London Underground 1959 Stock

The London Underground 1959 stock was a type of tube train used on the London Underground from 1959 to 2000. They were originally built for use on the Piccadilly line. However, in 1973, the trains were transferred to the Northern line due to the Piccadilly line extension to Heathrow Airport requiring new London Underground 1973 Stock. As a result they were transferred to the Northern Line to replace ageing London Underground 1938 Stock.

 Initial Development and Eventual replacement 
Before the 1959 stock could be built, the prototype London underground 1956 stock was tested. Just like the later production trains, these units were on the Piccadilly Line. At that time, the Piccadilly Line was served by Standard Stock. The 1956 stock itself remained in service until 1995. After the success of the 1956 stock, production trains, known as the 1959 stock, were built. After being moved to the Northern Line in 1973, the 1959 stock operated along the 1938 trains. However, the London Underground 1972 Stock was eventually manufactured and replaced the remaining London Underground 1938 Stock on the Northern Line. The 1959 tube stock remained in use even after the 1972 stock was transferred in the 1980s and 1990s to the Bakerloo line, where they still operate today. The Northern Line eventually received several London Underground 1962 Stock cars in 1998. However, by that time, the London Underground 1959 and London Underground 1962 Stock were beginning to be replaced. Eventually, on January 27th, 2000, the last 1959 tube stock unit ran in regular passenger service. The 1959 tube stock would be the last train to be equipped with a guard as London Underground had converted to driver only operation beginning in 1985. The 1959 stock was replaced by the London Underground 1995 stock. 2 units have been preserved. Specifically,  a unit painted in a heritage livery in 1990 exists on the Alderney Railway.