‘Wessex Electric' driving car preserved – with HST trailer link-up on the cards

NORTHUMBRIA Rail Ltd has been successful in a bid to acquire Class 442 Driving Trailer No. 77382 from set No. 442401. A ‘Plastic Pig' DTSO was first listed by the Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board back in 2015, but was never part of the NRM's collecting plan – a common misconception is that all RHDAB designations are destined for the National Collection.

When another home found itself unable to take it early in 2021, the Science Museum Group sought interest from other groups/ bodies wishing to take the vehicle on as a heritage asset. Northumbria Rail responded and its bid was accepted, ownership being transferred from Angel Trains.

Northumbria Rail already owns one of the prototype Mk.3 HST coaches, No. 42356 (originally 42002), which, like the ‘442' car, is located at Eastleigh Works. The HST coach is being fitted with IC70 seats, these being the type fitted when it was new. Negotiations are also taking place with Angel Trains regarding the potential purchase of Nos. 42355/57, which were also former prototype coaches (built as Nos. 42000 and 41002).

Some proof of concept work has already been carried out on the ‘442' car, by fitting a buckeye coupler at the non-driving end, which should enable it to be coupled up to Mk.3 HST stock. Electrical testing has also been undertaken.

Brown/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Joshua Originally introduced on London Waterloo to Bournemouth and Portsmouth services, No. 2401, like a number of classmates, was allocated to Gatwick Express services in the 2000s. Here, with No. 442424 at the rear, No. 442401 passes Horley on such a service, approaching its destination on 1D84 14.14 London Victoria to Gatwick Airport on March 4, 2015.