• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

The case for preserving a class 483...

Status
Not open for further replies.

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
Now that a decision has been made about the future of the Island Line, with D78s set to come in (as class 484), I'd like to make a case for saving one of the old units, as although they're old and non-standard, they do represent an important part of our railway history, having been the oldest stock on the network since they were introduced to BR (as was).

Keeping one in working order on the island is unlikely, as there isn't much space in the depot and "depot mascots" aren't really a thing any more... but they don't take up much space as far as trains go, so a single vehicle or even a 2-car set could sit quite happily in the NRM or at Shildon, particularly if repainted into NSE or the "dinosaur" livery.

On the other hand, London Transport Museum already has 1938 stock preserved, so should other soon-to-be-history stock be prioritised?

So, is there a case to be made? Do your worst! ;)
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

hexagon789

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Sep 2016
Messages
15,714
Location
Glasgow
Now that a decision has been made about the future of the Island Line, with D78s set to come in (as class 484), I'd like to make a case for saving one of the old units, as although they're old and non-standard, they do represent an important part of our railway history, having been the oldest stock on the network since they were introduced to BR (as was).

Keeping one in working order on the island is unlikely, as there isn't much space in the depot and "depot mascots" aren't really a thing any more... but they don't take up much space as far as trains go, so a single vehicle or even a 2-car set could sit quite happily in the NRM or at Shildon, particularly if repainted into NSE or the "dinosaur" livery.

On the other hand, London Transport Museum already has 1938 stock preserved, so should other soon-to-be-history stock be prioritised?

So, is there a case to be made? Do your worst! ;)

Could the Isle of Wight railway take one and use it as hauled-stock in a similar manner to the Alderney Railway?
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
Could the Isle of Wight railway take one and use it as hauled-stock in a similar manner to the Alderney Railway?
I imagine they could, but I think they'd also quite reluctant to do so. Extending the steam railway to Ryde St. John's Road is often suggested (with the subsequent closure of Smallbrook) but now that the juice rail is staying there are safety concerns about a volunteer workforce having to get close to the live rail. If the IoWSR were to run such a service they'd probably want more capacity than just a 2-car set, which then brings back the issue of storage space.
 

hexagon789

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Sep 2016
Messages
15,714
Location
Glasgow
I imagine they could, but I think they'd also quite reluctant to do so. Extending the steam railway to Ryde St. John's Road is often suggested (with the subsequent closure of Smallbrook) but now that the juice rail is staying there are safety concerns about a volunteer workforce having to get close to the live rail. If the IoWSR were to run such a service they'd probably want more capacity than just a 2-car set, which then brings back the issue of storage space.

Could they theoretically take a four-car and run as push-pull with a diesel? Perhaps they could modify one of their shunters and use that on the mainline and they wouldn't need to go near the third rail then
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
Could they theoretically take a four-car and run as push-pull with a diesel? Perhaps they could modify one of their shunters and use that on the mainline and they wouldn't need to go near the third rail then
Sorry, I ended up fudging two different issues with my last post. The juice rail issue is to do with the proposal to extend the preserved line to St. John's. Whether the preserved line would want to take a preserved 483 is a separate issue, though as I understand it they're almost as short of space as the "big" railway is.
 

hexagon789

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Sep 2016
Messages
15,714
Location
Glasgow
Whether the preserved line would want to take a preserved 483 is a separate issue, though as I understand it they're almost as short of space as the "big" railway is.

It would require more upkeep with its powered doors and making it push-pull would of course be another matter again. All issues that might put them off.
 

Southern Dvr

Member
Joined
13 Oct 2010
Messages
875
The obvious thing would be for the mainline railway to keep a 2 car and use it every now and again on specials.
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
The obvious thing would be for the mainline railway to keep a 2 car and use it every now and again on specials.
Ideally yes, but the lack of space at the depot would be a problem. If space wasn't at such a premium you'd probably want at least two sets, as a 2-car special wouldn't generate much revenue.
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
Is there no land with which the depot can be expanded?
It's a long time since I've been there, but my memory is that the depot site is bordered by other structures on all sides away from the railway. If it can be expanded, it won't be to make space for a preserved "depot pet".
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
I'd say it's bit of a non-starter. The new stock will require a new platform/train interface which could make running tube stock difficult, and it's in incredibly bad condition. While in modified form it's quite different to as-built condition, the 38 Stock is quite well represented in preservation - as well as the functional unit, there's several other surviving cars, including one in the LT museum at Covent Garden.
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
I'd say it's bit of a non-starter. The new stock will require a new platform/train interface which could make running tube stock difficult, and it's in incredibly bad condition. While in modified form it's quite different to as-built condition, the 38 Stock is quite well represented in preservation - as well as the functional unit, there's several other surviving cars, including one in the LT museum at Covent Garden.
You're probably right, though I do think a car in the dinosaur livery would be popular with younger visitors to the NRM or Shildon!
 

