EPBs Class 415 5001 5176 Last EPB in public service 20.02 Charing Cross to Dartford via Sidcup.

The last EPB units to leave London in public service after 44 years and 4 million miles. The units were decked out with balloons and a special wreath in the cab. Members of the EPB Group distributed leaflets to encourage travellers to join and save examples of EPB stock. Guards and the driver sounded the horns as we travelled to London Bridge and other passing trains replied.
Get 4 CEP 7105 back on the mainline. Join the EPB group.
www.epbpg.co.uk/

[@gordonmackley6057]

EPBs actually finished earlier in the week on rostered diagrams but we arranged this special last day working by swapping in the two heritage units 5001 (green) and 5176 (blue) on the afternoon of 31st. March to replace the Networkers. The set did a number of passenger trains including a Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath not calling Dartford to Strood. It then worked round including running as a passenger train Cannon Street to Charing Cross until this final Charing Cross to Dartford via Sidcup working. It was available to ordinary fare paying passengers throughout, some of whom especially on the final journey were somewhat bemused. Great to see the video. Gordon Mackley former SE Performance Manager.

[@1974kelvo]

I was the Slade Green fitter riding shot gun on this and on the railtour. Was a good day out, only 11 1/2 hours to get from London Bridge to Charing Cross if I remember correctly.

[@peterbuckley265]

Well it would hare been nice if these runs were publicised and as usual little of no info anywhere. I only found out recently, 23 years afterwards with this video. When I worked at London upgrade rail closures. I went beyond my line of duty circa 10 years ago, to ask drivers supervisors at Vauxhall and Walthamstow to please tell their drivers to announce the Victoria Line closures there; after many complaints from passengers who alighted to find no Victoria line trains. But If the drivers had been doing their jobs properly all along, no people would have been inconvenienced and would have gone on to Waterloo and Liverpool Street. The drivers then did their jobs right after my intervention which I should have not needed to do, but there were so many muck ups with incompetent staff, that I had to intervene so many times, , < though not my responsibility and if I did nothing, no one else would have done anything >, with rail buses going to wrong stations and missing some out, wrong or no publicity, wrong announcements . My work was cut out, already being very busy at busy stations, with so many passengers enquiries. I did a handwritten poster at Walthamstow Central, giving all available buses and trains to all stations to Brixton with no Victoria Line I got any commendations from the public and bus and rail staff being called the expert and a legend, plus the person with a bag of all the maps and timetables of London and I had a reputation of giving excellent service to customers, all over Greater London, to ensure everyone got the best service that they all deserved. But I did not get the service I deserved from South Eastern, so I wish the preserved EPBS could do EPB 25th anniversary services .

[@class444swr3]

@@peterbuckley265 yeah, I find that TfL is better than NSE or the modern TOCs with this, the drivers on TfL do often announce if it is the last one to run, but SWR etc barely ever let anyone know

[@xenon53827]

loved these, the last with the 'bulleid' type small oval windows in the doors. I had a ride in the guards section once, and the periscope and mirror were still there. great to see where you were going 'from the roof' as it were!

[@movetolinux8965]

Wow what a great video I just showed my 8 yr old son this he loved it

[@martynthomas7486]

I did this last run and also the journey from Victoria to Strood. A very sad day but a good send off nonetheless. Mark Bowman glimpsed at the beginning I see. I sat with Terry Bell and John Sandham for much of the time. Going home at Dartford was awful with the knowledge that from then on all journeys would be by plastic Networkers. Still at least we still had the Thumpers, CEP's, CIG's and VEP's for around 10 years after.

[@jhclausen]

I first knew John Sandham through his interest in EPBs. Sadly he passed away last Sunday. RIP

[@simonmd2000]

Wow, 20 years ago these went? Where did that time go???!!!! I remember running up the platform to find the smoking carriage in the 80s and that one would always be the fullest! How times have changed...

[@Jallge]

What in the world. 8 o'clock on a Friday night and London Bridge looks practically deserted!

[@trainrover]

Great recordings! Moving back to Montreal from London revealed even older fleets back in the '80s, e.g., electric cowboy trains from WW1 (clerestory roofing for me evokes cowboy).

[@MikesMovies]

Love it, great to see. I guess people were not aware of videos back then hence the chatter around you? Good old EPBs be happy to see them back

[@macstar2010]

was on the end of an era railtour. great day. sad that they are gone.

[@jaygordon6229]

looks like it was picking up general commuters on that last stop bet they wondered what the hell was going on with all the horn blowing lol

[@jhclausen]

I was in the leading vehicle of 5001 for this journey. I've been on a few last runs since but this was the best. All four cabs were full of train crew and the horns were blaring all the way to Dartford.

[@peterbuckley265]

But as usual little if any publicity , no info in Central London or in North London, so I and many missed out.. Poor or no publicity is rife in all situations and is endemic of the UK.

[@class444swr3]

Yes, I would probably not know if the last D stock ran if I was at the station with the train, and only later I would know I just saw a train pass for the last time

[@ylwpyro9549]

Is this a 2EPB or 4EPB?

[@34tohayes]

It is a train formed of two 4 EPBs 5001 and 5176

[@sydmichel]

Funny how women don't seem to be interested in trains.

[@class444swr3]

Ik, trains just seem to end up being a man's hobby for no reason, have never seen a female trainspotter

[@34tohayes]

There is actually a young lady on the train for this occasion .