the lnwr electric units were ordered by the london and north western railway for its suburban services in london. the first cars, made with siemens equipment, arrived in 1914, and these were followed by two larger batches of units with oerlikon equipment. the trains were formed into 3-car units, with first and third class accommodation in open saloons. following the 1923 grouping and absorption of the line into the london midland and scottish railway (lms), similar lms electric units, but with accommodation in compartments, were purchased to run with the oerlikon units in 1926 and 1932. the trains were all withdrawn by 1960.