Electrostar Upgrade (Inside Selhurst Depot) 

Given these units are circa 20 years old, they STILL feel relatively modern & fresh. Also Geoff walking past the 171s & not realising they're all now 3 coaches :D

As a small child we used to visit the Selhurst Depot on Boxing Day and travel in the driving cab through the washer. Very exciting.😊

The number train companies that recognise the work that Geoff does is amazing

Selhurst depot was once a football ground called “The Nest” home to Croydon Common FC originally, then after they went bankrupt Crystal Palace moved in until Selhurst Park was acquired in 1924.

The electrostar is the smoothest and most comfortable commuter train in London and the Southeast. I go past the Selhurst depot most days so it's nice to see it featured here.

A year ago, I discovered Geoff's channel when I was researching for a job interview. Today, at said job, I now support sites like Selhurst. It's almost came full circle now

When I was doing research for a video about the old Class 487 (Waterloo and City) units, I found out they were often sent to Selhurst for maintenance in the 1980s.

It's nice that you give them recognition for their hard work.

As a 378 driver, had no idea 377s don't have forward facing cameras. Interesting placement though, ours are up high just hanging down from the top of the window on the secondmans side. Driver side makes more sense.

Great insight in to what goes on behind the scenes to keep trains running, safe and looking fresh. Seems the Electrostar will be providing many more years of service too which is a testament to the Turbostar/Electrostar family.

Good to see the 377 and 387 will be around for some years to come

Very interesting! I used to live next to Selhurst Depot … they used to like testing the horns at random times! 😂 I can remember when the Thameslink shed was built (with the unusual coloured stripes) and when they originally spelt the depot name wrong with the giant letters on the side of the shed before swiftly correcting!! A neighbour used to be a depot shunter and he showed us Norwood stabling point a few times with classic 33’s, 73’s and 09’s stabled there … happy memories! Great to see the depot still thriving 👍

Great content Thank You. About the 'incident' cameras I'm rather surprised that they aren't already fitted. I know several drivers who have been interviewed after an event and cameras would have reduced the impact hugely. Great to see some refurbishment and upgrades being done too.

Selhurst depo is much bigger than I imagined, thanks Geoff.

There's quite a few interesting things behind the scenes not shown here. For example, the DMIs have been upgraded as part of the refurb, with higher resolution displays for the front/rear of the train and the interior passenger information system displays, too. The PIS itself, I think, has also been upgraded to a later software version with either new or higher quality recordings to boot, and the entire speaker system fully replaced to allow automated announcements to be louder and clearer. I think most of these upgrades are a straight-swap from the 377 to the 387 units' parts as (as far as I'm aware) they're heavily interoperable in terms of components. The on-train WiFi connectivity is shared with the displays in the carriages to allow for future live info, such as connecting trains when you're approaching a station, and so on. Overall, it's a huge quality of life overhaul for the 377 fleet!

Love the electrostars so glad to see they're getting an upgrade and will be around for a while yet. My great-grandfather was also a fireman based out of Selhurst/Norwood back in WW2, so definitely have a soft spot for the history of Southern and it's route. Cheers for this Geoff.

You're very fortunate to be able to do this, but also very deserving. Loving the content 👍

There is an article in this month's "Modern Railways" by Ian Walmsley who also visited the depot to see the stock upgrade.

Love these behind the scenes videos cheers Geoff, good to see what goes on.

Perfect video. Very interesting and informative. More please Geoff. 👏👏👍😀

omg i managed to go to selhurst depot earlier this year for work experience and it was an amazing time seeing the behind the scenes of the southern service and actually brought my love for trains

nearly got an apprenticeship there with British Rail when I left school (many moons ago). In a way, glad it never happened, would have meant commuting from Brighton.......

i was at a Selhurst opn day in about 1984, you must be a similar "classic" vintage to me. Thanks for the excellent vids.

geoff you are a legend mate

As a child visiting my nan in Thornton heath in the 1980s, I remember going to Selhurst depot with my cousin and had a look around the depot and pits. All slam door BR blue stock.

