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SOUTHERN ELECTRIC


LCDR

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LC&DR, Sir, you have yourself an ally. 3-SUB, 2-NOL, 2-BIL are all so highly desirable if doing a London area layout. The Southern went electric in the 1920s and thus held on to its fascinating collection of Victorian steam locos. I have built two 2-BIL units from kits and am just putting finishing touches to them at the moment. During the second world war route 18 Windsor/Weybridge trains were composed of a 3-SUB for the Windsor portion and a 2-NOL for the Weybridge. Down trains divided at Staines where we lived and I used to watch the process avidly. The shunter with his rubber gloves jumped down off the platform to disconnect the brake hoses, jumper cables and finally the screw coupling. The instant separation was completed, the second driving compartment having been opened up, the compressed air whistle was sounded four times. This was the signal releasing the front portion (3-Sub) which was then driven away to Sunnymeads, Wraysbury, Datchet and Windsor & Eton (Riverside). The junction signal changed over after the points had changed and then the Weybridge portion (2-NOL) departed. How I loved those trains with their slow-running single cylinder Westinghouse compressors chuntering away and their "growling" traction motors. They were reliable, too. A little fall of snow didn't stop them!! I am building two 2-NOL units from scratch but it is a long slow job. So, come on Hornby!! Show willing!!
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Hi LC&DR and the ferret, love the idea of more Southern electrics , but must make a plea for a 4cor unit. Spent a fair portion of my childhood ( some say I am still in it! ) riding them from Waterloo to Pompey.
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If you are that desperate for a 4-COR, easy to make kits are available from Phoenix Coaches. The hard bit are the bogies, especially motor bogies. These are available from either Branchlines of Westbury (MB35 for the 2-BIL etc.) or other types for the 4-COR which has a 9ft wheelbase. By spending £12 on the subscription for "The Southern Railways Group" you get a quarterly magazine and newsletter and contact details for Phoenix. Fifty years ago I had a girlfriend. She used to say, "If you can't afford it or it just isn't available, then MAKE it!!" Wise words from a sixteen year old girl!!
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LC&DR, I will happily second the request for a 3SUB - in Maunsell olive. </div>
___________________________________
Modelling steam in the west country circa 1930: GWR, SR (ex-LSWR) and S&DJR
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They could do both the cl 71 & 74 as far as i'm aware the only outside differences were the 71's had the pantograph so Hornby could do both as i'm sure they wouldn;t need to change the tooling much for each one
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Not so easy, I'm afraid. Comparing the drawings for both classes shows major differences in the arrangement of bodyside grills and windows. This would involve a completely new moulding. On the roof when the pantograph is removed a complete new roof panel is needed to 'fill the gap'. This could perhaps be a clip fit and could also incorporate the roof fan. I would suggest that this idea is a non-starter due to the bodyside differences.
The light at the end of the tunnel is probably a train coming towards you !

PP

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  • 2 weeks later...
They could certainly do both, but the differences between the 71 and 74 went further than the removal of the pantograph. Because a 700 hp diesel electric generator was installed into the 74 conversions and the booster was removed, the whole bodysides were

rebuilt to provide access and ventilation. The 71 did not have multiple unit jumpers either. The conversion radically altered the appearance of the rather handsome 71s and in my opinion not for the better. There were many common features but probably not enough

to make it simple.

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That's what I said over a week ago (more or less!)

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  • 3 years later...
[quote]Why, they're only modern coaches ![/quote] Ah yes, but many people (but not me) like modern coaches. (True! they do!! Can't explain it but they do!!) There are very few trains nowadays that have seperate loco and coaches, and the new 800 series Inter City stock will be multiple units just like the (ugh!) Voyager or Pendolino. If you want to model the current scene you are forced to have multiple units (Pacer, Sprinter, Coradia, Voyager, HSTs, Turbo, Eurostar, Networker, Juniper, Desiro, Electrostar, etc. etc.)
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