I preferred the CEPs before they were rebuilt. I used to head for the 2nd class compartments in the corridor composite which became the guards/open coach when they were rebuilt! We had a few CEPS on the Brighton line in the 70s & 80s
Living in Kent, these were our "bread and butter" units for many years, along with the 2 haps, until the Veps crept in during the 70s. The unrefurbished units were sooo comfortable but I do remember the water slopping to and fro in the early double glazing. Happy memories...
These wonderful emus stood the test of time right till the end. within a week of them new plastic molds we now have ,they were back in the work shops, while these beauties were still going strong and yes they were very loud comfortable and reliable just as trains should be!
These were considered the most powerful of the SR EMU's with them upgraded with the former 4GRI and 4NEL traction motors and these used to work 4+4+4+MLV on the boat trains with the MLV having itself a decent power traction motor so the trains were running 16 cars worth of power on a 13 car set making them very pokey indeed. Many a happy summer day out from Bromley South to Margate in these old beauties, flying along past Reculver tower with the sun out and the sea, even had still the buffet cars on the pre-Jaffa's and using me PT I was able to get "SR" rates on tea and grub, such a shame these were just thrown away pretty much.
The music at the beginning is a version of the theme tune to the TV series Upstairs Downstairs. It was composed by Alexander "Sandy" Faris (1921-2015).
Fantastic video. Never seen this before. As a member of the EPB Preservation Group we are working at present to get 7105 back main line running and it will take time. We do need support from fans of these Slam door wonders. It is a major project and MLV 68001 with success on preserved lines and 68002 at present worked on for main line running and years of 2EPB 5759 running in preservation has shown we go out our way to save this part of history.
Class 411 4-CEP electric multiple unit trains operated on the Kent Coast, Brighton and Portsmouth lines during their working lives. The introduction of plug door trains on express services to Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset led to all the slammers with no central locking being retired and the majority being dismantled.
This is fantastic! A superb video record of these units - love them or hate them, they played a big part in many people's traveling lives for a long time and this certainly brought back some memories! SWT obviously looked after their slammers, unlike Connex/SouthEastern, whose units were usually caked in a thick layer of dirt that would wipe off onto your coat as you were getting off onto the plaftorm. Happy days!
I remember as a five year old travelling on one of these from Charing Cross to Hastings and the unit having a loud ciren noise before leaving a station.
I would class myself as a railway enthusiast, just not a needlessly stubborn one xD. Yeah i forgot the 37 obsession, it wasn't a very powerful loco, but it does sound good. nothing compared to a 66 though.
Good video, remeber used ot get on these when I used to go to College from Waterloo, one thing I remember was the low whine when they got moving, but also the "koncking" noise (0:49 - 0:52) from the underframe.. does anyone know what that was? Im guessing the chassis flexing or perhaps it came from the bogies or couplings?
Nice memories..loved the whine of the traction motors on all the slammers..These 4CEPs were rebuilt without their original Commonwealth Bogies and refitted with B5 4VEP/CIG/ type Bogies..Were these obtained from stacked CIG/VEP/TC/REP Units!!??
All the CEPs were refurbished in the early 1980s at Swindon. All CEPs emerged from refurbishment with their original, but rebuilt, motor bogies and Commonwealth bogies (the first batch of CEPs didn’t have Commonwealths when built). However, after the REPs were withdrawn and the Wessex units were finished the spare REP motor and B5 bogies were fitted to some CEPs. The CIGs & VEPs were withdrawn at the same time as the CEPs.
The Desiro City trains used by SWR, Thameslink and Great Northern have very uncomfortable seats. Maybe I should be running these railways. I'll refurbish the trains and put in more comfortable seats. I might even use the same seat moquette used by Network SouthEast! (I remember seeing that moquette a lot during my early years.)
Railway enthusiasts think they're better just like they think 37s are absolute heaven compared to everything. Of course, everyone else disagrees because to most all that matters is comfort and stuff, quite rightly so. I've never seen the fascination with 37s anyway.
these being old, run down, loud, uncomfortable, less safe (not dangerous though) and far less nice to look at? not forgetting less reliable. These are better how?
This video is very impressive for camera footage in 2005.
totally
Yes very clear I've read comments elsewhere things look so old in 2005, down to the grainy footage probably...
I preferred the CEPs before they were rebuilt. I used to head for the 2nd class compartments in the corridor composite which became the guards/open coach when they were rebuilt! We had a few CEPS on the Brighton line in the 70s & 80s
superb video! i miss the CEPs they had the most amount of character out of all the 400 series....brings back memories!
nice 1 5 stars!
Living in Kent, these were our "bread and butter" units for many years, along with the 2 haps, until the Veps crept in during the 70s. The unrefurbished units were sooo comfortable but I do remember the water slopping to and fro in the early double glazing. Happy memories...