Great information. Great insight. Can wait to see them

Great video, really interesting - thanks for posting Geoff!

Selhurst open days. Managed to find a source which dates the selhurst open day as 21st Sept 1980 or 18th June 1978. There is an album on flickr of the 1980 open day. The was 4subs, 4epbs, 4cep, class 117, class 33 and a class 508.

I worked in there. Busy, noisy and the shop floor lads are great

Another superb video !! have a great Christmas Geoff !

Honestly, watching the people in the depot that Geoff interviews, you can clearly tell that they are fond of the job they do.

Hey Geoff, that's amazing...! I used to work at Selhurst depot doing the C6 refurbs on old slam door units and class 455's when they were still fairly new. The shed I was in was called the Paint Shop - that's demolished now...

Hope you're having a good day Geoff, merry christmas to you!

This was my Grandad's depot. After WW2 he became a railwayman, later on a linesman based out of Selhurst in the 60s/70s. I used to live only a mile away, but never had a chance to visit the site. I'd love to go see it in person and see where he used to work. Sadly he passed away in 1978 when I was only 4, so I never got to hear his stories or ask him about the railways.

Thank you for the video Geoff that was very interesting.

Very interesting video Geoff!

My Dad took me to a Selhurst open day, must have been late '70s. I remember we climbed up into the cab and set off the horn. Great day.

I remember visiting the depot back in the 80's too! 🙂

Thanks for posting this Geoff. I used to commute from Brighton-Selhurst/Norwood junction and I’d always gaze at the depot trackside on my train. I believe the depot still has its BR logo on its main shed visible from the train.

That's good to hear!

I remember when I met you at barking station and you wanted to know what was on my trolley LOL and then 2 weeks after I see you walking round my workshop. This is a good video I can send to my family and friends about what its like in a train depot as I always get asked a lot of questions about it.

I loved that thanks. Geoff

Retired ex pat following from Edmonton Canada, thanks for this mate,I did a few jobs at this depot when I was a member of the "S&T" aka signals & telecomms dept as was.I was a member of the T side :0)

brilliant video!

love Forward Facing camera's you get all great View of Track. GTR Electrostar 'Aurora' look great

Excellent video as always Geoff. Also all the Southeastern 375s are being upgraded to with only just power sockets and USBs, Merry Christmas to you, can't wait to see more brilliant content in 2023! 😁

Nice to see the 377/1's starting to get the "love" that the 377/4's have enjoyed. By far my favourite trains to get into London from the south.

Merry Christmas Geoff from Australia 🇦🇺 🌲🌲🌲

Good to know that they upgrade their trains.

Wow has it been 20 years already😮

I am old enough to remember when steam locomotives operated in this area. Contrary to what was stated at least twice in this video, Selhurst - as such - was NEVER a steam locomotive depot. The nearest steam shed was at Norwood Junction about a mile away. This closed to steam operation in 1964, although it remained open to stable diesels (mainline and hunters) and electro-diesels for some time thereafter.

Looks good fun Geoff

Yay. Geoff is on the tube

Electrostar rules the world! Very good Traction & (partly) TCMS

I may have been in one of thoses "refreshed" trains but didn't even notice as the differences are so unnoticable. Now I know, the ones with the colour screens, are the overhauled units. It's also a pity that they didn't get rid of the 3+2 layout, as it just makes it incredibly difficult to walk through the aisle. The worst part is, 3+2 layout doesn't solve the problem of over-crowdedness and it's because, you'll still have those selfish users who think, the priority to putting their bags on an empty seat is far greater than that of a fellow paying passenger.

Hi Geoff, just realised I haven't commented in a while, so I wanted to quickly tell you to keep up the great work and don't stop inspiring people. (Also this project is very exiting)!

Ooh , you were on a train to Sutton at the end. 377s are my trains and I like them. I look forward to riding in a refurbished unit . , by the way, Happy Christmas Geoff . 🎄

I cannot stress enough how much I didn't ask for big screens blasting me at full brightness with a) things that could be on a scrolling LED thing, or b) ads.

