News & Events
4VEP Class 423 No 3417 Returns to Passenger Service
Andrew Pennington Operations Projects Specialist
Following further restoration work , the Bluebell Railway ’ s 4VEP returned to passenger carrying duties after more than a decade out of traffic on Friday 6th September as part of the Railway ’ s home Diesel Gala weekend .
Hauled in push-pull mode by “ Bagpipe ” BRCW Type 3 , No 33111 , this was a first opportunity for the many supporters and well-wishers to relive memories by experiencing the set ’ s special combination of comfortable seats ( modern train builders could learn a lot ) and those howling , early autumnal , draughts generated inside EMU cars designed with 20 droplight door windows !
Operated by the Southern Electric Traction Group this was the unit ’ s second sortie out this year from Strawberry Hill where it is currently being restored , having visited Waterloo on 27th January being hauled in top & tailed mode by Class 73s , 73109 & 73119 . On that occasion , whilst the set still remains unable to carry passengers on the mainline , the purpose of its journey was to be reunited with former BR Southern Region General Manager , Gordon Pettitt ; himself also a founding member in 1999 of the , now-Chartered , Institution of Railway Operators .
No 3417 is actually something of a hybrid set as whilst three cars were constructed at BREL York in 1967 as one of the first batch of 20 sets , and originally numbered 7717 , the MBSO car No . 62236 was built in 1969 . The rugged and dependable construction of the class is highlighted by its service life extending until withdrawal in 2005 after a total of 38 years ’ service .
On an intensive network such as the Southern Region it is vital that rolling stock assets are entirely reliable and high levels of availability can be diagrammed . It is perhaps for this reason that the last VEP was built as recently as 1974 whilst “ north of the water ” British Rail had been withdrawing Mk1 vehicles ; the prototype Mk 2 vehicle being built as early as 1963 and InterCity was busy introducing airconditioned Mk2d vehicles in 1973 .
Occasional ECS moves on the mainline and visits to preserved railways are but a step on the journey of the Southern Electric Traction Group to get 3417 back carrying passengers on the Southern network , not being loco-hauled but , as she should be , propelled by her own English Electric EE507 traction motors . With work on trim , seating and stepboards in hand the team are now focussing on item to allow the unit to work under its own power including fitment of GSM-R , OTDR , CET and CDL equipment .
Whilst there remains much to do , the condition of the unit and the scale of restoration works already undertaken by the dedicated team of volunteers at Strawberry Hill leaves one in no doubt that this will surely be accomplished to the high standards required for operation on the national network . Your offers of time or of financial support will be much appreciated by the Southern Electric Traction Group .
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