Proper seats too, a bit dusty but far preferable to today’s ironing boards.
i used to travel on these every day until the junipers took over. Amazing trains, definately missed
These wonderful emus stood the test of time right till the end. within a week of them new plastic molds we now have ,they were back in the work shops, while these beauties were still going strong and yes they were very loud comfortable and reliable just as trains should be!
These were considered the most powerful of the SR EMU's with them upgraded with the former 4GRI and 4NEL traction motors and these used to work 4+4+4+MLV on the boat trains with the MLV having itself a decent power traction motor so the trains were running 16 cars worth of power on a 13 car set making them very pokey indeed. Many a happy summer day out from Bromley South to Margate in these old beauties, flying along past Reculver tower with the sun out and the sea, even had still the buffet cars on the pre-Jaffa's and using me PT I was able to get "SR" rates on tea and grub, such a shame these were just thrown away pretty much.
The music at the beginning is a version of the theme tune to the TV series Upstairs Downstairs. It was composed by Alexander "Sandy" Faris (1921-2015).
Fantastic video. Never seen this before. As a member of the EPB Preservation Group we are working at present to get 7105 back main line running and it will take time. We do need support from fans of these Slam door wonders. It is a major project and MLV 68001 with success on preserved lines and 68002 at present worked on for main line running and years of 2EPB 5759 running in preservation has shown we go out our way to save this part of history.
Class 411 4-CEP electric multiple unit trains operated on the Kent Coast, Brighton and Portsmouth lines during their working lives. The introduction of plug door trains on express services to Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset led to all the slammers with no central locking being retired and the majority being dismantled.
This is fantastic! A superb video record of these units - love them or hate them, they played a big part in many people's traveling lives for a long time and this certainly brought back some memories! SWT obviously looked after their slammers, unlike Connex/SouthEastern, whose units were usually caked in a thick layer of dirt that would wipe off onto your coat as you were getting off onto the plaftorm. Happy days!
SWT also preserved more of their slammers. Southern only preserved 2 and Southeastern didn't preserve a single complete unit.
I remember as a five year old travelling on one of these from Charing Cross to Hastings and the unit having a loud ciren noise before leaving a station.
Certainly miss these old beautys
You knew you were travelling on a real train back then.
I would class myself as a railway enthusiast, just not a needlessly stubborn one xD. Yeah i forgot the 37 obsession, it wasn't a very powerful loco, but it does sound good. nothing compared to a 66 though.
Nice video
They should have kept a few of these for special train trips etc.
Good video, remeber used ot get on these when I used to go to College from Waterloo, one thing I remember was the low whine when they got moving, but also the "koncking" noise (0:49 - 0:52) from the underframe.. does anyone know what that was? Im guessing the chassis flexing or perhaps it came from the bogies or couplings?
It's the couplings banging in to each other.
Great film Join the Epb group and get 7105 back in service
@TimeMeddler yes it was going to Haselmere
For their day they were more reliable, but given their age, they just have to go tbh.
It was more that they didn't meet modern health and safety requirements. A franchise commitment was to replace all Mark 1 stock by 2005.
Nice memories..loved the whine of the traction motors on all the slammers..These 4CEPs were rebuilt without their original Commonwealth Bogies and refitted with B5 4VEP/CIG/ type Bogies..Were these obtained from stacked CIG/VEP/TC/REP Units!!??
All the CEPs were refurbished in the early 1980s at Swindon. All CEPs emerged from refurbishment with their original, but rebuilt, motor bogies and Commonwealth bogies (the first batch of CEPs didn’t have Commonwealths when built). However, after the REPs were withdrawn and the Wessex units were finished the spare REP motor and B5 bogies were fitted to some CEPs. The CIGs & VEPs were withdrawn at the same time as the CEPs.
Sadly I couldn't get on one of these as I was born in 2006
2OO5 i believe.
nothing wrong with them nice airy environment i thought ,bet passengers still moan even now with our new foreign built trains!
The Desiro City trains used by SWR, Thameslink and Great Northern have very uncomfortable seats.
Maybe I should be running these railways. I'll refurbish the trains and put in more comfortable seats. I might even use the same seat moquette used by Network SouthEast!
(I remember seeing that moquette a lot during my early years.)
What year were they taken out of service? Was it 2005 or 2006?
2005. That was the deadline for retirement of all Mark 1 stock under franchise terms post-privatisation.
Railway enthusiasts think they're better just like they think 37s are absolute heaven compared to everything. Of course, everyone else disagrees because to most all that matters is comfort and stuff, quite rightly so. I've never seen the fascination with 37s anyway.
these being old, run down, loud, uncomfortable, less safe (not dangerous though) and far less nice to look at? not forgetting less reliable.
These are better how?
prefer these to the bloody blue cans that swt now lump the pompey line with
So true lol 😂