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Departmental/Infrastructure stock

photograph by Stephen Hughes, courtesy of Terry Heeley

This vehicle started life as LSWR Dining Saloon Nº80, built June 1912 to LSWR Drawing 2077, renumbered 4142 by LSWR and renumbered 7842 by the SR. During the first world war it was used in Ambulance train Nº38. It was converted to ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Clean Dressing Van 1831S in June 1943 for use, basically, as an ambulance car/first aid station. Whilst fulfilling this role it was paired with ex-SECR van Nº896, renumbered as 1832S for departmental use.
At some later date 1831S was converted for use as a dormitory and is seen here bearing the legend 'Exeter District Dormitory Set Nº5 (or 6?)'.

In this later role these vehicles were used for train crew, overnight, accommodation at specific points within the Exeter District and known locations for them are Bude, Exmouth, Launceston, Lyme Regis, Seaton and Wadebridge. However it would seem that this vehicle was photographed at Seaton Junction and is standing in the branch siding adjacent to the Branch platform (where the branch strengthening vehicle was kept).
Departmental (what is today called "Infrastructure") stock has long been a facet of railway life. This stock has customarily been well depreciated service stock withdrawn from normal use and instead of being scrapped applied - sometimes with some conversion - to "internal" duties maintaining the railway. Such use of older stock is often the only way we can continue to enjoy to see otherwise withdrawn designs. However certain items of service stock, particularly those of a specialist nature, have been built especially for their function.
Some details of the vehicles:
Type: Brake Third
LSWR drawing No.1302
Series Built: 1906-1910
SR number series: 2925-2998
Length: 56'
Seats: 38
Restriction 3 (with duckets) 2 (without duckets)
Used in ex-LSWR 4-sets composed BT, C, C, BT. Later used in 3-sets with a rebuilt compo, composition BT, C, BT.

A number of these brakes were converted into departmental use after withdrawal from service.
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  • Dia 124 Brake Third
     
    This photograph is of an SR diagram 124 Brake Third, in departmental use. It is the same diagram as the LSWR 1520 Brake Third that is presently being restored at the Bluebell. Whether it is the same vehicle or not cannot be said as the photograph on the Bluebell site, when 1520 was in the "Mobile Fire Train", shows that the vehicle has a side ducket. This photograph, taken at Eastleigh, shows that the side ducket has been removed and plated over.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 710S
     
    Nº710S photographed at Bournemouth Central during Southern Railway days. Originally it was a LSWR 30ft passenger brake van, SR diagram 853, and was built in December 1896 as Nº465, later 4661. Under the SR it became Nº83. Withdrawn during December 1933, it became Mess & Tool van Nº710S.
    It is lettered on the left:
    Locomotive __________ Dept.
    Bournemouth Central
    The middle word is very difficult to make out but may well be "Engineer's".
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
    text from Chris Knowles-Thomas
  • 49S
     
    This photograph is of a petrol driven inspection vehicle, photographed in the late 1940s, and would appear to be chain-driven. Numbered 49S, it was the engineer's inspection vehicle allocated to Broad Clyst Engineers Yard, where the photograph was taken. Built in June 1940 at Exmouth Junction, the engine was a Dorman 40hp petrol one and the bogie used was ex-SECR. Withdrawn September 1959, it was sold for scrap to Ward's of Briton Ferry despite a suggestion that it might be preserved at the Bluebell Railway.
    Photograph courtesy Jerry Ricketts and stated to be in the Public Domain when posted on the alt.binaries.pictures.rail newsgroup.
    It will be removed if the original author deems that to be necessary.
  • Track Recorder
     
    This unusual looking vehicle is a Matisa Track Recording Trolley, photographed at Salisbury on 14th August 1966. Unfortunately the number is impossible to read so it cannot be positively identified. It would be used for "Track Marking", the modern, and vastly improved upon, version of the traditional lengthman assessing the state of his length of track as he walked it.
    Photograph by Dave Mant.
  • DS70188
     
    NºDS70188, originally NºS40398, photographed at Salisbury on 3rd October 1970, was a Steam Heating or Boiler Van, built at Eastleigh in 1963 on a 20ton mineral wagon underframe (built circa 1933-5): 21' 6" over the buffers, wheelbase 12", not vacuum braked and with new bodywork resembling a BR horsebox. It had oleo-pneumatic buffers, an automatic oil-fired boiler, a blue light to indicate "boiler steaming", an orange warning light showing fault (with automatic boiler shut-down) and fault alarm bell. It took 880 gallons of water and 280 gallons of oil.
    Photograph by Dave Mant.
  • 75S
     
    Nº75S is an electric locomotive built in 1898 to serve the Waterloo and City line. It is now part of the national collection at the NRM where is is pictured on 19th February 2000. A sister loco, Nº74S, was built to service the SR's power station at Durnsford Road Wimbledon.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Training unit
     
    The unit in this picture, taken at Gillingham in 1962, is believed by the photographer to be a 4-Sub training unit. Any further information will be welcomed.
    Photograph by Terry Tracey.
  • 024
     
    Departmental unit Nº024 was the outer cars of a former 4-Sub unit converted in 1972 to a mobile stores unit.   It is seen here at Eastleigh.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • Inspection saloon
     
    This vehicle, photographed at Berwick in March 1987, is an ex-LMS design of 50' inspection saloon of which 14 were built by the LMS and five by British Railways, with at least one (presumably this one) working on the Southern Region. Note the Southern-style blinds for the rear lamp aspect.
    Photograph by Mark Westcott.
  • TDB975025
     
