Question Re London Underground Lighting

[ElaineJJ]

Hello - I apologise if this post is in the wrong place; I've searched the forums and can't find what I'm looking for, so I hope someone may be able to help:

I'm a writer and in my story I have a scene on an underground train which needs emergency lighting. It may be on either the District or Northern Line (not sure yet) The main power is out so it needs carriage lighting - my problem is that I don't recall what colour the emergency lighting is! I think its white and not very bright, but its a long time since I've been on a tube train in that situation (early nineteen eighties...) and I can't recall... I wondered if maybe someone here might be able to tell me, please?

Also... getting a bit technical (probably a bad idea...) if the main power is off, how long would the emergency lighting last and would the emergency intercoms work?

Thanks in advance and if there is anything else you think I might need to know...

 

[Dstock7080]

The emergency lighting uses the standard florescent tubes so would be white.
During normal operation these are powered from the motor alternator but if this or traction current fails, 4 tubes (District Line) will remain lit but now powered from the batteries.

These are designed to give at least 1 hours supply. The batteries will also maintain communications/PA equipment.

 

[ElaineJJ]

Thank you so much - you've been very helpful. much appreciated! I do like to get things right where I can...

 

[TheVicLine]

The lighting varies from line to line. It used to be warm lighting but it made the cars look slightly orange and dirty. Most lines changed to cool or brilliant white tubes altghough there were a few complaints from passengers saying it was now too bright (you cant win).

I know it sounds geeky to know these facts but I am an ex LU Ambience Manager and remember the problems that we had a few years ago when Metronet changed from the warm lighting tubes, however it did make the trains brighter and cleaner looking inside.

 

[Daniel]

The lighting varies from line to line. It used to be warm lighting but it made the cars look slightly orange and dirty. Most lines changed to cool or brilliant white tubes altghough there were a few complaints from passengers saying it was now too bright (you cant win).

Oddly, during the changeover from A to S stock, it looked to be the other way around - the A's had harsher white lighting, the S stock has a warmer yellow.

 

[Nym]

Bakerloo operates the same as the district regarding emergency lighting, 4 tubes per car run from -52V off the batteries through invertors (powered by the MA rectifier when on juice) and the rest via the 115V AC at 850Hz from the MA.
(We also use brilliant white tubes with diffusers, T8s and double Ds)

This will be brighter than when built, when the stock had T12 tubes with passive ballast.

 

[tom1649]

The emergency lighting on the 59ts consisted of four incandescent bulbs, two at each car end. That was it!

 

[1018509]

I seem to remember the 59's also had candle holders too, by the guard's panel I believe.

 

[Dstock7080]

I seem to remember the 59's also had candle holders too, by the guard's panel I believe.

Not on '38, '59, COP, R Stock as they had MGs and batteries.
Certainly Q Stock.