750 Supply scheme launched to save 4-SUB

THE Heritage Electric Trains Trust (HETT) has set up the 750 Supply scheme in an urgent attempt to generate the income needed to fund the restoration of the last surviving Southern 4-SUB EMU – No. 4732.

It was moved in 2018 to the shed at Margate now housing the One:One Collection. This followed nearly two decades of open storage at the now closed Electric Railway Museum, Coventry.

Once under cover at the old Hornby site, it could be dried, stabilised and plans drawn up for its long-awaited restoration.

To facilitate this, a registered charity (HETT) was set up to take ownership of the four cars and manage fundraising.

Great expense

This has been achieved at great expense, with more than £25,000 spent in just under two years to move No. 4732 to Kent and to keep it there. This was not unexpected, but it was hoped the popularity of the 4-SUB and the number of people who said they wanted to see this unit return to its former glory would make sufficient contributions to maintain the momentum.

Having set up the charity, the supporters’association, complete with fundraising sales stand, recruited a good team of people running this project, and it was ready to be moved forward.

However, funds are running out, with regular costs outstripping income. There is no bail-out or Government assistance available for such a project, and the current situation cannot continue.

The restriction on attending events for fundraising means the only income is from the immediate support network.

Magical figure

If it is fully subscribed it would be possible to realise the ambition so many share, which is to keep the only 4-SUB unit safe, and get restoration work completed.

The requirement is for 40 subscribers to join the 750 Supply scheme. To reach the magical figure of £750 per month 40 people are needed to sign up for one of four supporters’ packages.

These are five gold subscribers at £50 per month, 10 silver subscribers at £25 per month, and 25 bronze subscribers at £10 per month.

Each subscriber will receive an annual package of exclusive goodies for their contributions, including a 2020 calendar as soon as they sign up. If you are a UK taxpayer don’t forget to gift-aid your payments as HETT can claim the tax back to make the value of contributions even greater.

Details of how to support this project are at: http://www.hett. org.uk

HETT The 4-SUB (later Class 405) four-car EMU was once a common sight on the Southern Railway and the later BR Southern Region thirdrail system. This is now the last one, currently in safe storage at the One:One Collection, Margate. Funds are urgently needed to ensure its continued survival and restoration.