Class 456 Farewell

A forgotten scene from 10th July 2004. 456003 wearing Network South East livery and working for Southern approaches the old terminal platforms at London Bridge while 319437 departs wth a Thameslink service. Today the station has been totally re-built, the trains replaced and London's tallest building, the Shard dominates the skyline. The view was captured from a passing 'slam door' service.

 A chilly 456009 waits to depart for Guildford on 24th January
2021. Engineering works this day meant this service was 
running as a shuttle from Surbiton, hence the train waiting for
time on the up fast platform.

The class 456, built by BREL at York from 1990 - 1991 have worked their final journey for South Western Railway. The two car 3rd rail EMU's worked their last service for SWR on Saturday 15th January 2022, while due to come off-lease during March the introduction of another emergency timetable in responce to Covid-19 with reduced rolling stock requirements allowed this date to be brought forward. 

Units had increasingly been rostered in pairs covering for non-available 455's. The withdrawal of 10 car 455/456 'hybrid' operations again coming as a consequence of Covid-19 and the downturn in passenger traffic.

456019 calls at Battersea Park with a London Bridge - London Victoria inner suburban service on 25th March 2007. This route was synonomous with the class until it was withdrawn in 2012 upon the commencement of London Overground services between Dalston Junction and Clapham Junction. Platforms 1 and 2 at Battersea park are now terminal platforms with no connection to Victoria.

456002 approaches New Malden with a 10 car SWR service bound for Hampton Court. 04/11/2020

The unique Connex liveried 456024 'Sir Cosmo Bonsor' in the 
old terminal platforms at London Bridge. 23/04/2005

Originally destined to work on the South Western lines out of Waterloo the 456's instead entered traffic on the Central division where they replaced 2-EPB's working out of Victoria and London Bridge. All delivered in Network South East livery to match the 455's the units transferred to Connex South Central upon privatisation. Only one unit, 456024 named 'Sir Cosmo Bonsor' would ever receive the Connex livery, the remaining units retaining the increasingly shabby NSE livery until sent for refurbishment by Southern from 2006. 

The units returned from their 'refresh' in Southern's attractive green and white livery, with CCTV and refurbished seating. At the same time the retention toilets fitted to the units from new were removed, though the external window pattern was not changed. 

 456020 arrives at Battersea Park from Victoria working the suburban service to London Bridge on 07/04/2005. By this time the units were looking increasingly shabby in their original NSE colours.

31/3/2007 456020 is seen at South Croydon now fresh from its refresh and re-paint with a service to Smitham (now Coulesden Town) working with a 455 on 31st March 2007.

456022 has terminated at East Croydon on 14th November
2006. It will now form a service back to London Bridge. 

In 2014 all 24 units of the class transferred to South West Trains, finally destined to work out of Waterlo as part of the 10 car suburban upgrade which would see them working alongside class 455's. 

Initially some units entered service in their 'green' ex-Southern condition working Ascot - Guildford services as 4 car sets. After a heavy refurbishment at Wolverton, which included re-painting into the SWT red suburban livery, 10 car services began on the SWT suburban network.

The fleet passed to South Western Railway upon the change of franchise in 2017 and it was quickly announced that they, along with the other units in the suburban fleet, would be replaced by new class 701 'Aventra' trains from Bombadier by 2020. Delays in acceptance of 701's brought the units a stay of execution until their withdrawal in early 2022. 

In their last week 456009 is seen trailing an 8 car 455/456 formation crossing Durnsford Road Viaduct near Wimbledon with a Waterloo 'rounder' via Kingston. On this date just four units were still use. 12/01/2022 456009

456010 brings up the rear of a 4 car information at Wanbrough while working for South West Trains in 'green' condition. After transfering from Southern the units were put into use on the Ascot - Guildford route in four car formatoins (2 cars being banned on the South Western outside of depots). 22/07/2014 

An unusual duty for the class 456 during their early years with South West Trains was the daily (M-F) 2N13 07:45 Clapham Junction - Guildford (via Ascot). The service started as empty stock from Waterloo running as 3N13 and was therefore the only occasion where the unrefurbished class 456's could be seen at the terminal. 456005 prepares to lead 3N13 on 7th April 2015.

