London Transport Museum is restoring a 1930s District line train into operational condition. The work is done by volunteers at the Museum Depot.
Restoring into operational condition is a fine balancing act between authenticity, originality and modern safety requirements. The challenges are varied, and include for example different operating current, unavailable materials, questions of which paint to use, which moquette pattern is correct, and variations over the train cars’ long service life.
This talk gives an overview of the project and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the restoration.
Katariina Mauranen joined London Transport Museum three years ago as project curator for the Museum’s Battle Bus project commemorating the centenary of the First World War. She is a curator and historian by training, her professional background is in maritime history and she holds a doctorate in history of technology.