4VEP RESTORATION

MORE than £12,000 has been raised towards the cost of restoring 4VEP electric multiple unit 423417 Gordon Pettitt to main line operations, after a two-month crowd funding campaign by the Southern Electric Traction Group (SETG) was backed by more than 300 people.

The fund-raising followed an agreement struck in 2015 through SETG with Bombardier, resulting in 423417 being repainted and undergoing extensive body repairs. The four-car former Southern Region slam-door Mk 1 EMU is owned by the Bluebell Railway, which has entrusted SETG with the task of restoring it.

The EMU was preserved in 2009, but had spent long periods in open store. Currently 423417 is based at Strawberry Hill depot in southwest London, where SETG technical staff are undertaking restoration work.

“We are amazed and delighted by the public’s interest in the restoration of this unique piece of railway history,” said SETG spokesman Steve Upton.

“The results of this fundraising effort will ‘prime the pump’ for work to allow 3417 to return to passenger-carrying traffic on heritage railways such as the Bluebell Railway, and in the future to once again run on the main line in passenger traffic.

“We have been working closely with the Bluebell Railway plc and the Bluebell Railway Trust to enable work on the unit to progress as fast as possible.”

Upton said that the 4VEP has already had its lighting and heating systems started for the first time in almost five years.

He added: “The interest and support from both the public and the railway industry for the unit is gratifying and encouraging. We mean to make the most of this goodwill to bring the unit back to life and allow everyone to enjoy use of the unit for many years to come.”

The EMU was returned to its blue livery by South West Trains to mark the planned end of Mk 1 EMUs

on SWT. Built in 1967, it is the only member of the 400-series unit able to move on the national network, and the only preserved passenger EMU of any type capable of moving under its own power.

The EMU was named by Gordon Pettitt, former BR Southern Region General Manager, at a ceremony in June 2004.

The VEPs were withdrawn by SWT in 2005. The operator retained two 3CIGs for the Lymington line, and these were withdrawn in May 2010.

TANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY. Preserved 423417 stands inside Strawberry Hill. The four-car electric multiple unit is being restored to main line condition.

TANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY. The nameplate carried by 423417, honouring former BR Southern Region General Manager (and former National Rail Awards judge) Gordon Pettitt.

TANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY. One of the SETG volunteers works on the mechanical restoration of 423417. The 4VEP was preserved in 2009, and following a major fund-raising campaign it could be the first Mk 1 electric multiple unit to return to the main line under its own power.