agree - third rail units mean nothing to me but this is a wonderful job at restoration. There weren't many third rail units in the North East........
Thanks all! It was certainly quite the sight!
Strawberry Hill ?
I also used the units to travel to London. I remember seeing 3417 tucked away at Clapham sidings, then Wimbledon. The guys at Ilford and Strawberry Hill have done a great job.
Thanks for the link. So not yet mainline operational.
The big task will be the Central Door Locking system.
More to the point, it has the rebuilt brake van area with the additional seating - which means 3417 is technically the only number it could carry with that.
It did operate passenger services with that livery too.
MBSO ex 7775, which I believe only came to SW in later years, whereas 7717 was a Bournemouth unit (in my time) before moving up to Womble land. Remember them very well in original large van/cage guise, although one section of seats in the revised format could make for a nice snug area of sorts (no external door in one bay). Interesting to see that the compo nearest the bog in the DTCL's has been retained as second class, judging by the external yellow lining. Can't remember now when those were first down classed, so very long ago!
The MBSO was swaped when the refurbishment was done. As the MBSO vehicles had significant modifications to give additional seating they took longer to refurbish, so rather than have units sat around waiting for their MBSO back, sets were released with the MBSO of an earlier unit in the programme. Units were renumbered from 3421 upwards in order of shopping, except for the first 20 sets (7701-20/3001-20) that became 3401-20 to keep the batch together that had originally had asbestos insulation (which was stripped during the 1980s at Eastleigh) in the DTC vehicles.MBSO ex 7775, which I believe only came to SW in later years, whereas 7717 was a Bournemouth unit (in my time) before moving up to Womble land. Remember them very well in original large van/cage guise, although one section of seats in the revised format could make for a nice snug area of sorts (no external door in one bay). Interesting to see that the compo nearest the bog in the DTCL's has been retained as second class, judging by the external yellow lining. Can't remember now when those were first down classed, so very long ago!
PS: with apologies to StephenHunter - didn't see the attachment a few posts up!
Sooner sit in 4 VEP three a side than on networker or electrostars but agree you did have to be careful to assess your companions if only middle seats were left.
