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The underframes for this unit were fabricated late in 1934 at Lancing and taken to Eastleigh for converted ex LSWR coach bodies to be mounted onto them to become what was known as a 2-NOL electric multiple unit. The motorcoach frame was used under coach 9892 in unit 1844 (into service 02-35) and the driving trailer frame was used under coach 9985 in unit 1848 (into service 03-35). Both went new to Brighton for use on the coastal routes to Portsmouth and Ore/Seaford, but 1848 migrated to the London area during the war and spent time on the Nunhead - Crystal Palace (HL) and Crystal Palace (LL) - Beckenham Jct shuttles during reduced services at this time. The DTC was downgraded to DTS at this time. 1844 had the coupe compartment removed and luggage area enlarged between April 1943 and September 1944 and 1848 was returned to the coastal fleet after the war and similarly modified in November 1948, also regaining first class in the DTC. Both continued running without notable incident until withdrawal, 1848 in July 1959 and 1844 in August 1959. Both units went to Newhaven for the bodies to be demolished, the underframes then going to Eastleigh for new all-steel 2-EPB bodies to be built on them.

How it all began, a 2NOL unit in the late 1930s.

Both were used for unit 5667 which was outshopped in November 1959 with MBS 14573 and DTS 16117. Not only were the bodies of new all steel construction but the traction equipment was all new along with new control and lighting on the auxilliary side of the electrical system too. The two vehicles gave a total seating capacity of 178 Seating was a mixture of two semi saloons in the driving motor coach and single compartments and one semi saloon in the driving trailer coach. Unit 5667 had 'paint date' 03-11-59 and went to Wimbledon Park depot for use in the Waterloo - Windsor/Weybridge service. New in green livery, unit was painted blue with full yellow ends from 26-6-68. It was transferred to Selhurst depot for Central division use from May 1974 and ran until sent to Horwich Works for facelifting 10-01-83 (one of only three 2-EPBs done there). It returned to the Southern as unit 6307 on 01-07-83 and ran again from Selhurst, now in blue/grey livery. During the facelifting process the semi saloons and compartments were opened up and each coach now sported all open saloon seating layout in 3 + 2 formation, this reduced the seating capacity down to 170. The interior was updated by the installation of flourescent tube lighting and public adress equipment (operated by the guard). 6307 was briefly loaned back to Wimbledon from 21-07-88 . 6307, along with several members of this class of unit were fitted with window bars for working the North London Line services from Richmond to North Woolwich 6307 was not fitted with these bars until much later and there is evidence it was used on these services. It was painted into NSE livery in the very early 1990s and later transferred to Slade Green to see out its working days 6307 was finally withdrawn 23-03-95 and sent initially to Strawberry Hill depot for storage where it was offered for sale by Eversholt Leasing along with several EPB units. The stored units were then moved onward from Strawberry Hill to Long Marston MOD base for further storage.

In near as built condition unit 5667, later to become 6307, approaches Waterloo East with a Caterham to Charing Cross service on August 15th 1979
Photo: John Atkinson

6307 was sold for subsequent preservation to a private individual in Autumn of 1996 and the new owner moved it onto a specially prepared section of track at the former airfield at Winkleigh in Devon. During its time at the airfield the two coaches were parked cab to cab and recieved an all over coat of light green. The agreement to store 6307 ran out in 2001 and the owner made an approach to move both vehicles to the storage location of the Coventry Railway Centre, the move being effected in mid September 2001. Whilst at Coventry very little work was carried out as the owner had moved overseas and visited his unit on a few select occassions. By spring of 2007 he took the difficult decision to part with it as he could not offer the attention it needed. 6307 became the property of Electric Railway Museum Limited on June 10th 2007 and was the first asset of the then newly formed company.

Electric Railway Museum Limited wish to thank John Atkinson for his generous help in compiling this history.

Now numbered 6307 and painted in Network SouthEast livery, our unit stands at the front of an EPB formation heading out of London Bridge on February 14th 1995 in the final weeks of its service life.
Photo: John Atkinson