[MOC] 1973 Tube Stock

[Hod Carrier]

Here's a design I've been tinkering with for a while in the hope it might become something, but I think it's probably reached the end of the road. It's the 1973 Tube Stock (1973TS) used by London Underground on the Piccadilly Line. If you've ever landed at Heathrow Airport and caught the Tube into town you will have travelled on one of these trains. They are now coming towards the end of their lives as the new 2024TS that will replace them is currently under test, so catch them while you can.

I've designed two versions of the train; the original "as built" condition and the later refurbished train in the corporate red/white/blue colours of London Underground. There is a motor and drive to potentially make the model move, but the small size and construction methods used means that fitting some sort of power and control has proved to be a much harder nut to crack. As a consequence, I probably won't end up building it.

Edited March 10, 2025 by Hod Carrier
Fixed for photos

[Toastie]

@Hod Carrier

I believe something went wrong with embedding the pictures ...

Best
Thorsten

[Hod Carrier]

All sorted now. I wasn't aware that BBCode had been disabled as I haven't posted for a while.

Edited March 10, 2025 by Hod Carrier

[bogieman]

Great rendition. I was in London in November and road that line several times. Amazed at how long those have been in service.

[Feuer Zug]

Nicely done. They are a good rendition of the stalwart Tube stock.

[zephyr1934]

Amazing work, especially the tricky gentle curves. They look great

[Shiva]

Nice looking Tube train :)

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Every time you do it again ...you are an artist no doubt!

[Sérgio]

The round shape with straight bricks is well done! great job!

[Hod Carrier]

Thank you, everyone. Your feedback is most generous.

The shaping was a bit tricky to achieve and meant that the body has been built-up in sections which will probably make it structurally weak. I've tried my best to address any weak points but it will need to be test built to check how well it would hold up. I'll be keeping my eyes open for any innovations in the power and control arena to see if anything comes along that might fit this model.

[TheEmptyBucket]

Just came across this while looking for a design of this exact train (particularly with the Piccadilly Line colouring) and I have to say it looks wonderful! I would love to build it (though without the motorised bits as I want to have an open top and use it as a plant pot), would it be possible to get the design files for this or a list of pieces used?

Edited July 8, 2025 by TheEmptyBucket
Punctuation

[L-Gauger]

Wow, @Hod Carrier! That is one amazing model, even if it can't be motorized with current parts. Hang onto the design because who knows, maybe someone else will be able to figure it out... 

What grabbed my interest almost as much as the trainset, though, is your brick-built track. If you are able and/or willing, would you consider sharing your techniques on the Brick-Built Lego Railroad Track thread? 

[XG BC]

15 hours ago, L-Gauger said:

Wow, @Hod Carrier! That is one amazing model, even if it can't be motorized with current parts. Hang onto the design because who knows, maybe someone else will be able to figure it out... 

What grabbed my interest almost as much as the trainset, though, is your brick-built track. If you are able and/or willing, would you consider sharing your techniques on the Brick-Built Lego Railroad Track thread? 

the track is not brick built, its just inset, the details with the third and fourth rail are custom though.

[L-Gauger]

@XG BC Thank you. I must have confused the third and forth rails as being brick-built track. My bad there. @Hod Carrier you disguised the official Lego track very well! I really did think you'd engineered a custom brick-built track. 

[XG BC]

i had to zoom way in too, the bulges where the tracks connect gave it away

[Hod Carrier]

Thanks folks. I'm not sure how buildable this design would be, as it uses a whole hill of SNOT (and I really doubt it would be strong enough to support a pot plant). I've spent a lot of time looking at it and fiddling with it and I'm still unsure about it. I had an idea about powering it, but that also is still just an unproven idea. I don't release instructions or files but am happy to share techniques.

The track has sleepers/ties and ballasting using conventional methods with an added 3rd and 4th rail using clip tiles and flex tube.

[Shiva]

You could do half a carriage, or a 1/3, or even a 1/4, as a proof of concept, or what it is called?