new Southern Electric Group logo

Units 8026-8030

8026
long shot of 8026 and 8010 approaching Clapham Junction
8026 was delivered from Washwood Heath to Eastleigh during April 2001. By late summer the unit was at Wimbledon undertaking mileage accumulation trips and then entering revenue earning service during the autumn. During the summer of 2002 8026 received attention at an unreported works returning to traffic during August. Whilst at Eastleigh in 2003 this unit was side-swiped by shunters, damaging a cab door. A replacement was obtained from 8001 which at the time ws being used as a "Christmas Tree" for spares.

On Monday 3rd July, three days after class 458 operations by SWT were due to cease, 8026 and 8010 worked the 07.24 Reading to Waterloo service and then these units eventually retired to Clapham Yard. However, even that was not the last appearance for this pair because on Friday 28th July, the penultimate weekday 458s were expected to run, they were remarkably running out of Farnham on a diagram taking in Aldershot, Waterloo, Reading and Ascot. On 1st August this unit was running with 8010 and 4th August this unit was, with 8006, moved from Clapham Yard to Wimbledon depot.  8026 returned to service slightly ahead on the December timetable change and was observed running on diagram WM703 on 6th December.

In November 2008 this unit participated in gangway trials with 8007. On New Year's Eve 2008 this unit went down to Bournemouth to pilot 8102 back to Wimbledon.

8026 entering Feltham station across the level crossing (above) 8026 leading 8010 into Clapham junction with the 13.20 Waterloo to Reading service on 19th June 2006.

(left) 8026, again leading 8010, into Feltham with the 12.12 Reading to Waterloo service on 30th June 2006.

photographs by
Colin Duff

8027
8027 at Clapham Junction with an up service 8027 was delivered from Washwood Heath to Eastleigh in June 2001. By late summer the unit was at Wimbledon undertaking mileage accumulation trips and then entering revenue earning service during the autumn. This unit underwent modifications at Alstom Eastleigh during November and December 2002. During June 2006 this unit was reported as not having worked in passenger service since February, its last working being the 22.12 Reading to Waterloo service on 8th February 2006.  8027 was out on a test run with 8008 to Eastleigh on 23rd Janaury 2007. It was back in service two days later.

(above) 8027 departing Clapham Junction for Waterloo on 4th October 2002.
photograph by Colin Duff

On 6th October 2008 this unit went down to Bournemouth T&RSMD, was fitted out with test equipment and was then used as the calibration unit during regenerative braking tests with other units between Weymouth and Dorchester South/Wareham. It returned to Wimbledon on 29th October however 8027 returned to Bournemouth on 12th November, this time for refreshing. This unit was released on 4th December and returned to traffic on 8th December 2008.

8028
8028 in platform 2 at Richmond 8028 was delivered to Eastleigh from Washwood Heath during June 2001 and was moved to Wimbledon in October 2001 and entered traffic the following month. This unit was modified at Eastleigh during the autumn of that year and returned there for a further spell in July 2003. On 19th January 2004 8004 and 8028 worked to Shepperton, the class recently having been cleared to do so. 8028 is reported to have been out on am peak and evening services on Monday 17th July. 8028 continued to run in passenger service beyond the RVAR deadline until 7th August and on 17th August was reported to be used on a high speed test run to Woking.   It was withdrawn from service at the end of September but following modifications has since returned to work.This unit went down to Bournemouth T&RSMD for refreshing on 8th April 2009.
8028 working the 10.41 departure from Richmond to Waterloo on 11th July 2003.
photograph by Colin Duff
8029
8029 and 3536 at the buffer stops at Waterloo 8029 was delivered to Eastleigh in October 2001 having been added to stock on the 3rd of that month. The unit was at Wolverton for attention during March 2002 and commenced revenue earning service six months later having been put on test at Basingstoke during July. 8029 underwent modifications at Stewarts Lane during November and December of 2002.

In a curious turn of fate, since its last recorded run in service on 23rd June 8029 has had DDA compliant passenger information displays installed and was running in this condition on Thursday 20th July while working, with 8020, the 05.50 Waterloo-Reading and 07.42 Reading Waterloo services. On Friday 28th July, supposed to be the penultimate weekday of SWT 458 operation, this unit plus 8029 worked a full day Reading line diagram ending at Waterloo at 23.34. 8029 is now likely to be in service until further notice. This unit is now one of a pool of eight that has been used beyond the RVAR deadline.

(above) The slammer's final month with SWT and 8029 is reliable company at the buffer stops at Waterloo on 20th May 2005.
photograph by Steve Miles

It has been fitted with 40mm passenger information displays. Along with other modified units it was withdrawn from service at the end of September 2006 but following modifications has since returned to work. On 21st October 2008 8029 went down to Bournemouth to take part in regenerative braking tests between Weymouth and Dorchester South/Wareham. It returned to Wimbledon on 11th November.

8030
In autumnal conditions 8030 south of Chertsey The final unit in the class 458 series, under construction by March 2001, lingered at Washwood Heath until October 2002 when it was delivered to Eastleigh. There was speculation that this, and three other units, might never enter SWT service and instead find employment as an ac test train or with another TOC. Even when this unit arrived at Eastleigh on 2nd October it was minus some windows and doors. 8030 was delivered to Wimbledon in early 2003, received modifications at Stewarts Lane up until late March and then commenced test running. 8030 entered public service during May of that year. The unit’s last working  within the RVAR deadline was on Wednesday 19th July when it was running with 8023. This unit is now one of a pool of eight that has been used beyond the deadline.  It has been fitted with 40mm passenger information displays. Along with other modified units it was withdrawn from service at the end of September but following modifications has since returned to work. It went to Bournemouth on 24th October 2006 to collect 8007 from store.

Just a bit closer to the station and in autumnal conditions, 8030 just south of Chertsey on 19th November 2004.
photograph by Chris Nevard

On 12th May 2008 this unit ran to Bournemouth T&RSMD for refurbishment. It returned to Wimbledon on 24th June and then ran a test trip to Guildford. 8030 re-entered service on 27th June, the first refurbished unit to do so.