Class 442s - Now at the end of the road and to be withdrawn permanently

[Class377/5]

There hasn't been a Gatwick Express franchise since 2009, it's currently a sub-brand of Southern. The Eastbourne trains are run by Southern with no connection to Gatwick Express.

If you're referring to the Class 387/1s, these are passing exclusively to Great Northern, with the loaned 387/2s returning to GX.

387201-203/206/222 have all left Thameslink now with just 387223 left for just over a week before it too returns.

 

[RobShipway]

There hasn't been a Gatwick Express franchise since 2009, it's currently a sub-brand of Southern. The Eastbourne trains are run by Southern with no connection to Gatwick Express.

If you're referring to the Class 387/1s, these are passing exclusively to Great Northern, with the loaned 387/2s returning to GX.

It will be interesting as to what replaces the 442's in 2018 then.

 

[D365]

It will be interesting as to what replaces the 442's in 2018 then.

There will be a number of 377s freed up when Thameslink is fully online.

 

[postye]

Does, that include the 387's doing the Eastbourne expresses or are the 442's still going to be used for those services?

No, the quote was "weekend Gatex services"
The 442s will last a few more weeks on m-f and will remain on the 2 southern services that they currently operate (EBN-LBG & return and BTN-LBG and return)

 

[acmw421]

Anybody still going for haulage on the 442's had better get in quick.

Barring any last minute changes, this wekend is scheduled to be the final Saturday / Sunday operation of 442s.
All weekend Gatex services from Saturday 17 should be 387s

Apologies if this has been posted up-thread, but is it currently known which diagrams they will be working this weekend?

 

[neilm]

I agree with you comment Neil, however I believe that the fast trains to Eastbourne are run with Express branding i.e. they are run under the Gatex franchise, not the Southern franchise. This is in the same way that Gatex class 387 units I believe are doing the express services from Brighton to London Victoria or is this being run by the former Thameslink class 387's?

Just to confirm these trains are run as Southern, which makes things very confusing at east Croydon as they do not stop at Gatwick.

 

[shaun]

Before the 442 withdrawal, GatX might want to update their website claiming 'Large, comfortable seats' in First as its false advertising!

 

[gazthomas]

Before the 442 withdrawal, GatX might want to update their website claiming 'Large, comfortable seats' in First as its false advertising!

Funny! Though they may think their passengers are really small!

 

[spark001uk]

Was waiting to get pics of today's 442 drag, 5Q42 Three Bridges to Eastleigh works, but it seems to have had some trouble at Purley, then lost more time towards voltaire jn in London, then it disappeared.!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O25707/2016/09/06/advanced

 

[RobShipway]

Do you think that a class 442 unit could be saved for the National Railway Museum or NRM Shildon - Locomotion at all?

 

[D365]

Do you think that a class 442 unit could be saved for the National Railway Museum or NRM Shildon - Locomotion at all?

From earlier in this thread:

A 442 driving car is already on the designation list for the National Collection.

 

[RobShipway]

From earlier in this thread:

Oops thanks, but I would have thought that it would be better to have a complete unit rather than just the driving car.

 

[sd0733]

Not a whole lot of point saving a whole set though. The trailers are basically mk3s and where would you keep a 5-car unit realistically unless dumped in a field somewhere. Surely Its better to keep 1 coach somewhere it can be looked after than 5 left out to ruin due to lack of space IMHO.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Would the 442s have been the very last NSE unit to re-use parts from an older unit?

 

[D365]

Would the 442s have been the very last NSE unit to re-use parts from an older unit?

Nope, I'm sure the Class 456 design uses older traction equipment in common with the earlier 455s.

 

[spark001uk]

Nope, I'm sure the Class 456 design uses older traction equipment in common with the earlier 455s.

They're even swapping out the motors and control gear on the 455s now, for Vossloh Kiepe stuff. Heard one the other day, they sound awful! Sounds like a motor turning down the end of a long hallway, very whiny,and when they brake it's even louder!

 

[D365]

They're even swapping out the motors and control gear on the 455s now, for Vossloh Kiepe stuff.

Only on the SWT 455s though which has been discussed here.

 

[JohnElliott]

Would the 442s have been the very last NSE unit to re-use parts from an older unit?

Would the class 424 count?

 

[spark001uk]

Would the class 424 count?

That was just a bodyshell replacement though wasn't it, not a new build

 

[Mikey C]

Nope, I'm sure the Class 456 design uses older traction equipment in common with the earlier 455s.

I thought the 456s were all new? A 2 car DC cousin of the 319/321.

 

[43096]

I thought the 456s were all new? A 2 car DC cousin of the 319/321.

The 456s use EE507 traction motors. I'm sure they'd be re-used rather than new build at that point. Other than that, they were all new (including control systems).

