A nostalgic film showing slam door trains in action, as filmed in the early 1990's - for many routes just months before they started being replaced with new sliding door trains!

The film focuses on the outward-opening doors which were opened and closed by the passengers. Several instances are seen of passengers opening doors whilst the train was still entering the station - instead of waiting for it to come to a halt. This was potentially very dangerous, especially if the door hit someone stating on the platform or if the passenger tried to alight from the train whilst it was still moving. But those passengers who recall doing it will suggest that it was still better than waiting (sometimes quite a few seconds) for sliding door train doors to open.

Also seen are examples of short length trains stopping at the designated 'stopping point' which is more suited to longer trains - resulting passengers having to rush along the platform to board the train - and a train which stops outside the station to prevent passengers from boarding it whilst it awaits a green signal.

Heard but not seen is a guard giving the 'right away' signal on a class 308 electric multiple unit train.

Stations filmed at are: Ockendon, Richmond, Upminster, Heaton Park, Greenford, Ealing Broadway, Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill.

The types of train include: Classes 310 / 312, 423, 308, 305, 504, 121, 117, 115.

Seen 'in passing' are Class 321 and London Underground 1962 Tube + D78 Subsurface stocks.

Pure nostalgia!

What is NOT seen (because I did not get to film it) is anyone boarding a train after it had started moving after its 'station stop'. Passengers would jump on the running board and hold on to a handrail whilst opening the door. Of course doing this was potentially dangerous, but since (at stations with cross-platform interchange) the guards on the mainline trains tended to delay giving the train driver the 'right away' signal until the other train's doors were about to open so even I used to do this. Primarily at platform 8, Stratford station, on Sundays, when the next train would be in 30 minutes.