Class 442s - Now at the end of the road and to be withdrawn permanently

[RichSwitch]

Will seats and tables from the 442s fit the 458s? I suppose what I’m saying is, do the 442s and 458s have the same internal dimensions for furniture?

 

[fgwrich]

There cant be much that can be re-used from the 442s surely - The Seats (Chapmans), possibly the tables, USB sockets, possibly the end mounted luggage racks. But the Carpets will unlikely to be re-usesable as they will be set out for the floor layout of the 442s and the PA system wasn't that great either. I suppose from a technical point of view, a number of the AC components could be used as spares for the 455 fleet, but even that is on borrowed time.

 

[444045]

U.2410/2419 on 5Y97 22+52 Bournemouth Depot to Eastleigh East Yard tonight for onward movement tomorrow to Wolverton with

66759/73212/73213.

 

[Western Sunset]

Well, the locos have arrived... One is, rather appropriately, named "Chippy".

 

[Nym]

There cant be much that can be re-used from the 442s surely - The Seats (Chapmans), possibly the tables, USB sockets, possibly the end mounted luggage racks. But the Carpets will unlikely to be re-usesable as they will be set out for the floor layout of the 442s and the PA system wasn't that great either. I suppose from a technical point of view, a number of the AC components could be used as spares for the 455 fleet, but even that is on borrowed time.

The tables wern't even fitted when I was on one of them.
USB Sockets are basically worthless, they're the cheapest available and not really very well fitted, chanced are they'd be broken by any attempt to remove them.
Luggage racks are basically worthless and would be more expensive to adapt than to simply buy some new ones.
PA System, less said the better, since no-one would hear what you're saying anyway.

Some of the useable parts;

GSM-R units and head unit.
AC Traction Equipment
UAT Parts - But they never worked.
Specialist parts in the cabs

Some of the parts you might think are useable but really aren't.

Jumpers - Cables are a pain to re-work on them and there are "enough" spares in the float already. The new ones are bespoke to this, and not of the best type of configuration (wasteful choices by Gemini etc.)
Carpets - No, why?
Contactors, heavy electrical components, same as jumpers.

The only useful parts that can be removed, are not really useful as their assembled parts, and the useable, expensive components in a lot of cases have been modified beyond future usability.

 

[221101 Voyager]

Just seen a great photo of today’s 442 move someone put on Flickr.

66759WortingJct260521

66759 Worting Junction 26/05/21 5Q85 Eastleigh to Wolverton with 73212, 2419, 2410 and 73213

flic.kr

 

[CBlue]

The tables wern't even fitted when I was on one of them.
USB Sockets are basically worthless, they're the cheapest available and not really very well fitted, chanced are they'd be broken by any attempt to remove them.
Luggage racks are basically worthless and would be more expensive to adapt than to simply buy some new ones.
PA System, less said the better, since no-one would hear what you're saying anyway.

Some of the useable parts;

GSM-R units and head unit.
AC Traction Equipment
UAT Parts - But they never worked.
Specialist parts in the cabs

Some of the parts you might think are useable but really aren't.

Jumpers - Cables are a pain to re-work on them and there are "enough" spares in the float already. The new ones are bespoke to this, and not of the best type of configuration (wasteful choices by Gemini etc.)
Carpets - No, why?
Contactors, heavy electrical components, same as jumpers.

The only useful parts that can be removed, are not really useful as their assembled parts, and the useable, expensive components in a lot of cases have been modified beyond future usability.

Even when the damn things are being scrapped people seem to think all the components should be shoved into another train to ensure something of them lives on

 

[adc82140]

Just seen a great photo of today’s 442 move someone put on Flickr.

66759WortingJct260521

66759 Worting Junction 26/05/21 5Q85 Eastleigh to Wolverton with 73212, 2419, 2410 and 73213

flic.kr

I presume once Wolverton have finished with them they'll be unfit to travel by rail, so their final journey to the breakers would be by road?

 

[spark001uk]

Even when the damn things are being scrapped people seem to think all the components should be shoved into another train to ensure something of them lives on

I just see it as recycling, that's good enough for me.

 

[Jonny]

I am surprised that, given the IET affair, they could not be at least slightly butchered as a (relatively easy) interim solution - maybe with ex-DVT parts and/or through wiring - to cover gaps in service.

 

[43096]

I am surprised that, given the IET affair, they could not be at least slightly butchered as a (relatively easy) interim solution - maybe with ex-DVT parts and/or through wiring - to cover gaps in service.

Are you serious?! I cannot believe there are still people trying to find uses for them. It’s over. Done. Finito.

 

[Nym]

And how long to make this work?

The units no longer support ETS
Through control?

