Day in the life: Southern Region Slam Door Farewell Documentary - Part 3

On a wholly un-Armstrong Powerhouse related theme, here is part 3 of a documentary about the passing of the southern region slam-door electric multiple units done in the same vein as previous documentaries. If you have seen our previous ones then you will be familiar with the format they follow but for those who haven't, they are basically a representation of the day in the life of a rail enthusiast with what we hope, is a humourous twist. Enjoy!

[@Electricfox]

Rattles, ashtrays in the doors, compressor thumping whilst the doors slam at the station platform, men in suits opening doors before the train had fully stopped, newspapers on springy seats which had a cloud of dust and fibres when you hit them with the palm of your hand but were oh so comfy. It seems so hard to believe that it's all gone, the CIGs, the EPBs, the VEPs, the CEPs. Now the Wessies are old, when I remember their new toothpaste livery seemed so fresh and shiny.

[@tobyfarman]

Hi from 2020! It seems there's a global pandemic, and the wessies are back in service!

[@Looiiss37]

@@tobyfarman That didn't last long 😆😆

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Stand too close to the platform edge when a train was coming in and you'd risk being hit by one of the doors that people used to open long before the train stopped. And many of them only had handles on the outside, so you had to open the window to reach the handle, and then in winter when the train set off an icy draft would whip around the carriage until someone got up to shut the window. But they had atmosphere and a sense of space inside that makes the new trains feel cramped.

[@timtube1663]

Thanks for a great video. I miss these trains so much. For me it was my first taste of independence when I left home travelling around the London - Brighton mainline and on the Three Bridges - Horsham route. I lived round the corner from Ifield Station and could hear the distant whine of those traction motors on warm summer evenings while sat outside.

[@BROADTRAIN1979]

Sad isnt the word devastating is more like it i really miss the fabulous slam door stock of all 3rd rail emus its like a big piece of my heart has been ripped out. My past my youth it just dont make sense thes beauties gone forever to be replaced by samey **^$" in their place yukkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!

[@jasongoulden2938]

Glad I experienced them myself in my teens never went on enough of them sadly I traveled on the 415s just before they got withdrawn by pure luck I used to travel from north London especially to go for the train ride but with the stock nowadays don’t think I would of bothered, boring clinical rubbish that you can’t even pop your head out the window anymore.

[@rabd9881]

All slam door heaps look and sound the same, everything new is different and has its own character

[@phat2003uk]

@JollyRodders Thank you! That must have been an enjoyable 25 years ago. There was just something about these units which represented the sleepy nature of south-east England. Very sad to see them go but nothing lasts forever unfortunately.

[@rodjamesranger7537]

Corridor class! they were the best.

[@dgattenb]

That sound .. that sound .. the tick over ... mmmm

[@timorgano]

It's strange. I know that the new trains are far superior in quality and safety, but I really miss the slamdoors. I was born in 86 and grew up with them in my childhood, only to be replaced when I was about 18. They had character. Their motor whine as they got going

[@robhines4537]

TheOrgano yes lovely comfy seats after a long day sightseeing in London pure heaven, trains now have WiFi and bench like seats

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I spent 20 years working these as a guard and driver, never broke down once...nor did the train 😁. Tell it wasn't me driving, I just used to put whites up instead of 97. Had this up to 95mph one night taking it back empties to the depot before the 60 at Christchurch. Great times.

[@glenjarnold]

I'm trying to find parts 1 & 2!

[@JollyRodders]

Very good video. I drove these slam door units for 25 years and never had any trouble with them. I had to rescue three that got into bother...Once with a Class 455...But I never had any trouble myself :)

[@Intercity47GBRail]

Great stuff, nice record of what's now history, love the final shot too.

[@Mounhas]

The smell of a 4-EPB when it had been refurbished, seats you could sink into, the 2 car units where one car had a side corridor & separate compartments & the orange curtains on the Hastings DMU’s and the 4-CEP’s, plus the individual light if you were on the end of a Hastings DMU. Have I forgotten anything?

[@Jasey2007]

I still remember how the vestibules used to smell like piss and the way you had to pull the window down to open the door from the outside, and the sound of the brakes followed by doors slamming.

[@AKLTrainDriver]

I remember travelling on these as a kid! How I miss that sound and the smell of the carriages, almost like a musty loft or something! Now driving trains, in Auckland, NZ though and loving it! I remember the 319's being introduced on the "Thameslink" service, and I thought that was modern! Still, more modern than what I'm currently driving!!!

[@stevewoodcock6352]

I could watch a KZbin video of 4SUB doors slamming all day long. Add the shrill whistle, ....pause..., air brakes off, creak creak, traction motors starting off with a low pitched woooooo, steadily increasing in pitch as speed picks up, the clickety-clack likewise, finally the last bogie passes by with a lone ty-clack, and the still increasing pitched woooooo of the motors fades away, London Bridge bound. Bring it back. The sounds still reverberate in my head from over 60 years ago. Especially that G-DUNK of the doors.

