Southern Railway publicity photograph photograph: Glen Woods collection |
| The Maunsell designed four car 4 Lav was built at Eastleigh for use on the newly electrified Brighton Line. Built in three batches (first 20 units and then another 13 units in 1932 and the final two units in 1940) the original units, numbered from 1921 to 1953, were renumbered 2921 to 2953 in 1936 whilst the final pair carried the numbers 2954 and 2955. |
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4 Lav unit 2948 pauses at Haywards Heath with the hourly
stopping service from London Bridge to Brighton.
photograph by Keith Harwood |
| The initial order, dated 16 May 1930, was for 44 units
but this was later cut to 33 units when plans to run a semi-fast London - West
Worthing service were dropped. (The underframes for the extra seven units were
already built so were used instead for further suburban units). Units weighed
139 tons and were 256' 9" long and when delivered seated 70 first and
204 third class passengers.
Several units were damaged by enemy action during WWII, but none too seriously and all quickly repaired. Only serious accident resulting in a vehicle lost was the South Croydon crash in October 1947 after which 2926 ran with a 2Hal motorcoach for the rest of its life. In later years the amount of first class seating was reduced, the units then seating 46 first and 234 third (subsequently second). |
| Working the corresponding hourly stopping service from
Victoria to Brighton, these 4 Lavs are depicted passing Purley Oaks, on what
was then the down main, on 7th July 1963.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
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An unidentified 4 Lav seen at Clapham Junction, also working the
hourly Brighton stopping service.
photograph by Ray Soper |
| Though most duties were on the main Brighton line, working in conjunction with 2Bil, 2Hal and 4Sub units, they also had regular workings eastwards to Ore and westwards to Littlehampton, also between Three Bridges and Horsham. For many years they ran a late evening service from London Bridge to Dartford, returning early the next morning, in order to put a pair at Slade Green Depot each night, as this is where all their electrical and bogie overhauls were done. Main body overhauls were dealt with at Lancing (along with accident damage) whilst all routine maintenance was carried out at Lovers Walk Depot, which was where the whole class was always based. |
| A 4 Lav leaving Norbury station on a bright sunny day.
photograph by Mike Morant |
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| Late in life units gained yellow cantrail markings for first class and air horns replaced their whistles. Three (2921/31/50) got full yellow ends but all were withdrawn still in green livery. These units served the Brighton line well and lasted until the majority were replaced by the far less comfortable 4 Vep units in 1968. Just six units, 2923/24/28/39/49/50, lasted into the following year though these were all withdrawn on 5 April 1969 and the last units were scrapped by August of that year. During their last years in traffic they were frequently to be found sharing the hourly stopping services from Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton via Redhill (giving a half hourly service south of East Croydon) with 2 Bil units, and were, additionally, the mainstay of the hourly semi fast Victoria to Brighton service. |
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A Lav having a tow! 2947 being hauled by an E60xx
electro-diesel with a brakevan at the rear.
photograph by Ray Soper |
Additional text provided by John Atkinson
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This page was last updated 28 March 2008
