SR Class CW facts for kids

The CW trains were a special type of electric multiple unit (EMU) used by the Southern Railway in the United Kingdom. These trains were designed to run on electricity and were used on lines connecting to places like Coulsdon and Wallington. Even though the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway first planned them, they were actually put into service by the Southern Railway after a big change in how railways were organized.

What are CW Trains?

CW trains were a fleet of modern electric trains. An electric multiple unit (EMU) is a train made up of several carriages that can all move together using electricity. This means they don't need a separate engine to pull them. The CW trains were designed to use alternating current (AC) electricity, which was a specific way to power them.

How Were They Designed?

The idea for the CW trains actually started with another railway company called the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. They were planning to build these electric trains to improve their services. However, before they could finish and introduce the trains, big changes happened in the railway world.

The "Grouping" and Their Arrival

In 1923, many smaller railway companies in the UK were combined into four much larger ones. This event was called the "Grouping." The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway became part of the new Southern Railway. Because of this, the introduction of the CW trains was delayed. It was the Southern Railway, formed after the Grouping, that finally put these trains into service in 1925.

Where Did They Run?

Once they were ready, the CW trains mainly ran on specific lines that served areas like Coulsdon and Wallington in London. These electric trains helped people travel more easily and efficiently between these towns and other parts of the railway network. They were an important part of making train travel more modern and electric in the 1920s.