33 025 at Slade Green Depot. 1990.
Disparagingly known as "Sludge Island" by South Eastern Railwaymen the large depot built on the Thames marshes at Slade Green was home to the South Eastern Divisions suburban EMU fleet. It still is a large site with up and down carriage sidings either side of the mainline, a large cleaning shed (seen here) and heavy repair workshops.
On this occasion 33 025 named 'Sultan' is waiting to depart with withdrawn class 415/5 4-COM (ex 4-EPB) unit no.5509 as special 5Z33 the 14.55 to Sevenoaks Up Sidings. The 4-COM units (sets 5501-5532) were former unrefurbished 4-EPB sets reformed grouping all the "dog box" single compartment trailers into 32 units. traditionally one vehicle in a 4-car EPB would be single compartment coach. This decision came about after the horrific murder of a young woman on 23rd March 1988 in a single compartment on 4-EPB set 5115 between Orpington and London Victoria. After that BR only diagrammed the units for peak hour workings and within 3 years they were all withdrawn. The designation "4-COM" stood for "4-Car Compartment" although some said "Commuter". On the left is one of the original class 416/2 BR built 2-EPB sets no.6202 originally numbered 5702 it was one of 11 sets built in 1954 for replacing the elderly 2-SL and 2-WIM stock used on the London to Wimbledon and West Croydon services.
33 025 at Slade Green Depot. 1990.
Disparagingly known as "Sludge Island" by South Eastern Railwaymen the large depot built on the Thames marshes at Slade Green was home to the South Eastern Divisions suburban EMU fleet. It still is a large site with up and down carriage sidings either side of the mainline, a large cleaning shed (seen here) and heavy repair workshops.
On this occasion 33 025 named 'Sultan' is waiting to depart with withdrawn class 415/5 4-COM (ex 4-EPB) unit no.5509 as special 5Z33 the 14.55 to Sevenoaks Up Sidings. The 4-COM units (sets 5501-5532) were former unrefurbished 4-EPB sets reformed grouping all the "dog box" single compartment trailers into 32 units. traditionally one vehicle in a 4-car EPB would be single compartment coach. This decision came about after the horrific murder of a young woman on 23rd March 1988 in a single compartment on 4-EPB set 5115 between Orpington and London Victoria. After that BR only diagrammed the units for peak hour workings and within 3 years they were all withdrawn. The designation "4-COM" stood for "4-Car Compartment" although some said "Commuter". On the left is one of the original class 416/2 BR built 2-EPB sets no.6202 originally numbered 5702 it was one of 11 sets built in 1954 for replacing the elderly 2-SL and 2-WIM stock used on the London to Wimbledon and West Croydon services.