Are there any Slam Door trains preserved in a museum?

Richard Smith · 9 Oct 2018

I was feeling nostalgic, and remembering growing up seeing the old slam door trains rushing through my local station. I thought I would ask here, seeing since you probably would know, is there any left preserved in a museum that you could visit, as I would love to sit back in those seats and hear that door slam one more time. Thank you again.

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yorkie · 10 Oct 2018

Welcome to the forum

I'm not sure about sitting in the seats, but you can certainly see 'slam door' stock at the NRM (York and Shildon) for a start...

Then there's places like Steam at Swindon. I'm sure others can produce a comprehensive list.

But if you want to sit in the seats, your best bet is to visit a preserved railway.

fireftrm · 10 Oct 2018

As you are in North Yorkshire Richard may I recommend the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, all slam door stock!

SwindonBert · 10 Oct 2018

Dartmouth Steam railway has; but, I know it's not exactly local to where you are.

DarloRich · 10 Oct 2018

go to York and get on an HST and go for a ride. All slam door there!

mushroomchow · 10 Oct 2018

I'm guessing you're referring to Southern Region units? I don't believe there are any in standalone working order, but there's the odd set preserved on a number of lines. We used to have a 4-VEP at the GCR which worked push-pull with out resident Class 33, though I believe it unfortunately got vandalised and is now at a different line.

If you don't specifically want EMUs, there are plenty of 205/207 "Thumpers" still kicking about on preserved lines, and the Hastings Unit (1001) is mainline certified and runs railtours across the country.

Also of interest to you must be the ongoing restoration of the "Brighton Belle" Pullman EMU to mainline working order!

trash80 · 10 Oct 2018

A 4-CEP is regularly used as hauled stock on the CPRR

John Webb · 10 Oct 2018

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has plenty of 'slam-door' stock, as does the Vintage Carriage Museum at Ingrow West on that line. A few miles away is the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, likewise equipped.

Richard Smith · 10 Oct 2018

Thank you for all the replies, its sad when I think they are now mostly scrap or who knows what. I used to enjoy going to Margate with my nan by the Class 411, I think I got that right. Found a picture of one of them pulling into Maidstone East my station when I was growing up, sporting my favorite number 94.https://www.kentrail.org.uk/Maidstone East.htm It's the second picture down. Any more ideas? Thank You again

gazthomas · 10 Oct 2018

Four complete units have been saved for preservation. From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_411

4 Bep unit no. 2325 (containing 3 coaches of ex 1537, ex-7105) has been preserved by the EPB Preservation Group, is currently split in different locations with the centre cars being at the Epping Ongar Railway and the driving ends at Eastleigh Works. This set was the first of the production units to be built, and it is hoped to restore it to its original condition. in January 2014, the two motor coaches were moved by road and rail to Eastleigh Works for this to begin. As of September 2016 one driving end is stripped and the other is in store.

3 Cep unit no. 1198 has been preserved by the EMU Preservation Society on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. It was moved in May 2008 from the Dartmoor Railway to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway until August 2013, immediately prior to that railway's closure pending re-organisation. This unit was converted from former 4 Bep unit 2314 (ex-2304, ex 7175) for use on the Lymington Branch Line.

4 Bep units nos. 2311 and 2315 (which contains the other coach of 1537, ex-7105) are preserved on the Eden Valley Railway. These were the final two 4BEP units in service with South West Trains.

Both driving motor coaches from unit no. 1589 (ex-7178) are preserved on the Dartmoor Railway. Its TBC carriage can be found at Snibston Discovery Park in Leicestershire, and its TSO carriage was in now disbanded Cig 1393, at the Whitwell & Reepham railway station. The vehicles from this unit could in theory be reunited, although both the TBC and TSO have now been fitted with vacuum brakes and will require a lot of corrective works.[speculation?]

The TBC 70345 from unit no. 1500 (ex-7153), which was also in 1547, is currently preserved In a Private Garden in Sutton Bridge.

LowLevel · 10 Oct 2018

mushroomchow said:
I'm guessing you're referring to Southern Region units? I don't believe there are any in standalone working order, but there's the odd set preserved on a number of lines. We used to have a 4-VEP at the GCR which worked push-pull with out resident Class 33, though I believe it unfortunately got vandalised and is now at a different line.

If you don't specifically want EMUs, there are plenty of 205/207 "Thumpers" still kicking about on preserved lines, and the Hastings Unit (1001) is mainline certified and runs railtours across the country.

Also of interest to you must be the ongoing restoration of the "Brighton Belle" Pullman EMU to mainline working order!

