Class 404 4-BUF/4-COR/4-GRI/4-RES

The Southern Railway built forty-eight four-car EMUs for the electrified line from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour via Woking. These were a mixture of 4-COR (Corridor) and 4-RES (Restaurant) sets. They were intended to be used in twelve-car formations with a 4-RES sandwiched between two 4-CORs and providing catering services for the train. The whole train had corridor connections throughout [1] so all passengers had access to the refreshment facilities [2].

Further electrification in mid-Sussex saw SR built a second batch of units, twenty six more CORs and thirteen BUF (Buffet car) sets [3], the buffet cars having modern facilities with an Art Deco interior design by O.V.S. Bulleid [4].

Information
Number built:	348 (87 4-car sets)
Built:	1937-38
Builder:	SR Lancing Works / Eastleigh
Motor:	4 MV/EE 163 traction motors (750v DC third rail)
Power:	900 hp (670 kW)
Formation (4-COR):	Driving Motor Second Open (DMSO)+TCK (Trailer Composite Corridor)+TSK (Trailer Standard Corridor)+DMSO

In the Nationalisation era a number of changes were made to the stock, including converting the restaurant sets to buffet (4-BUF) or griddle (4-GRI). The final 4-RES were withdrawn in 1964 but the other sets continued in service until 1972, the 4-CORs becoming Class 404 under TOPS. In later years surplus trailers from other classes were used to augment sets creating 6-CORs and 6-TCs.

4-COR 3131 (DMBTO only) preserved at NRM Shildon

[1] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 306
[2] David Brown, Southern Electric Vol. 2 (Capital Transport, 2010) p. 143
[3] Alan Williams, Southern Electric Album (Ian Allan, 1977) p. 45
[4] Brian Haresnape & Alec Swain, Third Rail DC Electric Multiple-Units (Ian Allan, 1989) p. 19

Blackpool Electric Tramway Company

The Blackpool Electric Tramway opened in 1885, it was the first electric tramway in Britain and one of the first in the world [1]. After successful tests on a short length of track in Manchester [2] the company was granted a seven year concession by the Blackpool Corporation and began operating along the promenade between Cocker Street and Station Road, the trams taking current from a central channel conduit. The conduit was rather wide and prone to fouling by sand, sea water and especially children's hoops! On occasion the tramway had to resort to horse power but was a financial success. In 1893 the Corporation took over the company and it's line (relations between the company and the Corporation always being rather fraught) and the line became part of the Corporation's highly successful tramway system which survives to this day.

Information
Number built:	10
Built:	1884-5
Builder:	Lancaster Railway Carriage & Wagon Company
Motor:	Elwell Parker electric motor (250v DC conduit later OHLE)
Power:	7 hp (5kW)

Ten tram cars were built for the tramway, six were "Winter" cars with enclosed lower decks though were used all year. The surviving tram, number 4 which is now at Crich Tramway Museum, was one of these. As built it was fitted for conduit current pickup and had a single Elwell Parker electric motor with chain drive to the axles. The tram was very similar to horse tram cars, it didn't have a truck but axles carried in trunnions bolted to the sills [3].

Later it was fitted with a truck and a pair of more powerful GEC GE52 motors. It was given a trolley for current collection from overhead wires which is the method the Corporation standardised on. Number 4's passenger service life was fairly short, it was converted to a works car in 1899 and continued in this role until the 1930s when it was placed in storage. It was preserved and restored to running condition in the 1960s.

It has now been restored back to close to it's original condition and can be run using a battery powered motor.

Number 4 at Crich

The tram had an open top-deck

Front view

[1] Charles Klapper, The Golden Age of Tramways (David & Charles, 1974) p. 61
[2] R.W. Rush, British Electric Tramcar Design (Oxford Publishing, 1976) p. 12
[3] Ibid. p. 13

London Underground 1914 Tube Stock

This stock was built for the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway (later the Bakerloo Line) which had expanded North from Edgware Road to Paddington in 1913 and a further extension to Queen's Park was due in 1915 [1]. The 1914 Tube Stock consisted of twelve new Driving Motors and two new trailers with other trailers rendered surplus by the Piccadilly moved across to the Bakerloo.

Information
Number built:	14 (12 Driving Motors and 2 Trailers)
Built:	1914
Builder:	Brush / Leeds Forge
Motor:	2 GE212 electric motors per car

The new trains introduced a number of new features. Although they retained the end of car gates as earlier tube stock they also had hinged centre doors. These were still hand operated though had electric locks and safety mechanisms to prevent the train starting before the door had closed. They also had improved interiors and better riding thanks to anti-vibration material fitted under the springs [2]. Unlike earlier tube stock they did not have a clerestory roof to retain heat in the winter.

They also had emergency lighting powered by an onboard battery in the event of current loss. They were also the first tube stock to have interpole electric motors which reduced sparking and improved reliability. They had automatic acceleration [3].

The cars were of all steel construction built by Brush (ten driving motors) and Leeds Forge (two driving motors and the two new trailers) [4]. The tube stock remained in service until the mid-1930s when it was withdrawn.

Brush built DM 43 [2]

Interior view [2]

[1] J. Graeme Bruce, The London Underground Tube Stock (Ian Allan, 1988) p. 45
[2] "New Motor Cars for the Baker Street and Waterloo", Railway Times (February 14, 1914) p. 151
[3] Piers Connor, The London Underground Electric Train (Crowood Press, 2015) p. 55
[4] Mike Horne, The Bakerloo Line (Capital Transport, 2001) p. 30