Southern Class 455 Withdrawal

[YSTrains]

As of 26 May 2022:
Stored:
801,802,803,804,805,806,807,808,811,812, 813,814,815,817,818,819,820,821,822,823, 824,826,829,830,832,833,834,836,837,840, 842,843,844,845

Scrapped: 809,810,816,825,827,828,831,835,838,839, 841,846

Btw it's interesting too see the first SWR 455 (455740) being sent for scrap.

 

[Ewan M]

There's an enthusiast involved in shipping that has posted a few photos from passing ships on Facebook. 317709 was one of the units featured recently. I can't remember which group they are posted on, possibly Railways in South Wales.

I found those pics and they ain’t a pretty sight at all sadly!

 

[Bikeman78]

I found those pics and they ain’t a pretty sight at all sadly!

Which group are they on? 317709 managed to remain intact for at least three days.

 

[Class455]

As of 26 May 2022:
Stored:
801,802,803,804,805,806,807,808,811,812, 813,814,815,817,818,819,820,821,822,823, 824,826,829,830,832,833,834,836,837,840, 842,843,844,845

Scrapped: 809,810,816,825,827,828,831,835,838,839, 841,846

Btw it's interesting too see the first SWR 455 (455740) being sent for scrap.

And 5855 has been scrapped too.

 

[Ewan M]

Which group are they on? 317709 managed to remain intact for at least three days.

Railways In South Wales

 

[trainmania100]

455830 and 843 moved from hove to stewarts lane today.
Copped it leaving Hove

 

[Ant1966]

For anyone thinking of going up to London; as of last night 3 of the units shown on Part Time Spotter at Streatham Hill, are parked up in full view in the Down Sidings (5807/40/15). The other 4 units are buried out of sight (I assume) in the carriage sheds. Streatham Hill station itself is a weird backwater, there cant be many other stations that close to Central London (Zone 3) with only a 30 minute service at peak times?

 

[PGAT]

There cant be many other stations that close to Central London (Zone 3) with only a 30 minute service at peak times?

Brixton has to be an honourable mention. 2tph off-peak, but some extra Bromley South services in the peak, but it is closer (Zone 2).

Haydons Road and Tooting are in the same boat at Streatham Hill; both Zone 3 and 2tph services both peak and off-peak.

Crofton Park, Catford and Bellingham are in Zone 3 but do receive additional Orpington services in the peak (as well as 2 SE departures from Crofton Park and Bellingham)

New Cross Gate and Brockley only receive 2tph and are in Zone 2 (if you don't count the Overground)

Finally, Wandsworth Common receives 2tph off-peak and is in Zone 2, but gets 4tph in the peak just like Brixton

If the coronavirus reduced timetable never happened, we could cross all of these stations (including Streatham Hill) off the list.

 

[3973EXL]

STP 30/05 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-05-30/detailed

STP 01/06 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-06-01/detailed

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And 5855 has been scrapped too.

That’s a SWR unit, so I’m unsure why you’re bringing that one up.

 

[warwickshire]

That’s a SWR unit, so I’m unsure why you’re bringing that one up.

In my opinion. Nothing wrong in helping out with other information as it is useful to help others. Especially as 455 southern are rapidly going for scrap.
And fast. So keeping records together really does help. After all 455 are all the same class anyway. Helping each other is vital. Because we learn something new each day.

 

[warwickshire]

As of 26 May 2022:
Stored:
801,802,803,804,805,806,807,808,811,812, 813,814,815,817,818,819,820,821,822,823, 824,826,829,830,832,833,834,836,837,840, 842,843,844,845

Scrapped: 809,810,816,825,827,828,831,835,838,839, 841,846

Btw it's interesting too see the first SWR 455 (455740) being sent for scrap.

Also 811 824 sadly went for scrap on Thursday 26th May 2022.

 

[43096]

That’s a SWR unit, so I’m unsure why you’re bringing that one up.

Because 5740 was mentioned in the post that was being replied to.

 

[Mikey C]

I wasn't paying much attention (to get numbers etc(, but a number of Southern units are still stabled just north of Horsham

 

[Class455]

STP 30/05 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-05-30/detailed

STP 01/06 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-06-01/detailed

Any idea which 455’s are departing for scrap next week?

That’s a SWR unit, so I’m unsure why you’re bringing that one up.

Because the OP mentioned that 5740 had gone but that wasn’t the only SWR 455 to be scrapped

 

[warwickshire]

STP 30/05 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-05-30/detailed

STP 01/06 5Q55 1038 Stewarts Lane - Newport Docks
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03592/2022-06-01/detailed

Certainly no letting up and going ahead with scrapping despite Jubilee half term week.

 

[BingBong50]

Out of interest, what is the reason that for the scrap moves to Newport they don't go as 12 car formations?

 

[Class 466]

Out of interest, what is the reason that for the scrap moves to Newport they don't go as 12 car formations?

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was related to Braking force seen as they need to use barrier vehicles.

 

[swt_passenger]

Out of interest, what is the reason that for the scrap moves to Newport they don't go as 12 car formations?

I don’t know, but I think it’s possible there isn’t room within the site. Plenty of room on the rail approach to it, but perhaps they can’t leave units waiting in those areas?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

In my opinion. Nothing wrong in helping out with other information as it is useful to help others. Especially as 455 southern are rapidly going for scrap.
And fast. So keeping records together really does help. After all 455 are all the same class anyway. Helping each other is vital. Because we learn something new each day.