[@waleedarif6740]

Let's forget the technology, let's even forget the style, I'm 34 but I'm fully aware that Britain will never ever be as happy and sweet as it once was. 😢😢😥😥

[@phat2003uk]

Great memories indeed!

[@Sam_Green____4114]

l don't think this was the very last one !! As it departed at 19:29 !! The last one of the evening was 21:59 to Lymington .The changeover to the new stock would have been the next day from the next morning !! Why would they change over to the new trains half way through the evening's service ?

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Mark Carter is the Guard on this who steps out of the train at 05:48 and can be seen @06:09 leaning out the window as the train departs !!

[@floatybyboaty]

We use to always feel sorry for our Disabled travellers as they always went into the Brake Van. The filthiest part of the Train.

[@jessebella9322]

hehe these were the days, swinging on the doors whilst the train was still going fast before stopping at a platform, a smoking guard coming to tell you off, trying to help someone swing down the bridge bit to get a bike on the only part a bike could go next to the guards little seating room and hoping no other bikes were in there, the slamming of doors, opening door windows to open the doors from the outside as the little crappy sliding metal thing on the inside was stuck solid, a rattling noise as the train person half-heartedly when he could be bothered to do so told you on the rubbish fuzzy radio what the next station was going to be, and so many other cool things that are now missing. Its so odd but they were just better trains, and most certainly better days!

[@MrWillibaldvongluck1]

I used to use them from platforms 3 or 4 from Charing Cross station (when it used to be at the end of the Jubilee line,) to Thamesmead via either Lewisham or the slower train via Greenwich. I remember people making a mad dash for them as they left the station, sometimes almost swinging on the doors - or doing a forward roll down the platform if they'd forgotten to get off the train in time. They were so comfotable (and cosy.) We might even be luck enough to get one with compartments. Very sad..

[@andydjbadger]

Thanks for this wonderful video. The lack of commentary and the long shots really bring back all of the sounds of a journey on a CIG.

[@1100HondaCB]

it is amazing that these were still going strong after 50 years or so.

[@redemption843]

Hard to believe now that I would open the door from the outside putting my hand through window and jump off as train was slowing down and stick head out of window when train was moving .some poor souls came a cropper when another train came alongside! Health and safety was not as advanced in those days .

[@phat2003uk]

This was filmed in April 2010.

[@Rocketed12]

When trains were real trains

[@still_guns]

5:35 Sounds like the 411 pack you released back in January. A shame I never got to travel on one of these. If I did, I don't remember, I lived in Herts when they were all retired, and though I lived in Sussex before that, I have no memories of actually being on one.

[@krnlg]

Very well filmed. I never travelled in one of these so thanks for the experience.

[@propstand]

I always tried to get a seat in the only 2nd class compartment behind the cab. Preferably unoccupied, then it was window open and head hanging outside to watch the sparks flying. Happy days

[@phat2003uk]

That was the way to do it!

[@broxboy86]

I still remember how they smell. I miss them

[@TrainDriver1953]

Why is this train only a 3 set as they was all 4 sets

[@kentrailobserver37]

This CIG 1497 is now in service at the Spa Valley Ralway and will be in service on 21-22 March 2020 for the Spring Diesel Gala

[@Biggles2498]

Reminds me of my neighbours' car in the morning ! Slam, slam, slam,slam, and slam and slam and slam.....................!

[@eswnl1]

The dead silence when the train is stopped at a station (no air conditioning) and all you hear is the slamming sound of the doors. Then the sudden jerk forwards (all that inrush current to the motors) as the train starts to move with a squeaky sound.

[@Hemiauchenia]

I remember seeing my last slam door train. Many years ago, standing at Ashford International Station after they'd all been pretty much discontinued. There was just one train that caused a massive noise as it came in. Rattling and rolling as it came in. It was a London Bridge to Dover Priory train. Slam door. Will never forget it.

[@glenjarnold]

That compressor noise takes me straight back! Funny how little things like that can transport you back almost a lifetime!

[@mdhazeldine]

Can't believe I've only just found your channel Richard (having bought nearly all your AP products). Great video! Nice to have footage of these units in such high quality. Thanks for making it.

[@peterryan8472]

I can smell the mildew now! The story of my childhood near Clapham Junction, these are.

[@guysatchwell6990]

3CIG ??

[@robertpayne6366]

A REP/TC 12 car formation hitting the points at the South End of Micheldever Station was an experience! Used to travel from Waterloo to Eastleigh on Saturday mornings. Breakfast in the REP dining car was amazing!

