Class 442 Feature - Individual Unit History (2417-2420)

2417 was delivered to Bournemouth on 26th August 1988. It was involved in a collision with a cement mixer placed on the track at Parkstone on 11th December 1988. DTS 77422 was derailed and damaged, TSO 71858 also being slightly damaged .The next day, this unit was diagrammed to take the ill fated 06.14 Poole - Waterloo service, a service involved with the Clapham Rail Crash. Instead a 12 coach ‘slammer’ was diagrammed with devastating results. 2417 went to Derby for repair on 22nd December 1988 and reformed with TSO 71852 & DTS 77416 (ex 2411). It returned to the SR on 11th January 1989.

This unit was sent to Crewe 26th September 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 9th October 1998. 2417 was refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 16th March 2001. 2417 was named ‘Woking Homes’ on it MBLS, appropriately at Woking.

2417's last working was the 18.35 Waterloo to Bournemouth service on 13th January 2007. It was put into store at Eastleigh on 19th January.

If units are stored with the prospect of being reactivated, it is necessary to move them periodically to keep them in running order. Accordingly, on 21st November, 2417 did a round trip between Eastleigh Works and Basingstoke with 2406. This unit also did a round trip to Basingstoke in the new year, doing so with 2410 on 9th January 2008. 2417 did not have a C6 overhaul before going off lease but due to being used on trips to Basingstoke, it is believed this unit may be a candidate for being one of the seventeen going on lease to Southern for Gatwick Express services. On 8th February this unit ran with 73206 and 73208 to Chart Leacon for C4 and C6 overhaul and in doing so being the first Wessex Unit ever to run on the former south-eastern division. 2417 was released to Lovers Walk on 8th July carrying a Class 442 version of Gatwick Express livery, but without branding, the first of the class to receive such treatment. On 25th July this unit was taken to Wolverton for refurbishment, being unit number 8 in the programme. This unit was released from Wolverton on 16th December 2008, in a modified Gatwick Express livery, being hauled to Lovers Walk by 67006. It was observed on mileage accumulation runs with 442402 between Eastbourne and Three Bridges on 31st December, however this unit was failing so these were cancelled part way through. With further mileage accumulation runs with 442402 on 2nd January 2009 and testing the next day, this unit re-entered service on 5th January. On 28th February, 442417 accompanied newly refurbished 442406 on a test trip to East Croydon. This unit is proving to be a popular companion for test trips because on 4th April it accompanied 442408 on test trips between Brighton and Eastbourne and overnight 8th into 9th April with un-refurbished 2423.

(above) 2417 on a late afternoon down working at Bournemouth on the 11th June 2006 - photograph by Colin Duff

2418 was delivered to Bournemouth on 7th September 1988. It was named ‘Wessex Cancer Trust' on MBLS 62954 at Southampton on 2nd March 1995. This unit was sent to Crewe on 7th November 1998 for MBLS modifications and was released on 26th November 1998. 2418 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 16th February 2001.

This unit failed on 29th October 2006 and was stored at Clapham yard with its traction motors isolated. It returned to service but was withdrawn following its last working - the 19.48 Weymouth to Bournemouth service on 10th December. It then donated its DTS 77418 in exchange for 77423 from 2413, which had a broken windscreen. This unit then became the depot's "Christmas Tree".

2418 was moved into store at Eastleigh on 18th April 2007. As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works and a short excursion into the platform at Eastleigh on 19th December. 2418 did not have a C4 nor a C6 overhaul before going off-lease, so it is not a candidate for being one of the seventeen going on lease to Southern for Gatwick Express services. However, on 25th February 2009, this unit was hauled to Wolverton by 67026, where it received a C4 overhaul with the intent - along with 2423 - of making up the number of units in service whilst 2405 and 2413 are refurbished. 2418 was hauled from Wolverton by 67006 on 6th April and underwent test runs overnight 14th into 15th April. This unit re-entered service on 20th April in the company of 442403.

(above) Another period when front hatch covers were off! 2418 approaching Clapham Junction on a down working on 8th April 2000 - photograph by Colin Duff

2419 was delivered to Bournemouth on 20th September 1988. The unit was named ‘BBC South Today’ on its MBLS at Southampton Central on 5th September 1989. The unit went to Crewe on 29th August 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 11th September 1998. 2419 was refurbished at Eastleigh during November 2000.

This unit was officially un-named by BBC South Today presenter Sally Taylor at Bournemouth T&RSMD on 9th January 2007. It failed on 15th January 2007 with motor problems but continued in service until 25th January when its last working was the 01.53 Southampton to Bournemouth service. It was stored at Eastleigh on 12th February.

As far as can be established, this unit dd not then move, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Because 2419 did not receive a C4 nor a C6 overhaul before going off lease and as it had not been moved it was initially believed this unit was not a candidate for going on lease to Southern. However, this deduction subsequently appears to be incorrect as Southern still needed one more unit to make 17 units and therefore on 27th February 2008 it finally did a round trip to Basingstoke, with 2403 and then on 29th February, with the insurance of GBRf 73204, 2419 went to Chart Leacon for a C4 and C6 overhaul. It emerged from Chart Leacon on 25th July, the second unit in Gatwick Express livery, and travelled under its own power to Lovers Walk. On 13th August 66715 hauled this unit to Wolverton for refurbishment, being unit number 10 in the programme. It was released on 23rd December 2008, with a modified Gatwick Express livery, but due to late running it was diverted into Stewarts Lane and spent its Christmas in south London. It was noted out on mileage accumulation runs overnight 15th January 2009 and during the days of 16th, 17th and 18th January. 442419 was seen with 442424 on a test run to Eastbourne in the snow on 3rd February. The date this unit re-entered service has not been recorded, however following this it was noted undergoing test trips between Lovers Walk and Eastbourne via Three Bridges on 12th April.

(above) 2419 being piloted by EDL 73109 through Clapham Junction, date unrecorded. photograph by John Lewis

2420 was delivered to Bournemouth on 28th September 1988. The unit was named ‘City of Southampton’ on its MBLS at Southampton Central on 6th December 1994. The unit was sent to Crewe on 5th September 1998 for MBLS modifications and was released on 16th October 1998. TSO 71837 was damaged by fire near Farnborough on 30th November 1998 and was repaired at Bournemouth depot. The unit was refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 19th April 2000.

This unit had an eventful final few months. On 4th December 2006 it was damaged with a smashed windscreen and on 8th January 2007 it failed with an AWS fault. Its last working was the 23.05 Waterloo to Poole service on 12th January and it was put into store at Eastleigh on 24th January.

As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Because 2420 did not receive a C6 overhaul before going off lease and as it has not been moved this unit is not a candidate for going on lease to Southern. However, on 7th May 2009 this unit took a run out on the mainline in the company of 2416, unusually between Eastleigh and Brockenhurst. The pair went to Chart Leacon on 15th May for overhaul prior to reintroduction to service. However, 2420 returned shortly afterwards to Eastleigh on 2nd June, due to what is thought to have been a lack of space at Chart Leacon. The unit eventually got its time for overhaul and returned to Chart Leacon on 31st July, being the last unit to leave Eastleigh Works after a much talked about 2½ years.

(above) It was a warm April in 2004? 2420 with half-open front doors through Walton on 5th April 2004 - photograph by LSWR Penguin