Wessex Electrics: Exterior Details

I hope the following exterior detail shots will be of use to historians and modellers alike. I have endeavoured to cover most aspects but inevitably there were some aspects I was unable to capture or the photo was too poor a quality to illustrate the point.
If you have any good quality photographs that fill the gaps, please contact the webmaster.

Roof Details
On the left, looking from the TSO towards the DTFo of one unit and then onto another 5 car unit.  On the right, looking down at the MBLS, the additional hatches being above the buffet servery.

The roof hatches above most car ends - these being typical of coaches of Mk3 construction.

Unit Data Plate

This being on 2411, picture taken at East Wimbledon on 8th December 2006.

copyright photograph by Steve Upton

Inter Car Connections
On the left are the low level only connections seen between the DTS/TSW (as seen) and TSW/MBLS.  On the right are the high and low level connections seen between the MBLS/TSO and TSO/DTFo (as seen).  The connections on the other side of the unit appears to be almost a mirror image from one end of the unit to the other, i.e. low level only one side, high and low level on the other side of the corridor connection.

However the MBLS has an additional socket on its end adjacent to the TSW.  This is for traction power within a depot where for safety reasons there are no conductor rails.  A long jumper cable carrying the traction supply is connected to this socket.  This allows a unit to be moved by its own motors until a pickup shoe is connecting with the third rail.

Aspects of Doors

(above left) Power operated plug door - the first to be applied to Mk3 stock in Great Britain following introduction on Mk3 locomotive hauled stock by Iarnrod Éireann.

(above centre) There is still slam door stock on the main line! The door into the guard's office. This was modified slighty with the addition of a drop bolt when transferred for use with Southern on the Gatiwck Express service to comply with current regulations. photograph by Belgian Marine

(above right) Use of platform wheelchair ramp into the TSW

These three photographs were taken of 2407 at Weymouth on 13th January 2006