Class 442 Feature - Individual Unit History (2413-2416)

2413 was delivered to Bournemouth on the 9th July 1988. MBLS 62949 from this unit was exchanged with 62957 (ex 2421) during August 1990. 2413 reverted to its normal formation towards the end of October 1990. The unit went to Crewe on 7th March 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 11th April 1998. 2413 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 21st February 2000.

This unit went to Bombardier Ilford for its C6 overhaul between 23rd October and 9th November 2006. On 15th December 2006, its DTS 77423 was failed due to a broken windscreen and was swapped with 77418 from already withdrawn 2418. To keep up an eventful final few months this unit failed at Branksome on 8th January 2007 whilst working the 08.05 Waterloo to Poole. It was reunited with its own DTS on 25th January and its last working was on the 30th January. It was used for a Freightliner driver training trip (Freightliner drivers being used to move the units to store) between Bournemouth and Weymouth on 24th January. 2413's last working was the 23.05 Waterloo to Bournemouth serice on 30th January. It was put into store at Eastleigh on 2nd February.

2413 was used on 17th May with 2405 on a training run between Eastleigh and Basingstoke for Freightliner Heavy Haul drivers. On 8th October this unit was moved within Eastleigh Works by shunter 07007. In 2008, this unit had outings to Basingstoke on 19th February with 2404 and on 19th March with 2407. On 13th May, 2413 was moved, accompanied by 73205 and 73209, from Eastleigh to Lovers Walk. Training for Southern drivers commenced on 9th June between Lovers Walk and Three Bridges, though on the first day this also included an excursion into platform 5 at Brighton Station. This is believed to be the first time a Wessex unit has entered the station since this group's Coming of Age Railtour on the 7th December 1991. On 30th June and 1st July this unit was paired with 2406 on training runs, but running these alone on 15th July. During the week commencing 28th July 2413 and 2404 were out together on Sussex training runs including Eastbourne. The SEG's favourite unit was a regular on driver training runs in Sussex throughout August and September. On 6th October 2008, 2413 ran to Chart Leacon for a C4 overhaul. It returned to Lovers Walk on 21st October. On 4th November this unit, with 2407, made a trip to Victoria overnight to assess platform to door distances for wheelchair access. 2413 went to Stewarts Lane on 17th November for modifications and then retuned south for driver training runs. This unit, along with 2405, temporarily re-entered passenger service - unrefurbished - on Gatwick Express peak Brighton services on 15th December. Temporary service turned out to be longer than though as on 6th January 2009, it was seen approaching Gatwick Airport. It was noted in service running singly (it was intended that this should not happen) on 8th January 2009. 2413 has been a regular performer, including on Victoria - Gatwick diagrams with 2405. 2413 failed with a speedometer fault on 11th February but was back in service the following day. This unit had its shoegear removed over the weekend of 21st/22nd March and was hauled to Wolverton via Northampton on 24th March.

(above) Brighton was, until recently, well off Wessex units' normal purlieu, however this group's "Coming of Age" Railtour took u2413 - appropriately the reverse number of our 4 Cor unit 3142 - to the cosmopolitan Sussex resort on 7th December 1991. This before returning to Victoria, thence to Portsmouth Harbour and finally Weymouth via Fareham. Note this was during one of the periods when the front hatch covers were off! - photograph by Colin Duff

2414 was delivered to Bournemouth on 21st July 1988. DTFo 77395 was exchanged with 77382 (ex 2401) on 11th October 1988. Its original formation was restored by November 1988. DTS 77419 was slightly damaged in collision with a car at Holme level crossing near Wool on 7th January 1990. This unit went to Crewe on 24th October 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 6th November 1998. 2414 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 15th November 2000.

Its last working was the 08.35 Waterloo to Bournemouth service on 2nd January 2007 prior to going to Ilford for its C6 overhaul the next day. It returned from Ilford in "white and grey" livery (see 2421) on 18th January as far as Poole Yard, moving onto Bournemouth T&RSMD the next day. It never returned to service and was put into store at Eastleigh on 24th January.

