after the holcombe brook service, the lyr decided to electrify the manchester victoria to bury line using 1,200 v dc side-contact third rail, and originally a fourth rail was bonded to the running rails. the purpose of this unique third rail arrangement was to prevent the service being affected by ice forming on the live rail. sixty-six cars were built at newton heath works, the electrical equipment having been supplied by dick, kerr & co. the cars were long, the driving motor cars weighing 54 tons and the trailer cars 29 tons. the stock was of all-metal construction, with steel framework and aluminium panelling for the sides and roof; the third class trailers seated 95 passengers, the motor cars 74 and the first class trailers 72. the trains were fitted with vacuum brakes.