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| Photographer / Copyright: Philip Hambling Images should not be reused without permission. Date added to site:28/11/20 | ||
| Details: From 1982, new vehicles that were leased instead of purchased (these tending to be the smaller cars and vans) were given fleetnumbers in a new series starting at 3000. This meant that the traditional number series (which had been used continuously since 1939) saw far fewer additions. Apart from one late-running car (2370B in January), just seven new fleetnumbers in the original series appeared in 1982. Undoubtedly the most interesting of those seven was 2375D, a Dodge S50 new in July with a box body fitted out as a mobile laboratory. It had a small window in each side and some equipment hatches in the nearside, while the rear end had twin hinged doors for access, along with a step. The livery was a unique navy blue lower half and grey upper half, and the only lettering carried was the fleetnumber and LTE legal lettering. Used by the research laboratory at Chiswick Works, it was later joined by Bedford Midi van 2457B in standard red livery. Both vehicles were seen parked outside Kings Cross Station in November 1987, no doubt investigating the tragic fire that occurred there on the 18th. The research laboratory became LUL Scientific Services in 1987 and was moved from Chiswick Works to the new Frank Pick House on Bollo Lane (now used by Lifts and Escalators) and received one more new vehicle (Ford Transit van 2507F) before being closed down in 1996. 2375D had been withdrawn in 1991. | ||
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