Slam door Gallery
Most of these photos are captured from my digi-cam using a TV card on my home computer. [Home page]
On 10 Jun 2004, in the Parliamentary debate session, MP Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty) said:
"Southern is introducing modern and more reliable trains,
improved station environments and better service. Over 700 new
carriages will enter passenger service in the coming months up to 2005.
The hon. Gentleman will be well aware of the other improvements as a
consequence of the introduction of Electrostars, Turbostars and other
similar developments. On the Uckfield to London service, new Turbostars
are entering service. They have air suspension, air conditioning, a
state-of-the-art public information system and are fully accessible for
disabled passengers. They have low emissions, are quiet and have fast
acceleration. They are unrecognisable from the old "Thumper" trains
that they are replacing."
www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk
They certainly are! Boring things... Thankfully many of the splendid Thumpers will live on in preservation. Here are a few memories from active service days:
 | 1] Departing Croydon, with Thumpage...! |
 | 2] Units 205018 and 205009 shake the station canopy as they pull away. |
 | 3] The service was the 18:01 Victoria to Uckfield, on 15 April 2004. |
 | Interior of unit 1578 (4-CEP), leading the 15:02 Guildford to London Waterloo service, on 15 April 2004. This long serving unit along with most of the CEP's has now been withdrawn. RIP, 20040809 |
 | Rush hour at Croydon, and multiple departures are common giving good photo opportunities. Complex pointwork at stations often gives rise to arcing from the collector shoes as power is applied. |
 | A non-stop service storms through Farncombe on 20040501. (panned) |
 | A few Gatwick Express services are still loco/baggage car hauled. An example here from 20040512, Clapham Jn. |
 | Underframe detail of 1734 (powered bogie) at Clapham Jn on 20040512. |
 | A evening shot of 4-VEP 3536 waiting at London Waterloo, on 20040512. |
 | A classic location: Artington south of Guildford. One of my favourites! In pleasant afternoon sunshine an 8 car slam-door service through the Surrey countryside, sometime in June 2004. |
 | The same location, this time on August 4th, 2004 with an evening peak hour service. |
 | Also on August 4th, looking south this time, SWT class 411 (4-CEP) no 2316 heads towards Guildford. This is one of a few Eastleigh built units remaining in use at this time. |