Historic BR Slam Door Train Videos

I might have mentioned this one before, but as its on the same theme (and includes *some* Mk1 trains!) so to make it easier for people to find in the future I'm adding it to this thread.

Simon



A nostalgic film showing slam door trains in action, as filmed in the early 1990's - for many routes just months before they started being replaced with new sliding door trains!

The film focuses on the outward-opening doors which were opened and closed by the passengers. Several instances are seen of passengers opening doors whilst the train was still entering the station - instead of waiting for it to come to a halt. This was potentially very dangerous, especially if the door hit someone stating on the platform or if the passenger tried to alight from the train whilst it was still moving. But those passengers who recall doing it will suggest that it was still better than waiting (sometimes quite a few seconds) for sliding door train doors to open.

Also seen are examples of short length trains stopping at a designated 'stopping point' which is more suited to longer trains - resulting passengers having to rush along the platform to board the train - and a train which stops outside the station to prevent passengers from boarding it whilst it awaits a green signal to exit the platform.

Heard but not seen is a guard giving the 'right away' signal on a class 308 electric multiple unit train.

Stations filmed at are: Ockendon, Richmond, Upminster, Heaton Park, Greenford, Ealing Broadway, Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill.

The types of train include: Classes 310 / 312, 423, 308, 305, 504, 121, 117, 115.

Seen 'in passing' are Class 321 and London Underground 1962 Tube + D78 Subsurface stocks.

Pure nostalgia!

What is NOT seen (because I did not get to film it) is anyone boarding a train after it had started moving after its 'station stop'. Passengers would jump on the running board and hold on to a handrail whilst opening the door. Of course doing this was potentially dangerous, but since (at stations with cross-platform interchange) the guards on the mainline trains tended to delay giving the train driver the 'right away' signal until the other train's doors were about to open so even I used to do this. Primarily at platform 8, Stratford station, on Sundays, when the next train would be in 30 minutes.

There was a technique for doing this relatively safely.

It involved opening the window and checking that there was no one waiting on the platform and then releasing the door but holding it firmly in place until the strain had stopped at which point you could burst upon the scene.

I doubt it saved much time but it just seemed to be the most efficient way of doing things.

Now you mention it, you do have to wait a (or sometimes a few) second(s) for the doors to open, but I'd never thought of it in comparison to the older stock.

Much as I loved the 4-CEP's and 2/4-SUB's etc., for actual journeys of any length, the quietness, smoothness and comfort of the Electrostars are worth the second or two wait.

Having said that, I still think the seats on the x-SUB's were the most comfortable for very short trips. So soft and bouncy that you just sank into them. Of course, that softness meant a commensurate lack of support that would probably give you backache after a few stops.

Great to see Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill with the old dmu s