It was a 4-BIG, formerly Greyhound 4-CIG 1393. The driving cars were scrapped, the buffet is elsewhere and the motor coach is now a Network Rail test car.

yorksrob · 10 Oct 2018

If you want the authentic experience of 411 travel, the Hastings thumper (mentioned above) includes a 411 carriage in its formation.

The National Railway Museum and NSE society are also in the process of restoring a 2HAP unit, which should be ready for viewing (and possibly sitting in) in the near future.

Paul Hitchcock · 10 Oct 2018

Nothing but slam door stock on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. 100% droplight windows too

E_Reeves · 10 Oct 2018

trash80 said:
A 4-CEP is regularly used as hauled stock on the CPRR

The one with the 'fish tank' window :lol:

vlad · 11 Oct 2018

Paul Hitchcock said:
Nothing but slam door stock on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. 100% droplight windows too

It's all compartments, so you have to like that sort of thing.

sprinterguy · 11 Oct 2018

vlad said:
It's all compartments, so you have to like that sort of thing.

You mean there's people that don't? o_O

Bedpan · 11 Oct 2018

I'm racking my brain trying to think of any standard gauge preserved railway that uses anything other than slam door stock. Apart from places like Chatham Dockyard and that sort of thing.

Paul Hitchcock · 11 Oct 2018

Bedpan said:
I'm racking my brain trying to think of any standard gauge preserved railway that uses anything other than slam door stock. Apart from places like Chatham Dockyard and that sort of thing.

Various Pullmans and narrow gauge stock use inward opening doors which don't quite correspond to what we normally think of as "slam".

PH

Edders23 · 12 Oct 2018

Mk2 stock on the Mid Norfolk is about as modern as you can ride in apart from the prototype HST on the GCR(N) so nearly any railway will have slam door coaches BUT our OP wanted slam door EMU's which are rarer

HaggisBotherer · 12 Oct 2018

Bedpan said:
I'm racking my brain trying to think of any standard gauge preserved railway that uses anything other than slam door stock. Apart from places like Chatham Dockyard and that sort of thing.

I think it is blindingly obvious to anyone by now that by 'slam door', the OP means 400 series Southern Region EMUs...?

181 · 12 Oct 2018

Paul Hitchcock said:
Various Pullmans and narrow gauge stock use inward opening doors which don't quite correspond to what we normally think of as "slam".

PH

And being pedantic, on pre-Mk1 stock you can't always just slam the door -- in some cases you have to push it shut and turn the handle.

Eyersey468 · 12 Oct 2018

There's a BR Mk1 coach that was built as a parcels vehicle at the Yorkshire Wolds Railway, it is used as the visitor centre.

Bedpan · 13 Oct 2018

HaggisBotherer said:
I think it is blindingly obvious to anyone by now that by 'slam door', the OP means 400 series Southern Region EMUs...?

Not to me, it wasn't, and obviously not to the two subsequent posters. Maybe the OP could clarify, but as far as I can gather (and several previous posters apparently think), he wants to hear the sound of a carriage door slamming, something that you can't do on the "big" railway nowadays.

Flying Phil · 13 Oct 2018

Bedpan said:
Not to me, it wasn't, and obviously not to the two subsequent posters. Maybe the OP could clarify, but as far as I can gather (and several previous posters apparently think), he wants to hear the sound of a carriage door slamming, something that you can't do on the "big" railway nowadays.

But, as has been said before, there are still HST's running on the "Big" railway with "slam doors" and up to South Yorkshire on the MML I believe? However, is there a different "Slam"sound for the Southern units???

yorksrob · 13 Oct 2018

Flying Phil said:
But, as has been said before, there are still HST's running on the "Big" railway with "slam doors" and up to South Yorkshire on the MML I believe? However, is there a different "Slam"sound for the Southern units???

Lighter and crisper

B&W · 21 Oct 2018

Our CIG will be out this coming Tuesday and Wednesday Purple timetable at the Spa Valley Railway from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge (connections with GTR Uckfield line). Slam doors and operating Push Pull with class 73

Cowley · 21 Oct 2018

B&W said:
Our CIG will be out this coming Tuesday and Wednesday Purple timetable at the Spa Valley Railway from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge (connections with GTR Uckfield line). Slam doors and operating Push Pull with class 73

Perfect.
Richard Smith... Get yourself down there. :smile:

theageofthetra · 22 Oct 2018

Cowley said:
Perfect.
Richard Smith... Get yourself down there.

I might pop down for that.

Are there any Slam Door trains preserved in a museum?

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