19th November 2005

Southern Electric Group / Southern
Sussex Slammer

EMU's Used 1805+1866+3514

Route:
2Z60 : Victoria to East Grinstead (train 1)
2Z65 : Victoria to East Grinstead (train 2)
2Z61 : East Grinstead to London Bridge (train 1)
2Z66 : East Grinstead to London Bridge (train 2)
2Z62 : London Bridge to Littlehampton
2Z63 : Littlehampton to New Haven Marine
2Z64 : New Haven Marine to Victoria
(2) ???? : Victoria to Brighton (2)

Train EMU's Route
1 3514+1805 08.40 London Victoria - Clapham Junction - Balham - Selhurst - Windmill Bridge Jn - East Croydon - South Croydon - Sanderstead - Oxted - East Grinstead
2 1866 08.42 London Victoria - Clapham Junction - Balham - Selhurst - Windmill Bridge Jn - East Croydon - South Croydon - Sanderstead - Oxted - East Grinstead
1 1805+3514 09.25 East Grinstead - Oxted - Sanderstead - South Croydon - East Croydon - Windmill Bridge Jn - Norwood Junction - Sydenham - Bricklayers Arms Jn - Spa Road Jn - London Bridge (1)
2 1866 09.27 East Grinstead - Oxted - Sanderstead - South Croydon - East Croydon - Windmill Bridge Jn - Norwood Junction - Sydenham - Bricklayers Arms Jn - Spa Road Jn - London Bridge
combined 1866+3514+1805 London Bridge - South Bermondsey - Peckham Rye - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Mitcham Junction - Sutton - Epsom - Leatherhead - Dorking - Horsham - Arundel Jn - Littlehampton
combined 1805+3514+1866 Littlehampton - Arundel Jn - West Worthing - Shorham-by-Sea - Hove - Preston Park
combined 1866+3514+1805 Preston Park - Brighton
combined 1805+3514+1866 Brighton - Lewes - Southerham Jn - Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Marine
combined 1866+3514+1805 Newhaven Marine - Newhaven Harbour - Southerham Jn - Lewes - Heymer Jn - Haywards Heath - Gatwick Airport - Earlswood - Redhill - Stoats Nest Jn - Purley - East Croydon - Windmill Bridge Jn - Selhurst - Balham - Clapham Junction - London Victoria
combined 1805+3514+1866 (2) London Victoria - Battersea Park - Clapham Junction - Balham - Streatham Hill - West Norwood - Crystal Palace - Norwood Junction - East Croydon - Purley - Stoats Nest Jn - Gatwick Airport - THree Bridges - Haywards Heath - Preston Park - Brighton (2)

Notes :
(1) Trains were combined at London Bridge and ran as one throughout the rest of the tour.
(2) Relief working, carrying passengers.

Sources : various including Matthew Cole, Solomon Riley & David Russell

Tour Review
(from Martin Barnsdall)

Now this was one not to miss. The final days of the Slammers beckoned, and a run on possibly the last ever slam door tour was duly booked. From the early days, a CIG-VEP-CIG combination was promised.

The tickets soon arrived and we were allocated one of the CIGs. An early morning found us making our way in the frost and mist to Clapham Junction to photo the ECS stock on its way to Victoria.


The incoming stock passing Clapham Junction (photo : Martin Barnsdall)

With this task duly completed, we caught the next train to Victoria and overtook the stock outside the station only to photo it coming into Victoria. With our CIG - 1866 - found, we hopped on board and found our seats.

The train was split, for operational reasons, and CIG1805 and VEP 3514 tootled off first hotly pursued by 1866. The tour crossed just outside East Grinstead, with much photing by all out of windows.

Pictures were obtained at East Grinstead, - with the departure indicator flagging us as the next train to Plymouth!

It was then back to London Bridge and probably the last joining of 2 slammers in public service was recorded. Sustenance was taken at London Bridge, and then back aboard and off to Littlehampton.

Running was sedate as we were behind stoppers as far as Horsham, but then a piece of spirited running to Littlehampton was in order, with mid - 70's being achieved.

There was about and hour and a bit at Littlehampton, where various plastic was observed to-ing and fro-ing. Plenty of phots were taken including Gulls on top of the train, plastic things, and the departure indicator showing us as the 1352 to Aberdare, calling at Merthyr Tydfil and LlanfairPG.

A gentle trot to Preston Park and Brighton followed, observing the Sheds at West Worthing, where, hopefully, the SEG can fulfil their dream and take it over as a 3rd Rail Museum.

A quick-ish reversal at Preston Park yielded more photos, then a slow entry to Brighton provided sight and photo opportunities of VEPs 3486, 3505, 3530 and 3535.

A short stay at Brighton meant reversal and a trip to Newhaven and its famous Marine Station. This was a double whammy for me, as it was my first visit to Marine and on a slammer!


Newhaven Marine - a double first for the reviewer (photo : Martin Barnsdall)

I was last in Newhaven in the summer, overnighting prior to a ferry crossing, and was lucky enough to timed my stay with the last scheduled slam door workings, with, lo and behold, a trip on 1866 to Seaford and back!

Newhaven is pretty desolate and some brave souls tried to find either a shop or a pub. We never heard if they were successful - perhaps they are still looking.....

All to soon it was time to leave, and the kind signalman had laid detonators for our departure, it must have been impressive if the sound was anything to go by, but I haven't seen photos of the departure yet.

It was then non-stop to Victoria and the end of the tour.