[@neilbolger2679]

The Brockenhurst to Lymington line . Last line to have the old slam door service of these down this way . watching this with the sounds brought back memories of the smells and comfort of these . Now we have desiros grrrrrr. Nice vid , thanks for sharing it cos of the memories

[@bluel7162]

running along London bridge station platform 1 looking for a seat in a non smoking carriage,., or just get in and breathe all that smoke., those were the days. my suit always smelled of cigarettes.

[@SouthWestMax]

Many many happy memories from riding Freshwater and Farringford on the Lymington Branch. Every little sound and piece of detail on them comes straight back. I remember the day the guard let us ride in a First Class compartment on 1497 which was very kind of him. Still remember the days I watched each unit pull away from me for the final time. Wonderful video capturing so much of the units’ character. Missing them very much, but will never forget them.

[@handyboy5332]

I suppose we were lucky that the "Heritage Line" ( Brockenhurst to Lymington) endured for as long as it did. However, it was largely S.W.T.'S reluctance to maintain the two units properly (Cheers, Stagecoach) that led to their withdrawal. Couldn't be intentional, surely?? It was said in the final months that they weren't put through the carriage wash because, due to rusty roofs, they were not unlike a cullender; so their appearance faded and the image suffered. Leaning out of a Beclawat window and hearing the ringing note as the shoe hit the juice rail was one of life's little pleasures. O' course with a little E.D. you get two rings (two shoes!).

[@NCRailVideos]

the good old lymington slammers one of them still exsists , it's in preservation with the EOR

[@DINESHGADA]

Awesome

[@MrWebbster1997]

miss them and i always used to sit in the standard class compartment :)

[@johnnyboy3949]

In the 50s they knew how to build trains

[@charlie2268]

Why on earth did they get rid of these units on this line? Replacing them with 450's and 158's? That's just ridiculous! Bring them back! Great documentary by the way.

[@rabd9881]

Yeah let’s replace accessible modern safe units with air conditioning with inaccessible dirty old heaps that will fall apart in an accident. You’re the ridiculous one here

[@visionist7]

What year was this recorded?

[@rau1seixas]

Because that end became the back end

[@phat2003uk]

That's Lymington Pier

[@psd3210]

When was this filmed?

[@josephbevan96]

Nice arc at 6:32 !

[@justme-hh4vp]

Do the two numbers at the front mean something in particular, why do they only run from 5-9?

[@JeSuisRene]

just me I think it was a sign stating what service it was (akin to bus numbers), such as Victoria to Orpington.

[@wossisname4540]

The two numbers are the headcode denoting the route the train is on and the stopping pattern. The blinds had numbers 1 - 5, black blank, white blank and red blank, numbers 6 - 0. For example: 81 was W'loo to Pompey calling at Woking, Guildford, Petersfield, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour. 82 was Woking, Guildford and all stations. 83 was Clapham Jct., Wimbledon, Surbiton, Woking and all stations.

[@Littlet1ts]

4:00-4:50 what station is that?

[@king8kong8kock]

Robert Littleton lymington pier station

[@TheThecyclist]

why were the numbers changed to two red squares?

[@timtube1663]

The cyclist It's an alternative to a tail light

[@davecook3840]

It means it’s the non driving end of the train and the train is complete. So it’s not waiting for another unit to couple to it. If there is no headcode then you can also have 2 white flags at the front meaning the same thing but “driving end” As said, just like a car or a pushbike but also means that the unit is complete

[@wossisname4540]

@@davecook3840 Two white blinds were never a headcode (i.e. a route number on the main line). They were used for empty stock in a depot or between coupled units, but even then they should be black blanks. Cromptons & little EDs on ballast work might use white blanks in the possession.

[@owenchuarbx]

What Class is That?

[@TehMisteh557]

Crystal Mover Class 423

[@tobysummers471]

class 421 cig units. The difference between class 423 and 421 is that the 423 had doors next to every seating area but the 421 units had 3 doors per side like a mark 1 coach of which it is derived from.

[@owenchuarbx]

+tobysummers.exe Thanks for the info

[@kristinajendesen7111]

That's a keen driver, couldn't make him out but Mark Carter is the guard. We normally just ran with white blinds rather than fuss with the 97. At least there is a proper BR train down there on weekdays now - 158. I heard that could be going from the Lymmy branch though so you might want to get some footage of that.

[@wossisname4540]

Oooh, the inconvenience of winding up the correct headcode.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@wossisname4540 You've obviously never done 18 trips (or even 22 once), of 10 minute duration and winding the blinds each time.

[@wossisname4540]

@@kristinajendesen7111 I take it that you've never had a Form 1 for "...Failing to display the correct Headcode." Neither have I, but I know a bloke who did. On the other hand the Grove Park - Bromley North was almost always 1 white & 1 red both ends and nothing said.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@wossisname4540One white, one red- that's a long shunt. 😁