Again, why???

 

[D365]

I am surprised that, given the IET affair, they could not be at least slightly butchered as a (relatively easy) interim solution - maybe with ex-DVT parts and/or through wiring - to cover gaps in service.

You have to be joking.

 

[gnolife]

I am surprised that, given the IET affair, they could not be at least slightly butchered as a (relatively easy) interim solution - maybe with ex-DVT parts and/or through wiring - to cover gaps in service.

The only butchering these pigs should get is into tins of beans and sausages.

 

[43096]

The only butchering these pigs should get is into tins of beans and sausages.

Indeed. And I speak (ok, type...) as someone who likes them.

 

[Journeyman]

Indeed. And I speak (ok, type...) as someone who likes them.

Likewise. They were once very good trains that hugely improved standards on the Bournemouth line, but they're no longer fit for (just about any) purpose, and the attempt to make them suitable for modern needs is clearly more hassle than it's worth.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Even when the damn things are being scrapped people seem to think all the components should be shoved into another train to ensure something of them lives on

The traction packages and motors are brand new and could be rehomed to another fleet somewhere in the world at least - the rest of it will cost more to strip out especially if you want to reuse it wasteful though that is.

 

[Western Sunset]

The Axeman cometh...

 

[Paul Jones 88]

What is the chance of one being preserved somewhere, they'll work if coupled to a 73 or 33?

 

[Journeyman]

What is the chance of one being preserved somewhere, they'll work if coupled to a 73 or 33?

Pretty much zero, I'd have thought. What heritage railway would want to take such a long and complex train?

 

[444045]

Coach 77382 of U.442401 is being preserved at a Museum, cant remember which, not York for sure. If anyone can help please ?

 

[py_megapixel]

When it comes to making commitments to customers one can’t trust a word they say. So many broken promises (eg 442s).

I'm not quite sure the average passenger cares whether the train they're on is a 442 or 458.
The only relevant "promise" aimed to the general public is that Portsmouth would be getting 2+2 seated services. And that's what they've got. I'm sure the passengers would much rather the service was run by somewhat reliable 458s rather than with the 442s, which have the benefit of - what - heritage appeal to a small group of enthusiasts.

Not trying to argue that SWR have broken no promises - but I disagree with the apparent assertion here that the 442s were an important one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's in the end a bit of a game of "make something like a 350/1 from the bits we've got". Doors at thirds are probably better for that sort of service than end doors anyway.

 

[py_megapixel]

It's in the end a bit of a game of "make something like a 350/1 from the bits we've got". Doors at thirds are probably better for that sort of service than end doors anyway.

Sounds about right - but, of course, they already have 450s, which are the same thing as 350/1s sans-pantograph (and it's not like the pantograph would be of much use in that bit of the country anyway). And if they want more there's some going spare from WMT.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sounds about right - but, of course, they already have 450s, which are the same thing as 350/1s sans-pantograph (and it's not like the pantograph would be of much use in that bit of the country anyway). And if they want more there's some going spare from WMT.

350/1s are 2+2 seated, though.

 

[D7666]

What is the chance of one being preserved somewhere, they'll work if coupled to a 73 or 33?

What is the chance of

someone finding enough money to preserve one,
in (hauled) working order,
on a railway with enough space to berth a 5car train,
of 23 m stock,
that might be used once on a blue moon,
that can't work with (most) of the vacuum braked traction [steam; which is how lines survive] such lines have,
and are limited to ETH (needed to supply door power) to a just a few ETH locos ?

No sane line would want one.

Their level of usefulness - as a train - to preservation is probably less than to any main line function.

Chances ? None from anything sane.

 

[Journeyman]

What is the chance of someone find enough money to preserve one,
in (hauled) working order,
on a railway with enough space to berth a 5car train,
of 23 m stock,
that might be used once on a blue moon,
that can't work with (most) of the vacuum braked traction such lines have,
and are limited to ETH (needed to supply door power) to a just a few ETH locos ?

Answer - zero.

We're getting one driving vehicle in preservation, that's the lot.

 

[D7666]

Answer - zero.

We're getting one driving vehicle in preservation, that's the lot.

I was still editing my post when you replied.

 

[fgwrich]

Coach 77382 of U.442401 is being preserved at a Museum, cant remember which, not York for sure. If anyone can help please ?

It isn't - it's already found itself on the Science Museum's asset disposal list. It may found a new home somewhere else, until then it is stored in Eastleigh Works. So yes, we are in danger of losing them for good. But, as the old saying goes, if you want one you'd better have deep pockets!

 

[Pete_uk]

I hope the AC problem that caused their ultimate demise comes to light. I'm sure it will be good eye rolling material.