Museum, Actonundefined