EFE Rail LSWR Cross Country Set 253 SR Malachite

MODEL FEATURES:

• EFE Rail OO Scale
• Era 3
• Pristine SR Malachite Green Livery
• Set No. 253
• 3-Coach Set comprising Brake Third Nos. 2925 & 2929 and Composite No. 5056
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Close Coupling Mechanism
• Length 3 x 238mm

There were 36 sets formed wholly of 56ft vehicles and these sets were generically called ‘Cross County sets’. They were constructed between 1906 and 1910 being built originally as 4 coach sets.

These sets comprised of the following:

• Brake Thirds, four compartment to LSWR Drawing 1446, SR diagram 124, 2 per set
• Composite (1^st / 3^rd class), seven compartment, to LSWR Drawing 1298, SR Diagram 274
• Third LSWR Drawing 1302, SR Diagram 17, 8 compartment, (The all Thirds were originally introduced as 2^nd / 3^rd Composites but rebranded to all Thirds with no structural change by the end of 1919)

The set numbers were in the ranges 130-151, 253-263 and 311-314

All sets were reduced to three coaches in the mid to late 1930s by the removal of the 8 compartment Third Diagram 17 coaches which became loose stock. At the same time the number of first class compartments in the Composite, Diagram 274 was reduced from 5 to 3 (not a physical alteration just reclassification and change in class banding on the outside of the compartments).

Despite the longevity of these sets, apart from the reduction from 4 to 3 coaches and the reclassification of some of the composite compartments there was no real physical changes to any of the coaches.

In terms of use, they were seen all over the SW section of the Southern and their duties were pretty well interchangeable with any other 3/4 set. They did not generally run on Brighton or SE section lines, although photographic evidence exists of them running along the south coast to Brighton.

Withdrawal of these sets was completed during 1956/7