IMPROVED LIGHTING

The Friends have funded improvements to the lighting in several prominent rail vehicles on public display at the Museum in Covent Garden. This both enhances their display for visitors and also better ensures their conservation.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the completed work to the Q-stock car on the Museum’s first floor. For some time the lighting in this car had to be switched off entirely, as the existing wiring was in a poor state and the lights were creating unwelcome heat, endangering the condition of the interior. A sympathetic re-wire has been completed, with cables running in a way that does not disturb the historic surfaces. The interior is now open once again and bathed in a pleasant warm glow, quite different to the bright white lighting of contemporary Underground cars.

On the same floor, the Metropolitan Railway locomotive ‘John Hampden’ has also had new lights added. Visitors can now see interesting internal views of what was the most powerful electric loco to ever run on the Underground.

The Museum team has also switched lighting over to LED display lighting on Metropolitan Railway carriage 400, also on the first floor. The same has been completed on the City & South London Railway ‘padded cell’ carriage and the 1938 stock car on the ground floor. This work means that the surfaces are protected from heat damage; the lighting is energy efficient; and it is all on an easier to access system.