455/8 modifications a few years back

[Thebaz]

When the 455/8s on Southern we're modified a good 12-15 years back I'm intrigued to know why the interconnecting gangways at the front and rear of units were lopped off? After all the SWT never made this modification to their sets.

 

[hexagon789]

When the 455/8s on Southern we're modified a good 12-15 years back I'm intrigued to know why the interconnecting gangways at the front and rear of units were lopped off? After all the SWT never made this modification to their sets.

I think it was to fit a new cab air-conditioning unit on the front end.

 

[TEW]

SWT use the gangways far more than Southern ever did I imagine. Only a very small number of Southern 455s have guards on board, whereas all SWT 455s had guards on. SWT did also manage to fit cab air cooling to the 455s, I understand the space for this was found by moving the emergency ladder so a new storage location.

 

[KC1]

455s have guards? What routes do they work?

 

[lewisf]

455s have guards? What routes do they work?

All the suburban SWR routes. Waterloo to Dorking, Guildford, Chessington, Woking, Hampton Court, Kingston loop and Hownslow loop.

 

[Southern Dvr]

455s between Dorking and Horsham and Leatherhead to Guildford on Southern but come May that’ll all change as they won’t be going there.

With regards the modifications to the 455/8s, it really was a short sighted idea. The air con units are very loud and most drivers don’t bother with them, they also meant that shunt moves and changing ends when not in a platform is a far more complicated situation than when they had the gangways.

 

[KC1]

All the suburban SWR routes. Waterloo to Dorking, Guildford, Chessington, Woking, Hampton Court, Kingston loop and Hownslow loop.

Sorry, I mean the 455’s on Southern.