Southern Electric - The early units.

A collection of colour and black & white film of very early Southern Railway two, three and four car motor units - includes former-London and South Western Railway units, similar units built by the SR, and 2-Nol units.

For more information on these types, see these SEG pages;
http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/histfeat/fleet_3.html
http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/histfeat/fleet_nol.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• southern railway
• electric
• 3-sub
• region
• british railways rail
• suburban
• multiple unit
• EMU

[60103Henry]

Great Video, 5 Stars! Would be nice to get a 3 Sub running again!

[SouthernRailwayFilms]

That... would be a problem. As far as I know, just the early style motor coach at the NRM is all that's left of the former LSWR fleet. You may not be aware that they were never actually known as 3 Subs, just 'Three Car Motor Units' - the Sub designation is what the TV folks would call 'retrospective continuity' employed for convenience by enthusiasts.

[metadyneman]

Incredible to think that a lot of the underframes bogies and electric motors from these old timers were re used in the later EPB and SUB stock. Was the Southern the first railway to be Eco friendly do you think?

[SouthernRailwayFilms]

I think parsimony was at the root of it - the environment wasn't the issue it is now in 1924. As an Ashford boy, I was fascinated to learn about a little operation the SR had at the old Ashford freight station, formerly the London Chatham & Dover Railway terminus before their merger with the South Eastern Railway (to form the SE&CR) in 1899. Oily rags from all over the network were sent there to be steam cleaned - the rags were then reused and the reclaimed oil used for lubricating pointwork!

[stellarartwars07]

I'm too young to remember ever seeing these units run in service, and have never been on such stock on a preserved train. Yet for some reason, they are frequently seen (in vivid green) in my dreams, often still running alongside modern stock. Previous life memories?

[NickRatnieks]

I can remember in about 1982 seeing a 4SUB with LSWR on the axle box cover plate. As a kid I used to look at an old de-icer at Fratton Depot- it was in a siding virtually next to Goldsmith Avenue. It had etched glass windows that said LADIES ONLY and NO SMOKING and was made up from old 1925 Eastern Section Units. It was finally repainted in rail blue in the end and was numbered 93. I don't suppose any of these units survived into preservation.

[Gartfield112]

Great footage of these early units ! I think that the middle bit is near Purley station

[clusterfak]

You have no idea how much I enjoy these vids! Thank you.

[zebedep]

A fascinating bit of film - thanks for uploading.

[capodicino]

I used to go to school in these!

[castra58]

From 1.30 onwards, it looks like the Normans Bay - Cooden Beach area?

[skeleion]

The B&W section at 0:50 is that the Chessington Branch between Malden Manor and Motspur Park ?.

[60103Henry]

Thanks, it would be nice of they could run again!

[ianbillericay]

there is a 4 sub of the later kind at conventry