Yes, I did not mean it in an unpleasant way, of course; I just thought it could create confusion.

I find it very interesting that these are disposed of so fast while 317/321 and 456 - and Pacers - have all been seen to sit at Ely or Long Marston or somewhere for long periods of time. I wonder why that is?

 

[warwickshire]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was related to Braking force seen as they need to use barrier vehicles.

Correct only a maximum of 2 units per move.

Yes, I did not mean it in an unpleasant way, of course; I just thought it could create confusion.

I find it very interesting that these are disposed of so fast while 317/321 and 456 - and Pacers - have all been seen to sit at Ely or Long Marston or somewhere for long periods of time. I wonder why that is?

No worries. Most likely down to cost, ie to save on storage and extra costs to places like Ely and Long Marston. First.
Also Eversholt train leasing don't hang around. Like the 365. A quick get out.
However same result with 455 but avoiding storage ie Belmont Yard.
Also using GBRF for a quicker turnaround than Rail Operations Group.
However rate 455 are going possible all gone by end July. Suspect other stuff Mk3 ely and 321 Wolverton are spares and parts. 317s recently have only been at Ely for few weeks before going onto Newport this time around.
However should all go ahead this week then only 14 moves left over 7 weeks to go from the close of play on Wednesday 1st June 2022.

 

[BingBong50]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was related to Braking force seen as they need to use barrier vehicles.

So are the brakes on the 455 units not functional at all when being towed and therefore totally reliant on the loco and barrier wagons for braking?

 

[Geogregor]

Brixton has to be an honourable mention. 2tph off-peak, but some extra Bromley South services in the peak, but it is closer (Zone 2).

Haydons Road and Tooting are in the same boat at Streatham Hill; both Zone 3 and 2tph services both peak and off-peak.

Crofton Park, Catford and Bellingham are in Zone 3 but do receive additional Orpington services in the peak (as well as 2 SE departures from Crofton Park and Bellingham)

New Cross Gate and Brockley only receive 2tph and are in Zone 2 (if you don't count the Overground)

Finally, Wandsworth Common receives 2tph off-peak and is in Zone 2, but gets 4tph in the peak just like Brixton

If the coronavirus reduced timetable never happened, we could cross all of these stations (including Streatham Hill) off the list.

West Dulwich and Sydenham Hill have 2TPH off peak and are in Zone 3. So do Penge East and Kent House in Zone 4. Some of these places have little alternative so the post Covid cuts are quite painful.

 

[Southern Dvr]

The site may be able to handle 12 cars for scrap, but because GBRF are doing the moves with the 508 barriers I am guessing the site doesn’t have space for loco+14 vehicles.

Having driven the 455s right up to the end of days for them, I am amazed they are going to scrap so quickly as they were in very decent condition. I expect DfT have put a total destruction order on them to avoid any U Turn possibilities.

 

[43096]

Having driven the 455s right up to the end of days for them, I am amazed they are going to scrap so quickly as they were in very decent condition. I expect DfT have put a total destruction order on them to avoid any U Turn possibilities.

Why would Eversholt pay to store them when there is no realistic prospect of them being re-leased?

 

[adc82140]

I presume only one scrap run this coming week given the extra bank holiday?

 

[swt_passenger]

I presume only one scrap run this coming week given the extra bank holiday?

Posted earlier yesterday (#1066) that they’ve been brought forward to Monday and Wednesday.

 

[Class455]

Why would Eversholt pay to store them when there is no realistic prospect of them being re-leased?

In case an unlikely u-turn is made if demand continues to grow but even so, there would be enough Electrostars to replace the 46 455's if 379's moved to GN to release 387's to Southern and 465/2's returned to Southeastern to release the remaining 377/5's. You also have the 6 C2C 387's which have also been rumoured to move.
Another reason could be if SWR continue to face delays with the Class 701 rollout, but again it seems unlikely that they'd need the Southern 455's especially considering how different they are as others have highlighted.
But I still think it would’ve been beneficial to have them stored for at least 6 months/1 year in case anything arises.

@Jturner98 just FYI, 455806 is missing from the list on Page 1

 

[Jturner98]

In case an unlikely u-turn is made if demand continues to grow but even so, there would be enough Electrostars to replace the 46 455's if 379's moved to GN to release 387's to Southern and 465/2's returned to Southeastern to release the remaining 377/5's. You also have the 6 C2C 387's which have also been rumoured to move.
Another reason could be if SWR continue to face delays with the Class 701 rollout, but again it seems unlikely that they'd need the Southern 455's especially considering how different they are as others have highlighted.
But I still think it would’ve been beneficial to have them stored for at least 6 months/1 year in case anything arises.

@Jturner98 just FYI, 455806 is missing from the list on Page 1

Thanks for letting me know

 

[HamworthyGoods]

But I still think it would’ve been beneficial to have them stored for at least 6 months/1 year in case anything arises.

So essentially Southern would have to take them on lease for another 6 months or a year ‘in case anything arises’ sounds expensive and the DfT didn’t want Southern to keep them on lease so might have been beneficial but there was no money for it.