If units are stored with the prospect of being reactivated it is necessary to move them periodically to keep them in running order. On 31st October 2414 did a round trip between Eastleigh Works and Basingstoke with 2404 and again on 28th November with 2406. On 3rd December, 2414 with 2412 was hauled to Wolverton works by 47830, making them the first two units to undergo refurbishment for Southern's forthcoming Victoria - Brighton Extended Gatwick Express service. 2414 is unit number 1 in the programme, with 2412 being number 2. The motor brake car, 62950, was moved by road to Derby during December, believed for "sway" testing. On 24th October 2008 2414 was the first unit released from Wolverton, following refurbishment. It was hauled by 67028 to Wembley Yard, where they remained overnight, reaching Lovers Walk early the next morning. In its (Gatwick express) refurbished form it made its debut on 14th November on a driver training run to Eastbourne. This unit was displayed at Brighton on 18th December for the press launch of the new services in the December timetable. Along with 2412, it reached Gatwick on 8th December but the pair were failed and returned to Brighton. However the following day the pair re-entered passenger service, the first (Gatwick Express) refurbished units to do so, on an off peak Victoria-Gatwick Airport diagram, which they maintained for three days. On 13th December the pair were moved to Stewarts Lane in preparation for running peak Brighton-Gatwick Airport-Victoria diagrams on 15th December. This unit underwent some modifications at Selhurst in late April 2009 and returned to Lovers Walk on 3rd May.

(left) The Portsmouth Direct Line is no stranger to Class 442 units, however 2414 is seen here passing through Havant on 27th December 2005 on its way to Weymouth, diverted due to major track engineering work at Woking - photograph by Mike Cook

2415 was delivered to Bournemouth on 4th august 1988. 2415 was named ‘Mary Rose’ on its MBLS at Portsmouth & Southsea on 1st June 1992. The unit was sent to Crewe on 21st November 1998 for MBLS modifications and was released on 5th December 1998. 2415 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 9th October 2000.

Its last working was the 21.05 Waterloo to Poole service on 10th November 2006. It was separated from its MBLS for most of January 2007 whilst in store at Bournemouth. It was put into store at the former Alstom Works at Eastleigh on 2nd February. As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Not having a C6 overhaul before coming off lease nor having been run since being in store, 2415 was not a candidate for going on lease to Southern. However, in the company of 2416, this unit underwent two test runs between Eastleigh and Basingstoke on 2nd April 2009.

(left) The third opportunity taken by Network SouthEast to show off their new Wessex Electric units, this time away their from normal territory, was at the Network day at London Bridge on 28th August 1988 - photograph by Colin Duff

2416 was delivered to Bournemouth on 23rd August 1988.

Getting somewhat away from regional themed naming, 2416 was named "Mum in a million, Doreen Scanlon" on its MBLS at London Waterloo on 10th March 1997. Subsequently this unit has been affectionately referred to by enthusiasts as "our Doreen".

This unit went to Crewe as the prototype for the second series of luggage van modifications on 3rd January 1998. 2416 was released to traffic on 21st March 1998, also being the first Wessex Electric in a new version of South West Trains livery. It was not put back into traffic until 7th April following resolution of a number of problems with the new layout in the MBLS. This unit was refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 15th December 2000.

This unit is fitted with a non-standard Liebherr air conditioning system. Problems with this led to unit being briefly taken ‘off lease’ on 4th August 2006 and stored at Bournemouth depot. However, due to a shortage of units, repairs were undertaken and unit restored to use from 11th August 2006.

Thunderbird 73235 was attached to the front of this unit at Woking on 2nd October 2006 due to a faulty speedometer in the leading cab. To add to its eventful life, it was failed at Weymouth on 28th December. This unit was then split at Bournemouth whilst its motor bogies were swapped with those from stored 2421. It returned to service on 31st December but its last working was the very next day on the 11.51 Bournemouth to Waterloo service.

"Our Doreen" was the last class 442 unit remaining at Bournemouth and was not moved to Eastleigh until 3rd May. As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Because of the non standard airconditioning, 2416 was not a candidate for going on lease to Southern, yet on 29th January 2009 this unit was reported out on the main line on a trial run between Eastleigh and Basingstoke with 2423. In the company of 2415, this unit underwent further test runs between Eastleigh and Basingstoke on 2nd April, being driven by a Freightliner Heavy Haul driver. On 7th May this unit took a further run out on the mainline, this time in the company of 2420, unusually between Eastleigh and Brockenhurst. This pair went to Chart Leacon on 15th May for overhaul prior to reintroduction with Southern on the Gatick Express.

(top) 2416 at the rear of an up working departing Southampton on 14th August 2004 - photograph by Colin Duff
(above) 2416 at Bournemouth at the head up an up working on 1st February 2003 - photograph by Neil Walkling