The Last Slam

[33011]

Blimey it is 10 years ago today that the slammers finished on the Lymington branch. Where has the time gone?

 

[yorksrob]

It certainly flies.

I had a few enjoyable trips up and down the branch, including in a first class compartment !

I might make it out that way again some time - I seem te recall Lymington was very pleasent.

 

[Jamesrob637]

It certainly flies.

I had a few enjoyable trips up and down the branch, including in a first class compartment !

I might make it out that way again some time - I seem te recall Lymington was very pleasent.

I was there eighteen months ago. Went and had lunch/afternoon tea in a hotel owned by the Macdonald chain. May well have been the only chain hotel in the area! Was November. Sunny but chilly, even comimg from Manchester it felt as cold. Maybe it was the coastal location. Saw the ferry to the IoW plus a standard SWR train in the platform almost next to the dock.

I last took a slam-door on the old Network South East around 2004 from Waterloo to Guildford. They were rapidly being retired then, maybe even peak time only as my train left around 5pm. Fewer cheap tickets had evening peak restrictions back then (though morning peak restrictions already applied to most) and it was the Easter holidays so loads were comparatively light.

 

[yorksrob]

I was there eighteen months ago. Went and had lunch/afternoon tea in a hotel owned by the Macdonald chain. May well have been the only chain hotel in the area! Was November. Sunny but chilly, even comimg from Manchester it felt as cold. Maybe it was the coastal location. Saw the ferry to the IoW plus a standard SWR train in the platform almost next to the dock.

I last took a slam-door on the old Network South East around 2004 from Waterloo to Guildford. They were rapidly being retired then, maybe even peak time only as my train left around 5pm. Fewer cheap tickets had evening peak restrictions back then (though morning peak restrictions already applied to most) and it was the Easter holidays so loads were comparatively light.

Ah yes, my last scheduled (non Lymington) slammer was a VEP from Victoria to Ashford in 2005. It was the only one out of all the trains waiting in the South Eastern side at Vic and I was very pleased it was mine (had no further luck that weekend, everything being either electrostars or replacement buses !). It was a lovely summer trip through London and Kent in one of the standard compartments with the droplight down

Lymington would be a nice destination for a thumper tour, however I fear the branch may be "one train in steam" !

 

[Bringback309s]

It was as recently as 2004 the 312's retired from the GEML, probably my last slam door EMU / DMU on national rails. I think I'm right in saying the 312's were nearly built with sliding doors but due to costs the 310 design was continued. Probably a bad decision as they would most likely only have gone around five years ago, having seen only twenty odd years of life.

 

[D365]

It was as recently as 2004 the 312's retired from the GEML, probably my last slam door EMU / DMU on national rails. I think I'm right in saying the 312's were nearly built with sliding doors but due to costs the 310 design was continued. Probably a bad decision as they would most likely only have gone around five years ago, having seen only twenty odd years of life.

Don’t think it really matters, end of the day; during privatisation it became the ROSCO’s problem.

 

[MatthewRead]

It was as recently as 2004 the 312's retired from the GEML, probably my last slam door EMU / DMU on national rails. I think I'm right in saying the 312's were nearly built with sliding doors but due to costs the 310 design was continued. Probably a bad decision as they would most likely only have gone around five years ago, having seen only twenty odd years of life.

Don't forget the oldest 312's were only 30 years old at the time compared to the 412's etc some of which were 48 years old and kept going!

 

[xotGD]

Ah yes, my last scheduled (non Lymington) slammer was a VEP from Victoria to Ashford in 2005. It was the only one out of all the trains waiting in the South Eastern side at Vic and I was very pleased it was mine (had no further luck that weekend, everything being either electrostars or replacement buses !). It was a lovely summer trip through London and Kent in one of the standard compartments with the droplight down

Lymington would be a nice destination for a thumper tour, however I fear the branch may be "one train in steam" !

Gosh. You travelled on a slam door train with the droplight open and survived. A narrow escape!

I'm trying to think when I last travelled on a slam door unit on the main line. Must have been a long time ago. I suppose at the time I didn't appreciate it would be my last such journey and paid no attention. Ah, well...

 

[yorksrob]

Gosh. You travelled on a slam door train with the droplight open and survived. A narrow escape!

Indeed - how I managed to not stick any body part out of it I don't know !

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Memory faded now, wasn't it green 1498 out on the last day or did it swap with 1497 during the day?

 

[33011]

Memory faded now, wasn't it green 1498 out on the last day or did it swap with 1497 during the day?

I'm sure it swapped as I seem to recall 1497 was on the last one iirc

 

[Ted633]

I'm sure it swapped as I seem to recall 1497 was on the last one iirc

Correct, 1498 operated the morning service with 1497 taking over at about lunchtime.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I came back from Dorking on a compartment 4-SUB unit one hot summer afternoon in 1980 or so - we had the windows down on both sides to circulate the air , fine , - but we noted on the approach to Boxhill a watery , smelly mist coming in. 2 Scroats in the next section were taking a no 1 break out of the window so we got some of it via the slipstream. Not impressed.

 

[Bringback309s]

Don't forget the oldest 312's were only 30 years old at the time compared to the 412's etc some of which were 48 years old and kept going!

They were built from 75 - 78 and the last one ran 2004 I believe so none would have made 30 years in service. Thinking of how many Mk2's were still being used as short sets etc as late as last year shows they were a solid design - but without sliding doors had to be withdrawn before they were end of life. If they had been constructed this way I wouldn't mind betting they'd only just be getting scrapped now, or within the last five years due to PRM guidelines

 

[dubscottie]

The 312 were built as it was the most recent outer-surban EMU design. Sliding doors were never considered as far as I know as they would be seen as downward step on the longer routes.

My last slam EMU was a 305 on the North Berwick line. Loved them!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Who decided to get rid? Was it John Prescott? My memory is completely failing me.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How long since electric slam door stock was last in use on the Brighton Main Line? 2005?

 

[yorksrob]

How long since electric slam door stock was last in use on the Brighton Main Line? 2005?

Yes, it was late 2005.

I was on the Sussex Slammer railtour in November that year, which was supposed to be the last day of proper trains on the route - but I understand slam door units were deputising for other trains for a couple of weeks afterwards.