AlexS said:
Why would they kick themselves over these 2 slammers? Plenty of them have been preserved now, where people arrrre going to end up kicking themselves is that a grand total of less than 5 AC EMUs have been preserved.
Well, Historical signifacance, not particularly these two (but these were on the last tour), but it would be nice to see at least one set out of the 12VEP that did the last run to Brighton saved - as out of well over 150 years of "(no CDL)slam-door" on the Network in passenger service, that was the final train, so I think is very significant really.
The amount of AC EMU's preserved, is also a disgrace really. It is really sad that, despite many organisations trying to save various classes, preserved railways with a narrow-minded "steam only, or the odd diesel if its in green" view is pathetic - what would be so bad about putting say a 305 on a preserved line as hauled stock?- but no - the "kettle brigade" say its not authentic, and dissaprove. So an EMU class bites the dust. Its sad, yet very avoidable.- But soon many classes will be extinct without help of people. For example back in the 1980's, according to an EMU / DMU stockbook (1981 Motive Power - Combined Vol.) there were(3car units) 45 class 304's (now extinct), 74 class 305's (now possibly extinct, though some may linger at Shoeburynes) 90 306's (withdrawn during 80's - 1949 stock, conv. AC 1960's, one remains, 306017 at Ilford depot, was used on special occasions until TPWS compusary- future unknown now?) , literally 100's of 308 units- (now one is in preservation - at Walthamstow Pump House museum- again rest believed extinct, though some may be at Shoeburyness still. There were about 24 (4car) Clacton units (309), now I think one or two remain, hanging on by a thread, a group are endeavouring to save it though...
Then we go onto the mk2 AC units, which is the same sad story...
310, there were many of these around in the 80's, but now the survivors are lingering at Shoeburyness, waiting to be moved for scrap... the only working "survivor" is part of the Hitachi test train.
312, same story as above, it is a crime that the 312 are all waiting scrapping, most of these are younger than class 313's, but due to the "slam-doors", and our health & safety conscious country, they have all been stored, the last AC slam-door EMU in Britain departing Liverpool Street for Witton in July 2004.
I hope some more of the AC EMU's do get preserved, and not neglected like they have been so far. As OK, although they dont "clag" and what-not, they are just as important as the huge amount of steam & diesel loco's that have preserved - and in a sense more useful, as they could be converted (at relative ease- into "DVT" style units - The ELR did this to it's 504 in the 1990's to work with a class 25- but then they stopped using it for some reason- and now the 504 is full of graffiti with smashed windows.