Less than a year before the photo of 456019 (third from top), 456014 is pictured at Battersea Park bound for Victoria having worked from London Bridge. Some units received attention to the faded grey area around the cabs at this time, however there was no denying that a full repaint was due. 01/06/2006 

456006 was the first 456 to be refreshed by Southern and carried a special 'travel safe' livery promoting the new CCTV which was installed on these trains and the 455's post refurbishment. Working together with a 455 the unit calls at Clapham Junction with a service to Epsom Downs on 1st May 2007.

Despite being inner Suburban units the 456's reached well into leafy Surrey over their careers serving locations inlcuding Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs, Caterham, Guildford, Woking and Dorking. On 27th September 2001 456008 leads an 8 car formation to the latter and is seen passing Norbury park south of Leatherhead. 

Class pioneer 456001 pauses at Clapham Junction with a service to Horsham on 29th March 2005. This is perhaps the furthest from London that the 456's reached in passenger service. It is difficult to imagine a solitary 2 car train working a service such as this today!

No further use for the units is currently forthcoming and the trains have been removed to Long Marsden for storage pending any possible further developments. Rail Operations Groups have been entrusted to provide the storage moves which have run from their final home depot at Wimbledon Park.

Farewell to the class 456. Rail Operations Group's 37800 storms through Hanwell conveying 456015, 456020 and 456008 from Wimbledon Park to Long Marsden as 5Q94, one of a number of moves to place the 456 fleet into store. 31/01/2022

Island Line Class 483 Farewell

From left to right 006, 004 and 002 all wearing the rather garish 'Dinosaur' livery stand outside Ryde St Johns depot on 1 August 2007.

009 is seen south of Brading on 1 August 2007.

I have had a connection with the Isle of Wight all of my life, my mum's side of the family having originated there and with my grandparents living in Ryde throughout my childhood and teenage years. This meant wonderful summer holidays on the Island exploring its myriad of tourist attractions, beaches and, of course its railways. 

The house on the Island was a stone's throw from the sandy beach of Ryde, and that also meant it was just a few minutes walk from the railway. Some of the first trains I would have come across in my childhood would have been the ex-1938 tube stock which worked the Island Line, designated class 483. 

002 trails a 4 car formation lead by 006 which is about to plunge into Ryde Tunnel. The train is just at the point where a younger me would be standing on top of the tunnel waving to the driver and hoping for a toot on the whistle in return. The line to the left has been out of use for a number of years leaving just a single track serviceable up the pier. 2nd August 2003. 

In the final months on 18th October 2020, 006 is about to
depart from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. 

I distinctly remember standing on the top of the tunnel at Ryde waving to the drivers of Network South East liveried tubes as they plunged into the tunnel- more often than not receiving a toot on the whistle from the driver as they did. 

More than any other town on the Island, the railway is an intrinsic part of Ryde. You can see and hear the train rumbling up the 681m pier from the Esplanade to meet the boats and watch the trains from the beach and as you are going about your shopping in Union Street.

008 is Ryde bound as it passes the popular photo spot in Los Altos park, Lake on 1st August 2007.

A smart looking 009 approaches Sandown on
1st August 2007.

Class 483 operation on the Isle of Wight commenced in October 1989, shortly before my 1st birthday. It goes without saying that I do not remember the 1923 'Standard' VEC/TIS stock which preceded it. The trains were formed of driving motor coaches of former London Underground 1938 stock, already 50 years old when it arrived on the Island. It had been refurbished for Network South East and delivered to the Island to run on the 8 1/2 mile line between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, the last remaining part of what had once been a sprawling network covering some 55 1/2 route miles serving all four corners of the island. 

006 arrives at Lake station from Shanklin on 3rd November 2020.

