Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Zone 1
Welcome to the Cravens Heritage Trains website, parent company of Locomotive L11 and Epping Signal Cabin
The Car Diagram at the top of each CHT page shows the destinations available. Click on the destination of your choice. Stops within Zone 1 all contain information on the various Cravens subjects whilst stops within Zone 2 relate to Epping Signalling Museum. Members of CHT can access the Members area using their password. Enjoy your visit!
The 'other' Cravens Unit. Photo credit: Keith Ward
You've heard the old saying - "There's light at the end of the tunnel". Well, there is an increasing possibility it could once again be the headlights of the last passenger-carrying 60TS Cravens Unit to run over London Underground metals, now owned by Cravens Heritage Trains!! The only other surviving Cravens Unit is the LU owned Track Recording Vehicle, which has recently been spotted on a much more regular basis travelling across the whole network. Many great pictures have been posted on Facebook's Central Line Past & Present - why not join the group?
Before we get carried away, we must bear in mind our Cravens Unit last ran under her own power back in 2003 when we held the last Railtour and much has changed on the London Underground network since. The last time the Unit ran in public was when it was 'topped and tailed' to the Epping-Ongar Railway in 2014 to commemorate 20 years since the closure of the Central line branch between Epping and Ongar.
After many years of languishing in a siding, there are on-going discussions with both LUL and LTM about the future of the Cravens Unit and there is a definite air of optimism. You may know this is not the first time such discussions have been held, but there is a real feeling that this time progress can be made.
We posted previously that the Cravens Unit had undergone a Brake Test. Before any further activity could be carried out, there had to be confirmation the brakes still worked. They did!! This was the first step along the way to a more detailed Inspection and Condition report.
Further updates on progress, together with pictures when they come through, will be announced on our various Facebook channels and then published in full here.
** LATEST UPDATE on 3rd August 2026 **
We must remember the 1960 Cravens stock were experimental trains which, back in the day, trialled several new innovations. Because of that there are many train parts which are no longer in ready supply and expertise is fading. We are fortunate that LUL have a highly experienced expert with extensive knowledge of legacy rolling stock, who is now assisting the reinstatement project. A feature of the Cravens motor cars is rubber suspension. The original blocks were at least 30 years old and rubber hardens with age, reducing suspension effectiveness, therefore the blocks had to be replaced. We are pleased to confirm the replacement blocks have now been made and delivered by Trelleborg, a major supplier of rubber suspension components to the industry.
An example of a tube motor bogie. This one is an 'A' stock LT114 Traction Motor. Photo credit Richard
In a further development the other, LT-owned, Cravens unit, used as the Track Recording Vehicle (TRV), is again running on its own (LT) traction motors. The traction motors from the CHT-owned unit are now at Acton and a series of electrical tests is being carried out to ensure they are functioning correctly. Two of the eight motors have already completed their testing.
Under cover storage at Ruislip had come under pressure with the recent movements of both Sarah Siddons and the 4TC carriage set, but now those events have finished, the plan is to move the Cravens Unit back inside to reinstall the motors and fit the rubber suspension units, together with smaller works.
The plan is to complete the repairs and gain the full CTC certificate required before any vehicle can run over LT metals ready for next year.
There has never been a better time to consider signing up as a Member of Cravens Heritage Trains. CHT welcomes new members interested in continuing the work of preserving some of the history of London Underground. The annual membership starts at a very modest £20 per annum and entitles you to vote at the AGM as well as allowing you to become a Volunteer at Epping Signalling Museum.
There is lots of information about Cravens Heritage Trains and how to become a Member: please take a look at our Membership page, and if you'd like to ask us for more details to help you decide, please drop us a line to our joint email address: eppingmuseum@gmail.com. You might also be interested in taking a look at our Facebook group?
The Cravens Unit back on an outside road at Ruislip Depot. This photo shows just how much work would be needed to restore the unit to running order.
Photo courtesy of Sadie Allison
CHT is the parent Company of the popular Epping Signalling Museum, which now opens to the public as a museum of historical London Underground artefacts and exhibits, including a 'real' LU locomotive as well as a fully functioning 47 lever signal frame, signals, signage and a set of fully operational points.
Click one of the 'destinations' on the map at the top of this page to go to a chosen subject, or the arrow below to go to the Epping Signalling Museum
© 2026 Peter Scouse, Cravens Heritage Trains Ltd.
