Southern Electric - Bulleid's Double Decker (1 of 2)

A short newsreel covering the introduction Bulleid's innovative prototype '4DD' double-decked electric multiple units, two of which were built for services from London's Southern Region terminii to Dartford in 1949. More information about these unique units at http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/4dd.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 4DD
• bulleid
• southern
• railway
• british
• rail
• railways
• electric
• third
• 3rd
• slam
• door
• dartford
• 1949

[Doomsday2060]

those must be a real deathtrap if an accident occurs

[SouthernRailwayFilms]

Well... in 22 years of operation (1949-1971), I'm not aware of any accident involving these units. Would they be significantly worse than any other slam door stock?

[jeanniedee]

I recently went from Calais Ville to Lille in France on a double deck train , certainly very comfortable and no problems with loading or unloading , Bullieds idea was good but the initial design was bad. French design is superb and comfortable.

[SouthernRailwayFilms]

Bulleid was, as any engineer contemplating a double decked design in the UK would be, confronted with the restrictive Victorian era loading gauge. These units were built to the absolute limit of the loading gauge of a line built in the 1840s in what was even at the time of their introduction one of the the most densely populated parts of the country. Apples and oranges, old bean.

[scotrail47]

what a spaceage idea

[spiccybaby]

@colliecandle There speaketh a man who knows nothing whatsoever of which he speaks, Bulleid didn't design anything just because he wanted to be "different". He sought new answers to old problems, limited only by the materials of the day. Even his meanest critic would have to admit that he was at least partially successful. If steam locomotives had been allowed to burn oil instead of coal, on a par with diesels, if might have been a different story.

[bobfalange]

Each compartment consisted of two parts - downstairs and up, connected by a short staircase - and entirely separate from the other compartments. One thing - you didn't know who was in the upper compartment when you got on - but in those days that wasn't something we worried about unduly - England seemed a very safe place in those days. I only used the doubledecker sometime after 4pm on weekdays, between Sidcup station and Dartford - and we often missed it. Lovely memories - thanks for uploading.

[muzzybear1]

I went on a double deck French train as well and they are spacious and comfortable. Looking at the loading capacity then I wonder why we do not have them here to ease congestion. The obvious down-side would be bridge heights in Britain. Bulleid was a genius but like so many good ideas of the time he never had a chance. Did you notice the press there with there digital cameras!!!

[Mounhas]

I traveled on this on a hot day in the rush hour on the top deck in a smokers compartment. Nearly aphyxiated I recall. I never repeated the experience !

[MrRickenbastard]

@colliecandle There, there... You've got yourself all upset again! Your bitter and twisted view of history is breathtaking! I can only assume you have mental issues or you are an enviromentalist, both conditions are similar. You can go back to beating yourself now. Good-day!

[colliecandle]

@MrRickenbastard Youre too feebleminded to reply to, but, just to further wind you up.

You should rename yourself stupidbastard by the way! The way bulleid envisioned steam power was probably one of the driving forces for ending steam traction ! Steam was inefficient, dirty, socially unacceptable( new clean air act of government) PLUS his locos were a bane to work on and keep on the "road" due to their propensity to breakdown because of bullied wanting to be different!

[MrRickenbastard]

@colliecandle You my fiend...are an imbecile. OVS Bulleid was a visionary man, who believed (quite rightly) that steam had a future and realised that thousands of jobs would be lost through mindless "modernisation".Look at the billions wasted in the1955 plan with thousands of unreliable diesels purchased, some so bad they lasted less than 3 years! He knew once accountants were allowed to run the railways, the road to ruin was set.People need jobs to run an economy, some people never learn...

[chanctonbury63]

Why dont we have these now? Everybody complains about overcrowding, lack of capacity etc. Apparently HS2 is about capacity not speed so how many double deckers and metres of extended platform could £17 billion buy??

[bbcisrubbish]

Well, well, fancy Peter Mandellson's granddad being there.