Did Southern Class 456s often operate with the 455s?

[Transilien]

Every time I see a photo of a Southern Class 456, they seem to be coupled together or alone. This seems to contradict the original intent that BR had for these units, that they would couple with their 455 cousins.

 

[mmh]

Yes, very frequently on routes like Charing Cross - London Bridge - East Croydon, or London Bridge to Victoria. I used to often deliberately choose the 456 part as it had a toilet.

They were often single units on routes like the South London Line.

 

[Magdalia]

Every time I see a photo of a Southern Class 456, they seem to be coupled together or alone. This seems to contradict the original intent that BR had for these units, that they would couple with their 455 cousins.

It happened on the "Cats and Tats":

456005 CHP 1804 VIC-TAT 16-5-02

On 16 May 2002, 456005 arrives at Chipstead on the 1804 Victoria - Tattenham Corner.

www.flickr.com

456004 TAT 1819 ex-LBG 16-5-02

On 16 May 2001, 456004 arrives at Tattenham Corner on the 1819 from London Bridge. At this time, there was a lot of coupling and uncoupling at stations like this and on this occasion, the 456 would couple up to 456005 (already in the platform behind the photographer) and uncouple from the rear unit!

www.flickr.com

It was common on South Western on 10 car trains.

 

[Transilien]

It was common on South Western on 10 car trains.

Yes it was. Thanks for the images.

 

[Rescars]

It happened on the "Cats and Tats":

Yes, very frequently on routes like Charing Cross - London Bridge - East Croydon, or London Bridge to Victoria. I used to often deliberately choose the 456 part as it had a toilet.

Further to mmh's comment, it was the Tat portion which normally had the benefit of the toilet. More seats but fewer facilities for passengers for Caterham!

 

[Strathclyder]

It wasn't unknown to see 2 456s working in multiple with a 455 on both the Southern and South Western to form a 8-car train:

456006 NDL 1833 LBG-VIC 6-5-95

On 6 May 1995, 456006 arrives at North Dulwich on the 1833 London Bridge - Victoria via the Wimbledon Loop.

www.flickr.com

Having 456s strung together on their own with no 455 in sight wasn't unheard of either to form at most a 6-car train:

cl 456s CLJ 1715 VIC-SUO 26-4-06

On 26 April 2006, three 456s form the 1715 Victoria - Sutton via West Croydon as they approach Clapham Junction.

www.flickr.com

(both linked images copyright of Flickr's 6089Gardener)

 

[norbitonflyer]

It was common on South Western on 10 car trains.

It was the 10-car programme that was the reason SWT acquired the 456s (and converted the 458s to 5-car)

(Picture shows the Class 456-led 10-car train that was derailed at waterloo during the platform extension work)

 

[03_179]

Yes.
Often the London Bridge to Tatten peak hour trains via Streatham were 2x 455 and 1x 456.

I would catch them many evening from Streatham to Selhurst