The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation CP to the fleet of AC electric multiple units used on the former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway lines in the Crystal Palace area.

LB&SCR Crystal Palace stock
ManufacturerMetropolitan Amalgamated Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd., LBSC Lancing Carriage Works
Constructed1911–1913
Number built34 sets
Formation3-car sets: DTC-DMBT-DTC
Capacity3-car-set: 48 First, 170 Third
Specifications
Car length57 ft 7+12 in (17.56 m)
Width8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
WeightDMBT: 51.30 long tons (52.1 t)
DTC: 24 long tons (24.4 t)
Traction motorsFour Winter Eichberg of 150 hp (112 kW) each
Power output600 hp (447 kW)
Electric system(s)6.7 kV AC overhead line
Current collector(s)Bow collector
UIC classification2′2′+B′B′+2′2′
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Construction

edit

The CP (Crystal Palace stock) units were built in 1911–1913 to provide the electric train stock required for the LBSCR AC overhead electrification to Crystal Palace and the surrounding area. This stock comprised some 90 cars, which were used in three-car formations, usually (Driving Trailer Composite+Driving Motor Brake Third+Driving Trailer Composite).

Thirty motor coaches and 30 driving trailers were built by the Metropolitan Amalgamated Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. in 1911. Each motor coach had four 150 horsepower (110 kW) Winter Eichberg motors. A further 26 driving trailers were built at the LBSC's Lancing Carriage Works. In 1912, four additional motor and trailer pairs were delivered by MAC&W's successor, the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company. Lancing Works built eight more trailers the following year.

After the replacement of the AC overhead equipment by the 660 V DC third rail system adopted as standard by the SR, the carriages that formed these units were rebuilt accordingly.

Formations

edit

The LB&SCR originally did not buy sufficient stock for 30 sets, on the grounds that the trailers cars would be quicker to overhaul than the motor cars. Fixed formations were not used, and as the Motor cars had cabs, the CP stock could be used in trains of two to six vehicles.

Year Builder Type LB&SCR No. SR No.
1911 MAC&W DMBT 3231–3260 8567–8595
1911 MAC&W DTC 4001–4030 9825–9854
1911 Lancing DTC 4031–4056 9855–9878
1912 MCW&F DMBT 3261–3264 8597–8600
1911 MAC&W DTC 4061–4064 9881–9884
1913 Lancing DTC 4069–4076 9885–9892


References

edit
  • Gould, David (1995). Bogie Carriages of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. pp. 168–190. ISBN 0-85361-470-9.
  • Marsden, Colin J. (1983). Southern Electric Multiple-Units 1898–1948. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 11, 92. ISBN 0-7110-1253-9.
  • Goslin, Geoff (2002). London's Elevated Electric Railway. Connor & Butler. ISBN 0-947699-35-X.
  • Golding, Brian (2009). A Pictorial Record Of Southern Electric Units. Corhampton, Southampton: Noodle Books. ISBN 978-1-906419-34-9.