Abstract
APPRECIABLE progress is being made on the Southern Railway's London-Brighton electrification scheme. According to the Electrician of June 24, ‘stream-lined’ electric trains have been undergoing night time tests. The first half of the new scheme-the extension to Three Bridgeswill be opened on July 17. Thirty-three new trains will be employed, fitted with high speed motors and stream-lined, so that speeds of 70 miles an hour will be possible. The third class compartments have been built like the old first class compartments, and extra width has been given to the seats. The coaches have been built to the maximum width limit of the track, so it is impossible to use the ‘bay ‘window type of look-out for the guard. The guards will see the signals through a periscope which projects through the roof. The signalling system has been changed throughout the route from the semaphore to the colour-light type. Whenever a train passes, the signals are automatically put to danger. An ingenious device is fitted in every signal-box which enables the signalman to know the exact nature of the trains that are approaching and their times. From July 17 there will be 61 trains running daily from London to Three Bridges, compared with 27 at present, while Three Bridges will have 57 trains to London in place of 19. The fastest trains have been timed to do the 30 miles in 39 minutes, but the average time for all the trains has been reduced from 60 to 52 minutes. The second stage of the scheme will probably be completed by March next.
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Southern Railway Electrification. Nature 130, 17 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/130017b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/130017b0