I wish they would do away with the awful ironing board seats great video as always It would be amazing if more depots had open days I whent to the TL three Bridges depo open day a few years back it was a great experience

Manifesting they get rid of the 3 +2 seating, it’s so impractical when moving and means there’s less standing capacity

Can't wait till these refurbished trains come back in service

That was interesting. Liked. 👌

That'll be a new hard hat never used before as you still have the plastic bit attached where the label goes Geoff!

W😮W - What an amazing place Geoff - Thanks for sharing 🙂😎🚂🚂🚂

I wondered what happened to these trains, as all I ever see are the high speed trains on the lines back to Kent these days. These trains were a big step up from the old slam door stock. It's good they are getting an upgrade.

Geoff Your Videos Never disappoint me

Those safety hats remind me of the old BR caps, the ones they had when the grease tops were phased out.

Thanks really appreciate

Awesome video Geoff. 377/5s from Southeastern will go to Southern

Very nice video. I would have liked it if they could have gotten you on a non-upgraded 377 train and a fully-upgraded 377 train, so that you could have edited some before and after pictures, into the video.

Geoff should visit North Pole Depot. Apparently it's pretty busy this time of year.

We've started getting the refurbished units on the Arun Valley line and it is useful having the phone and laptop charging points. Didn't realise quite how extensive a refresh it was so thanks for sharing.

I know the class 377s would run between London or Brighton to Hastings Ore Lewes Littlehampton Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton Central services

I am just old enough to remember when Selhurst still had steam locos and a large marshalling yard.

I was based here 17 years ago, nice people there...

I always thought Crystal Palace played at the site, at what was called The Nest, until they moved up the hill in 1928 or 1929. So it can't be over a hundred years old.

Yesss

I went there for an apprenticeship position in the 1970's but the folks didn't like it looking back I should have done it

I love 377s , I didn't even notice they were getting a refresh at all. It also means likely the motors and systems will get refreshed too so they don't get all dodgy and can perform effectively as if they were new I assume..

I still miss the Class 455s, I can’t believe they’re dead now.

Nice👍🎄

Used to travel to Selhurst daily for school, always wondered what goes on in the depo

Same moquette, interesting choice.

Great to see, but all those USB A sockets, gonna need replacing sooner rather than later with USB C. Yes people will still have USB A for a while, but it's not very forward thinking

were your videos alway in 720p or in 1080p at some point? Enjoying the content and have a good one!

YAY!

This sounds promising for Southern rail because Southern is consistently ranked by passengers to be the worst rail company in the country in terms of lateness, delays and cancellations.

I was wondering when their half-life refurb was due. Good to hear the seat moquettes will be replaced, they absolutely stink of old sweat in Summer!

Good video mate shame there’s no 455s left

Great to see SU depot! I started at Selhurst as a BR apprentice in 1986, when there was an Engineering Apprentice Training School on site. Have visited many times since in my job and know the depot very well. Here's a question for you (which I know the answer to): Why are the sidings next to the repair shop, which you visited, known as the AC sidings?

5:56 love the Olivia Rodrigo reference Geoff

The seats in the older versions were very comfy, now as on the Thameslink trains hard as a board.

It's a bogie wonderland.

There was talk of a plan to get some more Electrostars for the Gautrain network here in South Africa around 2019 or so. The pandemic put paid to that sadly. The interiors of those trains are very similar to the ones on the Gautrain network - though I don't think our Electrostars have all the bells and whistles.

now electrostar is gonna be a star!

As much as standardisation is good for the companies, as a trainspotter it's very boring to go spot on the Southern network. Because what will I see? A couple of 171s (which won't be around much longer), a few red 387s, and a mass of identical 377s which seem to vary between 3, 4, and 5 cars in length.

Yessir selhurt

Surprised they have not changed the moquette.

I’d like to know more about the Open Day you went to.

Electro stars were the first trains I took in the UK