SR Class CP

The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation CP to the fleet of AC electric multiple units used on the former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway lines in the Crystal Palace area.

LB&SCR Crystal Palace stock
Manufacturer	Metropolitan Amalgamated Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd., LBSC Lancing Carriage Works
Constructed	1911–1913
Number built	34 sets
Formation	3-car sets: DTC-DMBT-DTC
Capacity	3-car-set: 48 First, 170 Third
Specifications
Car length	57 ft 7+1⁄2 in (17.56 m)
Width	8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
Weight	DMBT: 51.30 long tons (52.1 t) DTC: 24 long tons (24.4 t)
Traction motors	Four Winter Eichberg of 150 hp (112 kW) each
Power output	600 hp (447 kW)
Electric system(s)	6.7 kV AC overhead line
Current collector(s)	Bow collector
UIC classification	2′2′+B′B′+2′2′
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Construction

The CP (Crystal Palace stock) units were built in 1911–1913 to provide the electric train stock required for the LBSCR AC overhead electrification to Crystal Palace and the surrounding area. This stock comprised some 90 cars, which were used in three-car formations, usually (Driving Trailer Composite+Driving Motor Brake Third+Driving Trailer Composite).

Thirty motor coaches and 30 driving trailers were built by the Metropolitan Amalgamated Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. in 1911. Each motor coach had four 150 horsepower (110 kW) Winter Eichberg motors. A further 26 driving trailers were built at the LBSC's Lancing Carriage Works. In 1912, four additional motor and trailer pairs were delivered by MAC&W's successor, the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company. Lancing Works built eight more trailers the following year.

After the replacement of the AC overhead equipment by the 660 V DC third rail system adopted as standard by the SR, the carriages that formed these units were rebuilt accordingly.

Formations

The LB&SCR originally did not buy sufficient stock for 30 sets, on the grounds that the trailers cars would be quicker to overhaul than the motor cars. Fixed formations were not used, and as the Motor cars had cabs, the CP stock could be used in trains of two to six vehicles.

Year	Builder	Type	LB&SCR No.	SR No.
1911	MAC&W	DMBT	3231–3260	8567–8595
1911	MAC&W	DTC	4001–4030	9825–9854
1911	Lancing	DTC	4031–4056	9855–9878
1912	MCW&F	DMBT	3261–3264	8597–8600
1911	MAC&W	DTC	4061–4064	9881–9884
1913	Lancing	DTC	4069–4076	9885–9892

References

• Gould, David (1995). Bogie Carriages of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. pp. 168–190. ISBN 0-85361-470-9.
• Marsden, Colin J. (1983). Southern Electric Multiple-Units 1898–1948. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 11, 92. ISBN 0-7110-1253-9.
• Goslin, Geoff (2002). London's Elevated Electric Railway. Connor & Butler. ISBN 0-947699-35-X.
• Golding, Brian (2009). A Pictorial Record Of Southern Electric Units. Corhampton, Southampton: Noodle Books. ISBN 978-1-906419-34-9.