Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Who remembers the phonecard public telephone at the vestibule end of the driving first?
Nice to see that - so everywhere else was the quiet zone..View attachment 97398
(Image credit Colin Duff / Southern Electric Group)
In retrospect, keeping that as a cupboard for people to take calls in private would have been a good idea.View attachment 97398
(Image credit Colin Duff / Southern Electric Group)
I used to travel on them regularly on the SWML. Compared with Mk1 slam door stock they seemed like the last word in modern rolling stock! I did manage to get a ride on one of the refurbished ones on the Portsmouth Direct, pre-Covid. Despite the new paint and fabrics, compared with a 444 I am afraid it seemed out of date. Sloppy ride, untidy interior and lousy doors.
The Open day at Bournemouth Depot in May 1988 - you could walk under a 442.
I first saw the display on a 442 when it came through Vauxhall. Even though the train was passing fairly close to me, it came through on the platform 6 line and I was standing on platform 7, it was almost impossible to read. It seemed to me to be a fairly pointless feature, and I wasn't surprised that it fell into disuse.... when it still had mini dot matrix destination above end gangway...
Correct. I think there were a few accidents with trapped fingers/hands due to the weight of the covers, which were originally metal. I'd imagine not the easiest thing to unhook and lower into position when between units.I recall that the 442s did not show the set number on the front but on the side of the cab, quite unlike any other Southern Region EMUs. I also have a feeling that the covers of the bays containing jumper cables on the front ends were quite soon removed; perhaps someone can confirm that.
I suppose that the buffet (motor) car probably wasn't the best choice if you were skiving off... I'd have been collared before Brockenhurst!Late 80s, bunking off school for the day and sitting on an early Bournemouth to Waterloo service amongst all the long-distance commuters buried in their newspapers. I was unnerved by just how quiet 442s were at speed compared to the rail noise dished out by the CIGs, VEPs and 73-propelled 4TCs I'd been used to. So unnerved that I let my Walkman and headphones provide the soundtrack for the rest of the trip.