006 still wears NSE moquette when it was
photographed internally on 19th Sept 2004.

Despite regularly seeing the trains it was some years before I actually remember being able to ride one, our family holidays always involved driving and taking the car ferry, and thus the train did not feature in our travel plans. It was when I was a little older and allowed out myself that I first remember using the Island Line, by which time all of the trains had been repainted into the, shall we say 'questionable' Dinosaur livery to celebrate the Islands claim as the Jurassic Island after a number of dinosaur fossil finds. It is a regret to this day that I was never able to photograph the trains in their NSE that I remember them wearing so well. 

006 heads towards Brading on 3rd November 2020. I had unusually chosen to drive to the Island on this occasion, in a large part due to expecting just a one train, hourly service due to the other unit 008 being unavailable until the afternoon. Having the car did allow me to take a pole to give just a little extra height.

008 emerges from Ryde Tunnel and approaches the
Esplanade on 1st August 2007. The bridge remains a popular 
spot to watch both trains and the Islands unique hovercraft.

By my mid teens I was no longer relying on persuading Grandma that we should visit somewhere by train as I was allowed out on my own- and by now I had a camera. Much use was made of an Island Day Ranger ticket offering outstanding value (especially on a child fare) for a day out on both the electric trains on the Island Line and the steam trains on the beautifully restored Isle of Wight Steam Railway. 
It was 2003 when a little more interest was sparked- somehow escaping the 'Dinosaur' scheme which had bestowed the rest of the fleet, 007 was outshopped from the works at Ryde St John's Road in a version of its original London Transport red livery, complete with lettering. It looked great and it was probably this unit that persuaded me to get out and record the line with my camera. 

The original London Transport liveried unit, 007 is pictured entering Ryde St Johns Road station looking ex-works during its first summer in traffic in the heritage colours, complete with lettering which was never replicated on further units. 2nd August 2003.

008 is viewed near Brading on 1st August 2007.

Soon after a second unit, 009, was outshopped in red, though it never gained the lettering of 007. This enabled a 4 car formation to be run combining the two units- the regular service pattern at the time requiring three units for traffic providing a two car and four car unit for the 20/40 minute interval service. 

By this time the original fleet of 9 trains (a tenth was provided as a source of spares) had been reduced to 6 working examples; 003 and 005 had been withdrawn and quickly scrapped while 001 spent several more years in the headshunt at Ryde St Johns as a source of spares. 

The remaining fleet of 002, 004, 006, 007, 008 and 009 would become the trains I would get to know over the next 17 years as I spent time photographing the line and enjoying my days out on the old electrics. In time the 'Dinosaur' units also lost their livery to give a uniform fleet of LT red trains, though no others ever did receive the 'London Transport' decals originally applied to 007. 

006 is about to head up the pier from Ryde Esplanade on 28th May 2006.

Ex-works 006 arrives into Ryde Esplanade on
28th November 2017 bound for Ryde Pier Head.

As time went on my links to the Island reduced as family moved, or passed away and my summer sojourns became far less frequent, not least as I now had my own agenda to follow. I still liked to visit though to travel on the unique railways of the Isle of Wight and relive my wonderful childhood summers. Those visits, along with a few specifically to photograph the 38' stock in its final year have produced many of the pictures I have displayed here spanning 18 years of the class 483's. 

007 + 009 work together on 21st September 2013.

Originally a stand alone franchise upon privatisation in 1996, 'Island Line Trains' was operated by Stagecoach, which was then incorporated into their much larger 'South West Trains' network upon the renewal of the franchise in 2007. The trains and stations were spruced up to reflect their heritages status, but other than that very little changed on the Island Line despite the advancing age of the stock. 

By 2017 when South Western Railway took the reigns of the franchise it was clear that the future of the islands railway had to be discussed- the trains were now 79 years old, the oldest fleet in mainline service in the UK and the infrastructure was in need of repair. 