    NºTDB975025 was formerly a 6B Hastings DEMU buffet car. It was withdrawn in 1964 and stored until 1969. It was then converted into an inspection saloon for the Southern Region's General Manager. br>Its most celebrated working was to convey the Prince and Princess of Wales to Romsey for their honeymoon when it carried the apt, but not correct for this route, headcode CD. It is pictured here at St. Leonards depot in 1999.< Photograph by Jonathan Hall.
  • Route Learning Unit
     
    Route Learning Unit Nº930082. This consists of cars ADB977861-3. It is currently (2002) painted in Connex colours. This photograph shows the unit at Clapham Junction in May 1995.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Route Learning Unit
     
    Route Learning Unit Nº931002. Cars Nº977917 ex-Nº65331 + Nº977918 ex-Nº77516. The nearer car is Nº977917 and has a large side window fitted. Nº977918 does not have this. Both cars have the four window ends. Incidentally the lack of the usual route indicator box means that the rear of the unit has to carry a tail lamp. Photograph taken at Victoria in 1996.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • De-icing unit 019
     
    De-icing unit Nº019, originally S100 from formation in 1960 until being renumbered in 1968 or 1969, formed from 1925 Metropolitan Vickers Sub motor coaches dating from 1925. Photographed at Selhurst.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • Sandite unit 001
     
    Sandite unit Nº001, formed from an ex-2-Hal unit. The cars are ADS70268/73 and were photographed at Clapham Junction.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Departmental/Sandite
    Unit 007
    Not another vehicle for James Bond but extensively converted from a 4-Sub, De-Icing Unit Nº007 photographed at Hastings during 1986.
    Photograph by Ian Fossey.
  • Departmental/Sandite
    Unit 930007
    Nº007 again, but now Departmental/Sandite unit Nº930007, pictured here at Dartford c2000 next to graffitied Networker Nº465186 providing an interesting contrast between two different generations of SR suburban unit design.
    Photograph by R M Brume.
  • Sandite/De-icing
    Unit 930031
    Class 930 Sandite/De-icing Unit Nº930031. This consisted of cars Nº977864 ex-65341 formerly of 2-EPB unit Nº6230 + Nº977865 ex-65355 from 2-EPB unit n6241. This photograph shows the unit as running in March 1996 at Purley. Photographs taken in 1994 show it without the black stripe on the ends. It has since been reclassified Class 930/2 and renumbered Nº930203.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Sandite/De-icing
    Unit 930301
    Nº930301 is a Sandite/De-icing unit converted from Class 205 DEMUs in 1993. It normally comprises two motor cars: Nº977939 and Nº977940 which top an tail either Sandite trailer Nº977870 or deicing trailer Nº977354, as required. This photo shows Nº930301 in September 1998 at Riddlesdown with Sandite trailer Nº977870 in the consist, although one of the usual motor coaches has been replaced by one from traffic stock.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Sandite/De-icing
    Unit 930010
    Nº>930010 is one of eleven Sandite and De-Icing units converted from former 4-Sub vehicles. Owned by Railtrack and based at Brighton, it is pictured here at London Bridge in 1999.
    Photograph by Jonathan Hall.
  • Sandite/De-icing
    Unit 930203
    Sandite/De-icing unit Nº930203, formed of motor cars from 2-EPB units Nº6227 and Nº6241, stands at London Victoria on 18th December 2003.
    Photograph by Paul Ferbrache.
  • GP-TRAMM
    Unit DR98216
    NºDR98216 is an example of a GP-TRAMM General Purpose Track Repair and Maintenance Machine, built by Plasser & Theurer. It can be used to carry 60ft lengths of rail as well as other things and is self propelled, although it can also travel in a train at up to 45 mph. There is a hydraulic hoist on the 'A' end nearest the camera. This has the power unit and the cabin, which can carry nine crew members plus a driver and pilotman in the driving cab. The 'B' end also has a cabin in which another two crew plus a driver and pilotman can travel. Seen here at Purley in June 1997, owned by Balfour Beatty.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • GP-TRAMM
    Unit DR98216
    This photo of GP-TRAMM NºDR98216 was taken at Clapham Junction on 24th June 1996, and shows the unit being used to carry a tank on the 'B' end. There is a wagon with a tank sandwiched between the two halves of the unit and what appears to be a small excavator on the 'A' end.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Tamper GO4
    Tracgopher
    This Heath Robinson-looking (if not Emmett-looking) machine is a Tamper GO4 Tracgopher. It is a ballast cleaner used on the shoulder of the ballast and in the 6ft between tracks. It can also be used as a trench digging machine for pipes, cables etc. It is believed to be NºDR76005 allocated to Woking, but seen here at East Croydon, December 1996.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Ballast Regulator
    UnitDR77336
     
    This colourful machine is a Plasser & Theurer USP 5000C Ballast Regulator, NºDR77336. It is used to profile the ballast on a track. Allocated to Three Bridges, it is seen here at Purley in February 1999.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • Leaf Remover
    Unit DR79400
     
    This Balfour Beatty NºDR79400, pictured at Salisbury on 2nd October 1999, was formerly a Plasser rail grinder which it is now fitted with wire brushes for removing leaves from the rail head.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Switch & Crossing
    Tamper
    Amec NºDR 73908 is a Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper, stabled in the Pig Hill sidings at Clapham Junction, 4th October 2002.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • SERCO's Iris 2
    Test unit
    This is SERCO's Iris 2 test unit which was converted from a class 101 DMU. It is based at Bletchley though it travels the railway network widely. It is pictured at Vauxhall travelling towards Waterloo on 17th October 2000.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.

This page was last updated 28 July 2020

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