wagwan my g

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2019
Messages
44
Location
Peterborough
i agree that one should be preserved, and as said in a previous post it could be used as hauled stock. I mean if the isle of wight preserved line doesn't want it that's fair enough but I'm sure another line would want it to be used as hauled stock. It would be better to keep it on the isle of wight of course, but somewhere is better than nowhere.
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
i agree that one should be preserved, and as said in a previous post it could be used as hauled stock. I mean if the isle of wight preserved line doesn't want it that's fair enough but I'm sure another line would want it to be used as hauled stock. It would be better to keep it on the isle of wight of course, but somewhere is better than nowhere.
I'm not sure any preserved line would want a very short unit of non-standard height carriages to use as hauled stock to be honest... I'd like to see one saved but if it can't be hosted on the island or at the LT museum the only realistic prospect is for one to be "stuffed and mounted" as a static exhibit. As I said, a "dinosaur train" at the NRM would be popular with the kids.
 

pdeaves

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,632
Location
Gateway to the South West
I'm not sure any preserved line would want a very short unit of non-standard height carriages to use as hauled stock to be honest... I'd like to see one saved but if it can't be hosted on the island or at the LT museum the only realistic prospect is for one to be "stuffed and mounted" as a static exhibit. As I said, a "dinosaur train" at the NRM would be popular with the kids.
In our hypothetical world, would it be necessary to relegate to hauled stock? Would a battery conversion suffice for the kind of short journeys on a heritage line? Maybe dedicated stock for the Bluebell Railway to use on the Ardingley stub? :)
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
In our hypothetical world, would it be necessary to relegate to hauled stock? Would a battery conversion suffice for the kind of short journeys on a heritage line? Maybe dedicated stock for the Bluebell Railway to use on the Ardingley stub? :)
I'm sure it would be possible given the will (and £££) to make it happen, but there's not much room to put batteries under the floor so you'd probably have to put them above the solebar... which reduces passenger capacity.
 

wagwan my g

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2019
Messages
44
Location
Peterborough
I'm not sure any preserved line would want a very short unit of non-standard height carriages to use as hauled stock to be honest... I'd like to see one saved but if it can't be hosted on the island or at the LT museum the only realistic prospect is for one to be "stuffed and mounted" as a static exhibit. As I said, a "dinosaur train" at the NRM would be popular with the kids.

I mean some of the smaller lines that don't have much might be interested,

Although it could go in a museum as that's better than nothing, especially if they did put it back into dinosaur livery as that would be popular with kids ( I remember myself being a young kid who thought they looked pretty cool). So yeah could go into the national or LT collection or some other museum. I'm not sure if there is space or if they would want it but it would be good for that museum/loco storage thing at the isle of wight preserved line.
 

randyrippley

Established Member
Joined
21 Feb 2016
Messages
5,079
I thought the preserved LT set actually was one of the Island trains which they bought back just to go in the museum.
No point diluting funding by keeping another set
 

MatthewRead

On Moderation
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Messages
1,636
Location
West london
I thought the preserved LT set actually was one of the Island trains which they bought back just to go in the museum.
No point diluting funding by keeping another set
What people are saying is they want a third rail set to be preserved for running tours on the third rail network.
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
I thought the preserved LT set actually was one of the Island trains which they bought back just to go in the museum.
No point diluting funding by keeping another set

No, the preserved LT set is one of the ones used on the Northern Line in the late eighties, and went to the museum immediately after withdrawal. It never went to the island. The Island Line units were very heavily modified and I doubt converting them back to LT spec is feasible.

Some of the previous generation of Island Line tube stock was bought by the LT Museum with a plan to create a working Standard Stock train, but I've a feeling it's all been scrapped.
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
What people are saying is they want a third rail set to be preserved for running tours on the third rail network.

If by "network" you mean on the mainland, it'll never happen. They'd need TPWS to be fitted and are not even remotely close to modern safety standards for inter-running with other stock.
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
I wonder if the Epping - Ongar Railway could make use of a set? They're a bit like the 1935 Stock units that ran in early electric days.
 

Tony2

Member
Joined
7 Apr 2019
Messages
397
Some of the previous generation of Island Line tube stock was bought by the LT Museum with a plan to create a working Standard Stock train, but I've a feeling it's all been scrapped.

Most of the 485s that were returned to the mainland were scrapped, only 2 cars remain at Acton no 27 from set 485043 and no 49 from set 485044. One side of 49 is still in NSE livery!
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
Most of the 485s that were returned to the mainland were scrapped, only 2 cars remain at Acton no 27 from set 485043 and no 49 from set 485044. One side of 49 is still in NSE livery!

Thanks for the update - are they going to be restored?
 

Rick1984

Member
Joined
23 Aug 2012
Messages
1,030
How about having one at Ryde Pier head disused platform as a waiting room?
 

NorthernSpirit

Established Member
Joined
21 Jun 2013
Messages
2,184
A class 483 unit could always be preserved and used as an information point / makeshift radio studio for Cowes Week (unless a 142 would be better).

However if a set was to be preserved then there are two options. One option is keep the example on the Isle of Wight and encourage the IOW Steam Railway to take it on as a static display. the second option would be to transfer the thing to York.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top