However, soon after leaving Brighton, there was an announcement that the ECS to Lovers Walk would run as an addition passenger service! Unfortunately pre-booked tickets precluded this, but I understand it was fairly well patronised.

All in all, a darn good day out, weather was cold but sunny - good for phots, great company on the train, Well done SEG and Southern!

Martin Barnsdall

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from various including Matthew Cole & John Clifford)

Train 1 & combined

Location

Booked Actual
Victoria 08.40d [P15] [FL] 08.41
Clapham Junction 08/45 08/46½
Balham 08/47 08/49
Selhurst 08/52 08/54½
Windmill Bridge Jn 08/55 08/56
East Croydon 08/57½ [P3] 08/57½
South Croydon 08/58½ 08/59
Sanderstead 09/00½ 09/00½
Oxted 09/09½ 09/09
Hurst Green 09/16½ 09/10½
East Grinstead 09.27a ~ 09.32d [P1] 09.24½ ~ 09.32
Hurst Green 09/42½ 09/44
Oxted 09/43½ 09/45½
Sanderstead 09/51 09/54
South Croydon 09/54½ [FL] 09/56½
East Croydon 09/57 [P4] 09/58½
Windmill Bridge Jn 09/58 09/59½
Norwood Junction 10/01½ [P3] [FL] 10/02½
Sydenham 10/04½ 10/05
Bricklayers Arms Jn 10/08½ 10/10½
Spa Road Jn 10/14½ 10/13
London Bridge 10.19a ~ 11.02d [P12] 10.18½ ~ 11.04½
South Bermondsey 11/06 11/09
Peckham Rye 11/13½ 11/15
Tulse Hill 11/22½ [P4] 11/24½
Streatham 11/25½ 11/27½
Streatham South Jn 11/27 11/28½
Mitcham Junction 11/31½ 11/32
Sutton 11/43 11/37
Epsom 11/55 [P1] 11/44
Leatherhead 12/00½ 11/50
Dorking North 12/04½ 11/56
Horsham 12/34½ 12.11½a ~ 12.28½d
Pulborough 12/50 12/41
Arundel Jn 13/08 12/51½
Littlehampton 13.12a ~ 13.52d [P3] 12.56 ~ 1.52
Arundel Jn 13/55½ 13/57
West Worthing 14/08 14/08
Worthing 14/12 14/10
Shoreham-by-Sea 14/21 14/21½
Hove 14/32 [P1] 14/31½
Preston Park 14.38a ~ 14.45d 14.36 ~ 14.45
Brighton 14.52a ~ 15.00d 14.53 ~ 15.01
Lewes 15/15½ 15/16
Southerham Jn 15/17½ 15/19
Newhaven Town 15/23½ 15/26
Newhaven Harbour 15/24 15/27
Newhaven Marine 15.26a ~ 16.10d 15.28 ~ 16.10½
Newhaven Harbour 16/11 16/12
Newhaven Town 16/11½ 16/13
Southerham Jn 16/19 16/20
Lewes 16/22 16/23½
Keymer Jn 16/39 16/38½
Haywards Heath 16*42a ~ 16*45d [SL] 16.44 ~ 16.45
Balcombe Tunnel Jn 16/52 16/52½
Three Bridges 16/54 16/54½
Gatwick Airport 16/57 16/58½
Earlswood 17/02½ 17/03½
Redhill 17*04½a ~ 17*07d [UML] 17/10
Stoats Nest Jn 17/21½ [FL] 17/22
Purley 17/22½ 17/23½
East Croydon 17/25½ [P2] [RVF] 17/27½
Windmill Bridge Jn 17/27 [SL] 17/28½
Selhurst 17/27½ 17/29½
Balham 17/32 17/37
Clapham Junction 17/35½ 17/37½
Victoria 17.42a [P12] ~ 17.58d 17.49 ~ ??.??
Battersea Pier Jn 18/00 ?
Battersea Park 18/04 ?
Clapham Junction 18/06 ?
Balham 18/12 ?
Streatham Hill 18/14 ?
West Norwood 18/17 ?
Crystal Palace 18/20 ?
Bromley Down Jn 18/23 ?
Norwood Junction 18*28a ~ 18*33d ?
Windmill Bridge Jn 18/35 ?
East Croydon 18/37 ?
South Croydon 18/39 ?
Purley 18/43 ?
Stoats Nest Jn 18/50 ?
Earlswood 18/56 ?
Gatwick Airport 19/02 ?
Three Bridges 19/04 ?
Balcombe Tunnel Jn 19/06 ?
Haywards Heath 19*13a ~ 19*17d ?
Keymer Jn 19/20 ?
Preston Park 19/28 ?
Brighton 19.35a ?

Train 2

Location

Booked
Victoria 08.42d [P15] [FL]
Clapham Junction 08/47
Balham 08/49
Selhurst 08/55 [FL]
Windmill Bridge Jn 08/59½
East Croydon 09/01 [P6]
South Croydon 09/04
Sanderstead 09/05½
Oxted 09/14½
Hurst Green 09/21½
East Grinstead 09.40a ~ 09.50d [P2]
Hurst Green 10/01½
Oxted 10/03½
Sanderstead 10/15
South Croydon 10/24 [SL]
East Croydon 10/26 [P4]
Windmill Bridge Jn 10/26½
Norwood Junction 10/30½ [P1] [FL]
Sydenham 10/33
Bricklayers Arms Jn 10/40 [RVL]
Spa Road Jn 10/42 [FL]
London Bridge 10.46a [P12]


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