Comments by Mike King
Pull-push Set 753 at Brighton, the MPD forming the backdrop, in April 1953. The set has come from Horsham with what was to become the last D3 bogie tank in service on the rear 32390. This was one of ten such sets (nos.751-760) which were formed up by the Southern Railway in 1924 from what were previously loose pull-push driving brake composites (including leading coach 6929) and various third class trailers. The formation seen here (with trailer third 2191) dates from 1932 and the set ran in this form until 1959. Coach 2191 alone was a former AC electric driving coach and the previous driver's compartment was turned into a luggage compartment - just about seen behind the first coach - although in this set the coach is the 'wrong way round'. The luggage compartment was supposed to be adjacent to the locomotive but it was not unknown for the third to run 'the other way around', as here.

The red letters on white background Southern Railway ‘Danger don’t touch Conductor Rails’ enamel sign looks pretty tatty and dirty