Seventeen years since the previous picture, 006 passes through Los Altos park bound for Lake on 3rd November 2020. The train has changed colour and the vegetation on the fence has grown up now making the shot difficult without the aid of a pole (which was used here). 

006 emerges from the trees south of Brading on 3rd November 2020.

The consultation into the future of the railway considered several options, some rather unfavorable to continued operations of the line in its present state, including options to convert the route into a tramway, however ultimately the winning one retained a heavy rail service over the Island Line which would be upgraded and receive replacement stock as part of a £26 million investment. Continuing the tradition of recycling ex-London Underground units the line would receive stock from the 'D-Train' family, former sub-surface stock from the District line which would be re-built by VivaRail. Finally the writing was on the wall for the venerable class 483. 

007, under overhaul and 008 in for general maintenance at Ryde St Johns Road depot on 29th May 2019.

A four car formation formed of 006 + 002 is seen departing 
 Smallbrook Junction on 2nd August 2003. Unit 007 can be 
seen in the distance waiting to enter the single line towards 
Brading.

The upgrade couldn't come soon enough- the 38' stock was by now really showing its age and availability was at an all time low with repairs being ever more difficult to execute, in large due to the inability to obtain spare parts. By the beginning of 2020 the fleet was down to just two serviceable examples, 006 and 008 providing all services with 007 on a prolonged overhaul; the three year timescale again due to issues obtaining parts. The days of four car trains had finished several years before and now it was becoming common for services to be reduced to just an hourly service with a single unit if one of the trains required repairs or an exam. By the end of the year the growing struggle of keeping the 483's going was really showing and on more than a few occasions the line was reduced to no service at all with rail replacement buses being provided - fortunately the Coronavirus meant that this did not affect as many passengers as normal. 

Autumn colours are in evidence on 3rd November 2020 as 006 is seen between Lake and Shanklin.

009 leads a 4 car formation into Smallbrook Junction on
28 April 2014 on the occasion of a UK Railtours 'Ticket to 
Ryde' excursion which brought many enthusiasts to the Island. 

The final day of class 483 operation was set for the 3rd January 2021 after which the line would close for 3 months to allow for upgrade works, including the long term goal of reinstating the loop at Brading to allow a regular 30 minute service. 

The service over Christmas had been sporadic, though did feature the highlight of 007 returning freshly overhauled for the final weeks of 38' stock operations. Unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions have made it impossible for the units to receive the send-off that they really deserve and ultimately the service on the final weekend was much reduced.

Having entered traffic just for the afternoon following an exam, 008 is pictured at Ryde St Johns at twilight headed for Sandown on 18th October 2020.

006 approaches Lake on 3rd November 2020.

When the line re-opens in April the class 483's will be no more, replaced by the Vivarail Class 484, derived from ex-District Line D78 stock - itself already more than 40 years of age. Five two car units have been ordered to provide the 30 minute service and will bring a step change in terms of passenger comfort, access and information. 

It is understood that several of the remaining class 483's will be preserved; 007 is thought to be heading the short distance to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway while a second unit, expected to be 006 or 008 is expected to head to the Epping Ongar railway in Essex, itself a former London Underground branchline.

006 heads down Ryde Pier on 16th September 2020. The unique spectacle of the railway running along the pier is paramount to its existence, providing the connection to the passenger ferry to Portsmouth.

Swanage Diesel Gala 2018

33012 arrives into Clapham Junction with the 'Purbeck Explorer' tour taking the LT 4TC to Swanage. 18/05/2018

The May diesel gala at the Swanage Railway is seen by many as a highlight of the year's gala season, and one of the few which I regularly try to attend. This year I was unfortunately only able to make it down to the south coast for the Thursday 'preview day' evening before shooting back towards London for work. My journey down to Swanage was probably the reason that it was worth making the effort for just a few trips on the railway- a mainline train right through from London to Swanage.