 

[JohnElliott]

That was just a bodyshell replacement though wasn't it, not a new build

A new coach reusing the chassis and control gear of the original? I'd have thought that counted. Not too different from rebodying the 2NOLs as 2EPBs.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The 456s use EE507 traction motors. I'm sure they'd be re-used rather than new build at that point. Other than that, they were all new (including control systems).

So if the 442s were the last class of units to re-use a good chunk of stuff from an older class, maybe the last built 442 motor coach could be preserved as an example of the practice

 

[infobleep]

Not a whole lot of point saving a whole set though. The trailers are basically mk3s and where would you keep a 5-car unit realistically unless dumped in a field somewhere. Surely Its better to keep 1 coach somewhere it can be looked after than 5 left out to ruin due to lack of space IMHO.

A heritage railway. OK they have no electricity but where does the electric slam door train that still exists get stored?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[SpacePhoenix]

A heritage railway. OK they have no electricity but where does the electric slam door train that still exists get stored?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

I think I saw a mention recently of a preserved slam door EMU being moved from it's old home to Ongar, would have to find the news article to confirm

 

[D365]

So if the 442s were the last class of units to re-use a good chunk of stuff from an older class, maybe the last built 442 motor coach could be preserved as an example of the practice

Please define "a good chunk of stuff".

I think I saw a mention recently of a preserved slam door EMU being moved from it's old home to Ongar, would have to find the news article to confirm

Class 442s aren't slam-door units though.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Please define "a good chunk of stuff".

A lot of the traction equipment under the solebar

 

[gimmea50anyday]

I think I saw a mention recently of a preserved slam door EMU being moved from it's old home to Ongar, would have to find the news article to confirm

The CEP and EPB from the EPB Preservation group were based at the EKR are currently finding a new home and while part of the CEP is at eastleigh being deswindonised I believe the EPB is staying only temporarily at the EOR but There was a CIG at EOR now off to ireland to be converted to holiday lets. Also a CIG and a VEP have both been stripped to provide running gear for the 5BEL restoration project.

Www.cep7105.co.uk

Actually checking the site http://www.epbpg.co.uk/ looks like the move to EOR may be permanent.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A heritage railway. OK they have no electricity but where does the electric slam door train that still exists get stored?

Hmm.....

Eden valley railway 2×BEP
Epping Ongar railway CEP 7105 and 2EPB
Chinnor Princes Risborough Railway CEP 1198
Dartmoor 2×CIG
Finmere 1×BIG
Electric Railway Museum Coventry various incl the remaining 210 DEMU car
NRM York and Shildon 2HAP, 2BIL, 4COR
Mid Hants 4TC (I think)
London underground 4TC

Also theres a 4EPB 4SUB a 2DD still in existence wnd this list is by no means exhaustive....

 

[50047]

Was waiting to get pics of today's 442 drag, 5Q42 Three Bridges to Eastleigh works, but it seems to have had some trouble at Purley, then lost more time towards voltaire jn in London, then it disappeared.!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O25707/2016/09/06/advanced

It was diverted into Stewarts Lane due to some issues on 2412. 2412 will leave SL on Wednesday coming for Eastleigh. 2416 carried on from SL to Eastleigh yesterday. 2409 leaves Three Bridges today for Eastleigh
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
2409 running today as 5T42 Three Bridges-Eastleigh. Loco is 47812. Will run via the South Coast.

87915 TBGDNTLSD 12:30
87904 TBGDNTLE 12:34 12:36 0 0
87927 BALCMBTJN PASS 12:39 2
87966 COPYHOLDJ PASS 12:43 2
87967 HAYWARDSH PASS 12:44 2
87972 KEYMERJN PASS 12:47 2
87971 BURGESSHL PASS 12:49 2
87975 PRESTONPK PASS 12:56 2
88103 HOVE PASS 12:58 2
87991 SHORHAMSX PASS 13:06 2
87995 WORTHING PASS 13:14 2
88111 WWORTHING PASS 13:16 2
87998 ANGMERING PASS 13:25 2
87959 ARUNDELJN PASS 13:29 2
86461 FORD PASS 13:31 2
86451 BARNHAM PASS 13:34 2
86424 CHICHESTR PASS 13:40 2
86343 EMSWORTH PASS 13:48 2
86341 HAVANT PASS 13:52 2
86334 FLINGTONJ PASS 13:56 2
86302 COSHAM JN PASS 13:58 2
86301 COSHAM PASS 13:59 2
86241 FAREHAM PASS 14:05 2
86243 FAREHAMNJ PASS 14:06 2
86202 BOTLEY PASS 14:12 2
86097 EASTLGHSJ PASS 14:20 2
86087 EASTLEIGH 14:21 14:26 0
86092 ELGHARLTN 14:31

 

[NSEFAN]

2409 running today as 5T42 Three Bridges-Eastleigh. Loco is 47812. Will run via the South Coast.

Now that's interesting. I wasn't aware that 442s were cleared for Hove - Havant.