If you think you know London’s Underground inside out, here’s a secret that might surprise you: tucked away in the London Transport Museum’s Acton Depot are some of the rarest Tube carriages you’ve probably never seen – gorgeous 1930s Q-Stock trains, complete with their original colourful seats. And now, these vintage beauties need a little love to get their iconic moquette upholstery restored.
The catch? The museum needs your help to make it happen.
Why are these 1930s tube train seats so special?
The Q-Stock trains first rolled out in 1938, mixing carriages from different eras to create a wonderfully quirky patchwork of London’s transport history. Imagine stepping onto a train that tells stories of wartime grit, post-war resilience, and the vibrant 1950s when Caribbean workers helped keep London moving.
These trains are not just relics – they’re living history. And their seats? They’re covered in moquette fabric designed by trailblazing women like Joy Jarvis and Enid Marx, whose colourful patterns have become an iconic part of London’s visual identity.
The moquette isn’t just upholstery; Each carriage’s fabric tells a story, reflecting the era it served. The museum has painstakingly researched hundreds of photos and fabric samples to bring these seats back to their original glory.
Each carriage is being restored to reflect a different chapter of London’s past:
- Wartime London
- The post-war years of austerity
- The optimism and diversity of the 1950s, including stories of Caribbean recruitment to London Transport
But restoring these seats costs a pretty penny, and the museum is still £30,000 short of the funds needed to finish the job.
How you can help be a part of this revival
The museum has already secured enough funding to restore the moquette seating in one carriage, but needs public support to finish the job. Donations of any size are welcome, and here’s how your contribution could help:
- £150 covers a roll of the iconic moquette fabric
- £220 restores a single seat’s cushion and back
- £320 brings a double seat back to life
- £500 reupholsters all the armrests in a carriage
Every penny counts in this mission to revive a secret slice of London’s past.
Once restored, these trains will be showcased at the museum’s Acton Depot open days – an absolute must-visit for anyone who’s obsessed with anything transport in London like we are.