As part of the gala additional coaches were being hired in the form of London Transport's 4TC which is based at Ruislip. In order to get the main line registered TC down to the railway the novel decision was made to run a railtour both before and after the gala. Before the gala it would be headed by the Swanage Railway's main line registered D6515 (33012) and the return would be in the hands of 20007 and 20142. As a fan of all things Southern Region I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to take a 33 and TC down the South West Mainline onto their former stomping ground west of Bournemouth. OK- it wasn't a 33/1 with the necessary pipes to work in multiple with the TC, but it was pretty damn close. LT's 4TC is fitted with central door locking and window bars enabling it to operate unhindered on the national network. It was certainly a bit of a surreal feeling to watch the train come to a stand at Clapham Junction, open the slam door, board and the enjoy the satisfying 'clunk' as I closed the door behind me. Settling in to my NSE upholstered compartment it was a most enjoyable journey down to Dorset.

Once on the Swanage railway there was time to enjoy a few rides with the diesels operating that afternoon, the highlight of which was 'Hymek' D7017 which was looking superb! Also sampled during the evening were 73133 and 73136 together with the steam diagram being worked by 34053 'Sir Keith Park'.

Altogether a great afternoon down on the Swanage Railway- I just wish I could have stayed for a bit more of the weekend!

Details of the progress of the Swanage Railway's own 4TC which will be used on the line following restoration can be found here.

The LT 4TC leads a push/pull formation powered by class 73's into Corfe Castle. The Swanage Railway is currently part way through restoring its own 4TC set which will run on the line once completed. 18/05/2018

From the Archives- Last Scheduled 'Thumpers' 24th September 2004

205028 awaits departure from London Bridge with the 18:12 to Uckfield. 205032 was on the rear. The scene has changed somewhat in the intervening 13 years with the trains replaced and the station entirely re-built. 24/09/2004

A conversation at work in the last week turned to 'Thumpers' - the SR DEMU's which plied non-electrified lines from the late 1950's right up until the mid-2000's.

205001 on the blocks of platform 11 with stock for the 17:10 to Uckfield.
4-VOP 3917 occupies platform 10. 24/09/2004.

I caught only the very end of these distinctive units mainline careers; discovering them on one of my early outings in 2003. I went for a run on the two routes which were by this time the final stomping ground of the class 205 and 207, Oxted - Uckfield and Hastings - Ashford. As well as these fairly rural services (which were some way from home) there were two workings each weekday peak into or out of London. Due to the price of a peak travelcard (a large consideration back then, even on child fares!) I never covered the inbound runs from Uckfield to London, however the evening runs, the 17:10 London Bridge - Uckfield and the 18:02 Victoria - Uckfield (Later 18:12 London Bridge - Uckfield) became a regular way to spend my evening.

Guards accommodation on 205009.

I missed plenty of other trains in the process- but quite frankly at 17:00 on a weekday if I was out there was only one place I would be and that was at the end of the high level platforms at London Bridge waiting for the inbound 'Thumper' ECS.

Friday 24th September 2004 wasn't a normal day for the Thumpers. Or in many ways it was. This was the *last* normal day for the Thumpers out of London. From the following Monday the new class 170 'Turbostars' would take over the peak trains, having already replaced the Thumpers on the branches. This was the last booked day of the Thumpers- and I wasn't going to miss it.

205009 at East Croydon with the 17:10 London Bridge - Uckfield. 24/09/2004

I headed up to London Bridge after school and by the time I arrived and met my friends the ECS for the 17:10 to Uckfield was already sitting under the LB&SCR Roof on platform 11 formed of 205001 and 205009. Both the London peak trains were booked to be formed of 6 coaches, but regularly turned up as 5 car formations (and occasionally a very cosy 4!). 205001 was one of the 2-car units technically dedicated to the branch duties. The train was formed up with the 'triangle end' power car of 205001 at the buffers and the power car of 205009 the same way round, with the non-powered trailer leading. The train was even busier than normal with enthusiasts who had come to say goodbye to the ancient DMU's so we ended up travelling in the guards van of 205009.

