SR Class 2SL
| Southern Railway 2-SL | |
|---|---|
| In service | 1929–1954 |
| Built at | Peckham Rye Works |
| Replaced | British Railways |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 127 ft 2 in (38.76 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Traction system | Metropolitan-Vickers |
| Power output | 550 hp (410.13 kW) |
| UIC classification | Bo′2′+2′2′ |
| Braking system(s) | Automatic air |
| Coupling system | Screw-link |
| Multiple working | Standard SR system |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 2-SL to the small fleet of electric multiple units dedicated for use on the South London lines. None of these units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated a TOPS class. In Southern Railway/Region days, they mainly spent their lives as 2-car units on the ex-LBSCR Wimbledon-West Croydon Line (now Croydon Tramway) with head code 2. They were distinctive, because they retained their flat roofs over the driving cabs, where the pantographs were originally situated.
Construction
The 2-SL (2-car South London stock, numbers 1801–1808) units were rebuilt in 1929 from the Driving Motor cars originally used in ex-
Formations
Initial formations of these units were as follows:
| Unit Numbers | DMBT | DTC |
|---|---|---|
| 1901–1908 / 1801–1808 | 8723–8730 | 9751–9758 |
Withdrawal
The majority of these units were withdrawn in 1954, the exceptions being 1802 (in 1951) and 1807 (destroyed in 1940 during a World War II air raid). All were subsequently scrapped.
References
- Marsden, Colin J. (1983). Southern Electric Multiple-Units 1898–1948. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-7110-1253-9.