| British Rail Class 423 | |
|---|---|
Class 423/1, no. 3445 at Waterloo East on 8 February 2003, with a service to Charing Cross. This unit is painted in Connex livery. |
|
| In service | 1967-2005 |
| Manufacturer | BREL York |
| Number built | 194 |
| Formation | 4 car per trainset |
| Operator | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.3m |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 9 1⁄4 in (3.893 m) |
| Maximum speed | 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) |
| Weight | Total - 36F/266S |
| Power output | 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) |
| Electric system(s) | 750V dc third rail |
The British Rail Class 423 (or 4Vep) electrical multiple units were built by BR at York Works from 1967 to 1974, although the MBSOs and TSOs of the first 20, 7701-7720, were constructed at Derby Works. They feature manually-opening doors next to every seating row and were the last coaching stock built in this pattern for BR. They were mostly found working outer suburban services in South London, and rural services in Kent and Sussex, up to 2005 when they were finally replaced by Electrostar and Desiro units.
Contents |
194 standard four-car units were built between 1967 and 1974, numbered 7701-7894. They were subsequently renumbered in the 1980s into the 30xx and 31xx series, in order to make numbers TOPS compliant. Between 1988 and 1990 the units were internally facelifted. The work involved fitting fluorescent lighting and public address equipment, and also rebuilding the MBS vehicles with an additional two bays of seating in space formerly used for luggage. On refurbishment only the first twenty units were renumbered in order, in the 34xx series. All other units were renumbered from 3421 onwards, in the order they were refurbished. All units ended up swapping motor vehicles on refurbishment - the additional work on these cars made the work take longer than that carried out on trailer vehicles.
In 1968, due to a shortage of suitable stock for the Bournemouth electrification scheme, BR formed an eight-carriage 8Vab unit, no. 8001. The unit was formed of carriages from three standard sets, nos. 7739/41/42, plus a conventional locomotive-hauled buffet carriage. Three MBSOs were required within the make-up as the standard 'TRB' was not through-wired for traction power distribution. In view of this the two MBSOs in the 5-car portion had collector shoes fitted to one bogie on each. The unit worked on occasions with a 4-TC; this usually had a Class 33 attached to provide ETH & train lighting etc. in the TC unit as the 8-VAB was not fitted with ETH jumper cables on the unit ends. Its normal running formation was with another 4-VEP to make a 12-car set. The 'TRB' vehicle retained its gas-powered appliances so, unlike 4-REP buffet cars, was able to provide hot food and beverages while on diversions away from third-rail areas. Adjacent MBSO 62203 had most of its doors locked out of use and tables fitted across them for the service of meals on a 2-and-2 basis (across seats intended for 5 persons normally); this vehicle also had most of its luggage racks removed. The unit was later reclassified as Class 480 following the introduction of TOPS.
The numbering of individual vehicles are shown in the table below.
| Unit No. | DTCoL | MBSO | TRB | MBSO | DTCoL | DTCoL | MBSO | DTCoL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8001 | 76375 | 62203 | 1759 | 62200 | 76376 | 76373 | 62202 | 76374 |
The unit was disbanded in 1974, following deliveries of 4Rep stock, but at least one of the original units was not reformed, as spare vehicles from the unit had replaced crash-damaged Vep vehicles in the meantime.
In 1978 twelve units, nos. 7788-7799, were fitted with extra luggage racks (by removing the squabs and backs from certain seats) and reclassified as Class 427 4Veg units. The units were renumbered into the range 7901-7912. These units were dedicated to the Gatwick Express services from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport. Externally these units were marked by an orange/yellow (dayglo) coloured band at cantrail level with lettering 'London-Gatwick express service'. They normally ran only with other 4-VEG units.
In 1984 they were replaced on this service by Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives operating in push-pull with Class 488 coaching sets and Class 489 luggage vans. The twelve units were then converted back to standard sets, and regained their original unit numbers.
The numbering of individual vehicles and details of when units were built are shown in the table below.
| Unit Nos. | Years Built | DTCsoL | MBSO | TSO | DTCsoL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7701-7720 | 1967 | 76231-76269 (odd) | 62121-62140 | 70781-70800 | 76230-76268 (even) |
| 7721-7755 | 1967-68 | 76333-76401 (odd) | 62182-62216 | 70872-70906 | 76334-76402 (even) |
| 7756-7805 | 1968-69 | 76441-76539 (odd) | 62217-62266 | 70907-70956 | 76442-76540 (even) |
| 7806-7815 | 1970 | 76541-76559 (odd) | 62267-62276 | 70957-70966 | 76542-76560 (even) |
| 7816-7854 | 1970-73 | 76641-76715 (odd) | 62317-62354 | 70997-71034 | 76642-76716 (even) |
| 7855-7894 | 1973-74 | 76861-76941 (odd) | 62435-62475 | 71115-71155 | 76862-76942 (even) |
Following the privatisation of British Rail the three southern train operators all inherited large fleets of Vep units. The fleet of each franchise is described below.