4-VEP 3403 at East Croydon shortly after departure of the first Uckfield Thumpers with a service to East Grinstead. 24/09/04

Far from the best photo I have ever taken- 205032 at Uckfield following
arrival with the last scheduled service from London Bridge. 24/09/2004.

At East Croydon, as was usual, we left the Uckfield train. Something must have gone wrong at this point as it was usually possible to take a 'Slammer' back to London Bridge (often a VEP via Crystal Palace if memory serves me correctly) to make the 18:12 departure, but on this occasion my photos reveal we travelled on a 455, possibly to make sure we didn't miss what could have been the very last train. Whatever the reason for the 455 we overtook the ECS stock at Norwood Junction and arrived into London Bridge in plenty of time to see 205032 and 205028 arrive for the 18:12 to Uckfield. This train used platform 9 and before long (and after taking many appallingly blurred photos!) we boarded the power car, both of which were in the middle, of 205028 for the full journey to Uckfield. 205028 was one of the units I had seen comparatively little so it was good to get a further run onboard. It was unusual to take the train beyond East Croydon (and out of Travelcard territory) but this was a special occasion. Furthermore Southern who operated the service at the time had agreed to run the ECS from Uckfield to Selhurst in service to East Croydon (the earlier peak train was booked to return in service, but not the 18:12) in order to appease the enthusiasts, and get us home!

The run was noisy as ever on the crowded train- windows were wide open and heads were out (those 2-piece window bars never were very effective!). It was always fun riding this train, but it was fair to say this occasion was tinged with sadness knowing that we may never again fly down the mainline to the sound of two 4-SRKT English Electric diesel engines on non-corridor stock from a different railway era.

The interior of 205032 on the return 'special' to East Croydon.
Only enthusiasts remain on board but the train is still
reasonably busy- testament to the popularity of these trains,
and the fact we probably all crowded into the power car! It is
difficult to imagine traveling in a train looking like this today.

At Uckfield some enthusiasts climbed onto the front of the unit and adorned it with stickers of its old number, 1128- a practice that definitely wouldn't be permitted today, and in all likelihood probably wasn't in 2004 either! Many photos were taken of the train, possibly the last 6 car to reach Uckfield in normal service- I distinctly remember one chap with what can only be described as a floodlight taking his photos of 205032 on the London end of the train. To say that the driver was not amused would be an understatement. Maybe Southern had failed to inform him that this was the last run of the Thumpers. Certainly he was even less amused when the gathered enthusiasts informed him that he was taking us back to East Croydon in service. A few phone calls were made to control and much to his dismay he was indeed in service back to Croydon non-stop. Here a final photo call was made before the assembled enthusiasts with much jollity savored the final English Electric departure to the depot. That was the end of scheduled Thumpers on Southern and the end of non-corridor stock.

A final photo shoot with 205032 at East Croydon before the train headed off to Selhurst Depot. 24/09/2004

Fortunately the 'slammers' were still going strong at this point and the evening wasn't quite over with 'phase 1' 4-CIG 1704 being enjoyed to Clapham Junction. The Phase 1 units were always a particular joy to travel on with the additional headrests on the seats and some compartments even still featuring string luggage racks!

Phase 1 CIG 1704 at Clapham Junction with a Littlehampton - Victoria
service. 24/09/2005.

Of course this didn't quite turn out to be the final run for the Thumpers- several units were kept available to cover for unavailable Turbostars for several more weeks and I had one more ride with 205028 and 205032 in regular service less than a week later on 30th September- this pair covering the 17:10 while 205001 and 205009 worked the 18:12. That occasion however was to be my last mainline run besides the public farewell tour on 27th November 2004. It is hard looking back to think that it is now over a decade since the Thumper Farewell - certainly penning this article brings back some fond memories. Thankfully all bar one of the final Southern units were preserved, and with the exception of 205028 which lies out of use and damaged at Meldon Quarry all of the units in use that day can still be enjoyed in preservation.