A Pictorial Record of Southern Electric Units: Drawings and Plans
The Southern Railway was in the forefront of suburban electrification and when it came into being in 1923, it inherited two systems – one from the LB&SCR and another from the L&SWR; the Brighton company opted for overhead electrification, the South Western for third rail. The Southern chose to perpetuate the third rail technique (probably because it was cheaper) and Southern Electric became a by-word for clean and efficient suburban transport with trains at regular intervals.
Brian Golding describes all the rolling stock used over the years and the photographs are complemented by a comprehensive selection of drawings which will be invaluable to modellers. The story starts in 1909 and ends in the 1960s with the electrification of the Bournemouth line and the novel idea of having one motorised unit pulling or pushing up to eight cars.
Click on the cover image to see a SUB motor car in departmental use at Fratton.
Noodle Books, 2009, 232 Pages. Hardback