South Eastern Trains operated the largest fleet of 4Vep units. The franchise was originally operated as Connex South Eastern, which lost the franchise in 2003. The fleet contained several unusual units, included no. 3473, which contained a driving trailer with the compartments removed, and no. 3582, which contained former 4TC driving trailer 76275.
Many units survived into 2005 because of the closure of the Folkestone—Dover section of railway for tunnel refurbishment. This ended in September 2005. The final passenger service was operated on 7 October 2005, using units 3565, 3545 and 3568. Incidentally unit 3545 contained 62121, the first 4Vep MBSO built.
All the South Eastern Trains 4Vep units have now been withdrawn. One driving trailer from unit 3568, and another from 4Vep 3545, have been claimed by the National Railway Museum, and the former 4TC driving trailer from unit 3582 have been preserved.
The South Central division inherited a fleet of 50 standard Class 423/1 units. The franchise was originally won by Connex South Central, which soon applied its yellow and white livery to the fleet. However, following poor levels of service, the franchise was transferred to South Central Trains in 2000, which was later renamed as Southern in 2004. Only one unit, no. 3514, was ever repainted in Southern's green livery.
In 1998-1999, whilst still under the control of Connex, 19 units were modified to operate inner suburban South London "Metro" services. The work involved removal of internal compartments and declassification of 1st class seating. The units were reclassified as Class 423/9 (or 4Vop) and renumbered in the range 3901-3919. Due to the lack of first class seating and toilets, these units were generally not used on long-distance services.
In 2003, with the general run-down of slam-door trains, it was decided to reform some of the 4Vop units by swapping one driving trailer with that from a standard unit. The new hybrid units were reclassified as Class 423/8 (or 4Vip) and renumbered in the range 3813-3844. This was to give all units some 1st-class seating, thus making diagramming of units easier. But in the event only eight units were reformed, namely nos. 3813/14/21/22/41-44.
By 2004 Southern had started to introduce Class 377 "Electrostar" units into service. Although first introduced in 2002, this did not initially affect the Class 423 as the older 'Phase 1' Class 421 units were withdrawn first, due to their age and lower seating capacity. However, as more new units entered traffic, the first Class 423 units were withdrawn. Units selected for withdrawal were usually those with high mileage or in poor condition. By mid-2005 only a handful of units remained in traffic. The final diagrammed passenger service out of London was the 17:17 London Victoria to Eastbourne and Seaford on 19 August 2005, formed of units 3486 and 3535, plus 4Cig 1866. Six units were subsequently retained for emergency cover. Unit 3514 was used on the Sussex Slammer railtour on Saturday 19 November 2005. The following Saturday saw the final slam door trains on Southern, when units 3490, 3505 and 3535 formed the 09:19 Brighton to London Victoria and 11:06 London Victoria to Brighton services, following which all the units were withdrawn from service.
One complete 4Vip unit has been preserved, and two 4Vop units remain in departmental use.
South West Trains (SWT) inherited the second-largest number of units, with an initial fleet size of 62 units. The entire fleet was composed of standard Class 423/1 units. Later, a further four units (nos. 3809-3812) were transferred from Connex South Eastern. These were also standard units, but were numbered in the 38xx series to denote they were leased from Porterbrook rather than HSBC Rail.
SWT quickly repainted its fleet of units into a new livery, based on the previous Network SouthEast (NSE) livery, but with the addition of an orange stripe and the absence of the grey band. All but four units (3415 and 3809-3811) were repainted. These four units were deliberately retained in NSE livery, meaning that in the final days of slam-door trains they attained "celebrity" status among rail enthusiasts.
In 2003 SWT placed an order for 785 new carriages with Siemens AG to allow it to replace its fleet of slam-door trains. To assist Siemens in the design of third rail units, 4Vep no. 3810 was transferred to a test site in Germany to undergo tests. Following its return to Britain it became popularly known as the "Great Escape".
South West Trains started to replace its slam-door fleet from early 2004, with the introduction of the first Class 444 and Class 450 Desiro units. Around this time SWT repainted one unit, no. 3417, into its original BR Blue livery to commemorate the final months in traffic of the slam-door fleet. This unit was chosen because it was one of the last to receive major works attention, and therefore had the longest life-expectancy. It was named Gordon Pettitt after a former manager of the Southern Region of British Railways.
In the final months of traffic several units, including the first-built, no. 3401, were reformed in order to allow the vehicles in the best condition to be retained in service. Withdrawals of units picked up pace, with several large culls of units, the last of which occurred in March 2005. Beyond this date only a handful of units remained in traffic, namely nos. 3401/17/81 3516/20/36/76 and 3811. The final normal passenger service was operated on 26 May 2005 from London Waterloo to Bournemouth, using 4Vep 3536 sandwiched between 4Cig units 1396 and 1398. Following withdrawal most units were rapidly towed away for scrap. The "celebrity" blue unit, no. 3417, has been since been sold to the Bluebell Railway.
