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Photo - C Stock Cab in Original Condition

The C Stock driver's cab in original condition as equipped for two-person operation.  The door controls were on the rear wall so that they could be used by the guard working from the rear cab.

Note the control desk on the left (far) side of the cab with the combined traction/brake controller (CTBC) locked in the shut down position.  Beyond the CT/BC on the nearside corner panel is the whistle and window wiper control.  The whistle was moved to the control desk shortly after the trains entered service.

The cab side doors are air operated - the first on London Underground.  They were also originally equipped with air operated blow up anti-draught seals.  Draughty cabs were a constant source of complaint from drivers who had to sit or stand in cold cabs for up to 4½ hours.  The air seals activated automatically when the door closed and released when it was opened.    They were another source of trouble in themselves as they were unreliable and the seals often got damaged.  They were removed when the trains were refurbished.

The cab was originally designed with future conversion to ATO in mind.  This led to some bizarre control positions, including having the cab light switch on the right hand side of the cab.    It is the leftmost of the row of microswitches which can be seen on the offside console nearest the camera.

The nearside cab door seen here is fitted with side train number plates.  This was to allow train numbers to be read as a train passed an optical reader mounted on the tunnel wall at suitable locations.   The readers were tried out first on the Piccadilly line in the late 1960s and then on the Northern.  It was hoped to fit all lines and the C Stock was equipped with them when delivered.   The idea didn't work, mainly because the readers got confused if the numbers were wet or dirty.  The plates were soon removed.

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