Following withdrawal from normal service, several vehicles have seen further use in departmental service.
| Unit Number (current in bold) |
Type | DTCsoL | MBSO | TSO | DTCsoL | Livery | Location | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7753 | 3053 | 3463 | 3905 | 4Vop | 76398 | 62266 | 70904 | 76397 | Connex | Ashford Chart Leacon | - |
| 7799 | 3099 | 3532 | 3918 | 4Vop | 76528 | 62321 | 70950 | 76527 | Connex | Ashford Chart Leacon | - |
So far two complete units (highlighted in table below) and four individual driving trailers have been preserved. In addition the former 4TC driving vehicle from set 3582 has been preserved.
The more high profile unit preserved is the former SWT "celebrity" unit painted in BR blue livery with painted aluminium window frames, number 3417. The unit was initially used on Wimbledon depot as a shunter, but with SWT needing to get it off its books it was sold by South West Trains to the Bluebell Railway for the nominal sum of £1. It was moved to Eastleigh Works for storage, after having been used initially as the centre-piece for the Bluebell in a ceremony at East Grinstead railway station to mark the commencement of work at the station site as part of the line's work on the northern extension. The unit returned to East Grinstead for further use and storage in September 2010.
The second set, 3822, was located at the Churnet Valley Railway and was part way through restoration. In 2008 half of the set was returned to as built BR Blue and received internal repairs. The other half currently remains in "as withdrawn" Connex condition, and the set operates at several special events throughout the year. However, as of 2010 the unit has been scrapped.
There was also an attempt to preserve unit 3810 (the unit briefly exported to Germany), but unfortunately this also failed.
| Unit number (current in bold) |
Type | DTCsoL (*DTSsoL) |
MBSO | TSO | DTCsoL | Livery | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7717 | 3017 | 3417 | 4Vep | 76262 | 62236 | 70797 | 76263 | BR Blue | Bluebell Railway. | Owned by the Bluebell Railway. Originally delivered to East Grinstead. Moved to Eastleigh March 2009, returned to the Bluebell Railway September 2010. Currently stored at Bournemouth Depot to free up space at East Grinstead for spoil trains. |
| 7729 | 3029 | 3436 | 4Vep | 76350 | - | - | - | Connex | Scrapped on site at Bideford & Instow Railway in July 2008. | - |
| 3151 | 3504 | 3822 | 4Vip | 76529* | 62351 | 71032 | 76712 | Connex/BR Blue | Churnet Valley Railway | 76529 was previously formed in 4Vop unit 3910 (ex-3438, 7800) and thus the unit has been scrapped as of 2010 |
| 7861 | 3161 | 3545 | 4Vep | 76875 | - | - | - | Connex | National Railway Museum | 3545 was one of final units in traffic with South Eastern Trains. |
| 7867 | 3167 | 3568 | 4Vep | 76887 | - | - | - | Connex | Woking Miniature Railway | 3568 was one of final units in traffic with South Eastern Trains. |
| 404 | 3169 | 3582 | 4TC | 76275 | - | - | - | Connex | Privately owned | 76275 was previously formed in 4TC unit 8004 (ex-404). |
Original-condition units
| Class | Type | No. built
(Converted*) |
Year built
(Converted*) |
No. range | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 423 | 4Vep | 194 | 1967-74 | 7701-7894
(later 3001-3194) |
1995 | Most units facelifted and renumbered into 3401-3591 range. |
| Class 427 | 4Veg | 12* | 1978* | 7901-7912 | 1984 | Previously units 7788-7799.
Converted back to standard 4Vep units. |
| Class 480 | 8Vab | 1* | 1968* | 8001 | 1974 | Formed from vehicles from units 7739/41/42.
Converted back to standard 4Vep units. |
Facelifted units
| Class | Type | No.
Converted |
Year
Converted |
No. range | Operator | Units nos. | Withdrawn | No. preserved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 423/1 | 4Vep | 191 | 1988-95 | 3401-3591 | SET | 3412/16/21-24/45-54/71-75/87/91-99, 3500/11/21/43-45/47/48/53/54/60, 3562/64-66/68/70-75/77/79/82-91 |
10/2005 | 1 |
| Southern | 3403/35-37/79/82-86/88-90, 3501/03-05/12/13/15/17/18/23/24, 3529-31/35/46/49/51 |
11/2005 | ||||||
| SWT | 3401/02/04-11/13-15/17-20/25-34/55-59/66-70, 3480/81, 3508-10/16/19/20/36/39/40/42, 3552/55/57-59/61/63/67/69/76/78/80/81 |
05/2005 | ||||||
| Class 423/1 | 4Vep | 12 | 1995 | 3801-3812 | SET | 3801-08 | 12/2004 | - |
| SWT | 3809-12 | 05/2005 | ||||||
| Class 423/8 | 4Vip | 8 | 2003 | 3813-3844 | Southern | 3813/14/21/22/41-44 | 08/2005 | 1 |
| Class 423/9 | 4Vop | 19 | 1998-99 | 3901-3919 | Southern | 3901-19 | 08/2005 | - |
Hornby have announced that they will be making a 00 gauge model of the 4-VEP to be released in 2010. The model will represent the refurbished units with extra seating bays in the MBS and will thus only be suitable for 1988 onwards if you really are particularly fastidious about historical accuracy.
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