British Rail Class 421 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

British Rail

British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...

Class 421 (or 4Cig) electrical multiple units were built at BR York

York

York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...

Works between 1964 and 1972. Units were built in two batches, and were initially introduced on services on the Brighton Main Line

Brighton Main Line

The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...

. Later units were introduced on services to Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...

. These units replaced older Southern Railway-designed units, such as the 5Bel

British Rail Class 403

The Southern Railway gave the designation 5BEL to the 5-car all-Pullman electric multiple units which worked the prestigious Brighton Belle trains between London Victoria and Brighton. These units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 403...

"Brighton Belle" units, and 4Cor

British Rail Class 404

The Southern Railway gave the designations 4-COR, 4-RES, 4-BUF and 4-GRI to the different types of electric multiple unit built to work the route between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour. The 4-COR type units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 404...

units. Towards the end of their life, with the increasing use of newer trains which were equipped with sliding or plug door

Plug door

A plug door is a door designed to seal itself by taking advantage of pressure difference on its two sides and is typically used on pressurised aircraft...

s, these trains were known commonly as "slam door trains

Slam door trains

The term Slam-door trains or 'slammers' generally refers to diesel multiple units and electric multiple units that were designed before the use of automatic doors on railway carriages was common...

Standard units

The standard units contained only passenger accommodation, and formed the bulk of the fleet. They were unusual in that all four traction motor

Traction motor

Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....

s were mounted on one non-driving motor coach. Units consisted of two driving trailers, sandwiching the non-driving motor coach and an intermediate trailer.

Units were built in two batches. 'Phase 1' units were built from 1963 to 1966 for the Brighton

Brighton

Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...

Line, and were numbered 7301-7336. These were followed in 1970-72 by the 'Phase 2' units, built primarily for the Portsmouth

Portsmouth

line, numbered 7337-7438.

4Big units

The 4Big units were similar to the standard units, but contained a buffet car in place of the intermediate trailer.

These units were also built in two batches. 'Phase 1' units were built in 1965/66, and were numbered 7031-48. 'Phase 2' units were built in 1970, and were numbered 7049-7058.

The 4Big fleet were initially classified as Class 420 by British Rail under the new computer numbering system introduced in 1968.

Vehicle numbering

The numbering of individual vehicles and details of when units were built are shown in the table below.

Phase	Type	Unit Nos.	Years Built	DTCsoL	MBSO	TSO (*TRSB)	DTCsoL
Phase 1	4Cig	7301-7336	1964-65	76076-76111	62017-62052	70695-70730	76022-76057
Phase 1	4Big	7031-7048	1964-65	76112-76129	62053-62070	69301-69318*	76058-76075
Phase 2	4Cig	7337-7366	1970	76581-76610	62287-62316	70967-70996	76611-76640
		7367-7437	1970-72	76717-76787	62355-62425	71035-71105	76788-76858
		7438	1972	76859	62430	71106	76860
	4Big	7049-7058	1970	76561-76570	62277-62286	69330-69339*	76571-76580

8Mig units

In 1983 two temporary 8Mig units, numbered 2601-2602, were formed while the 4Big fleet underwent asbestos removal. Therefore four standard 'Phase 2' 4Cig units, numbers 7401-7404, were reformed with a conventional locomotive-hauled miniature buffet carriage (RMB). Each 8Mig unit was formed by marshalling the RMB coach in between two units, one of which was reduced to three carriages, with the removal of the intermediate trailer (TSO). Thus in effect each 8Mig unit was effectively formed of 4Cig + RMB + 3Cig. The formations of the units are listed below:

8Mig unit No.	4Cig unit					RMB coach	3Cig unit
8Mig unit No.	Unit no.	DTCsoL	MBSO	TSO	DTCsoL	RMB coach	Unit no.	DTCsoL	MBSO	DTCsoL
2601	7401	76751	62389	71069	76822	1872	7402	76752	62390	76823
2602	7403	76753	62391	71071	76804	1873	7404	76754	62392	76825

These units were only used during the summer of 1983, after which enough asbestos-free 4Big units were available. The two 8Mig units were disbanded and the four 4Cig unit reformed. The 4Cig units have since been renumbered several times, as shown below:

Unrefurbished		Facelifted
74xx series	12xx series	18xx series	8Dig unit	18xx series
7401	1201	1868	-	-
7402	1202	1860	-	-
7403	1203	1869	-	-
7404	1204	1875	2001	1802

8Dig units

In 1992 four 8Dig units, numbered 2001-2004, were formed by semi-permanently coupling a 4Cig and a 4Big unit. The units were dedicated to London Victoria to Brighton

Brighton railway station

Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. The station master is Mark Epsom...

express services, which were operated as the Capital–Coast Express.

The 8Dig units were formed from four 'Phase 2' 4Big units plus two 'Phase 1' and two 'Phase 2' 4Cig units. The 'Phase 1' units, numbers 1901/02 (recently renumbered from 1715/16), were fitted with Mk.6 motor bogies. Interestingly one of the 'Phase 2' 4Cig units, no. 1875 (ex. 7404), had previously been part of 8Mig unit 2602. Unit formations are listed below:

8Dig unit no.	4Cig unit					4Big unit
8Dig unit no.	Unit no.	DTCsoL	MBSO	TSO	DTCsoL	Unit no.	DTCsoL	MBSO	TSRB	DTCsoL
2001	1875	76754	62417	71072	76850	2262	76779	62392	69333	76825
2002	1902	76100	62041	71768	76046	2254	76732	62379	69306	76803
2003	1801	76777	62415	71095	76848	2255	76740	62378	69310	76811
2004	1901	76082	62023	70701	76028	2259	76748	62386	69318	76819

The units were disbanded in 1996, after replacement by dedicated Class 319/2

British Rail Class 319

The British Rail Class 319 dual-voltage electric multiple units were built by BREL York in two batches in 1987–88 and 1990. The trains were introduced for new north-south cross-London services from Bedford to Brighton, and since privatisation these services have been operated by Thameslink and...

units. The various 4Cig and 4Big units were reformed and gained their original numbers, except unit 1875, which was renumbered to 1802.

Final years of operation

Two units had remained in service until 22 May 2010, 3Cig units nos. 1497 and 1498, which were used on the Lymington Branch Line

Lymington Branch Line

The Lymington Branch Line is a railway that runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier, both in the New Forest. The railway line is around long, and is single track throughout its length. It diverges from the South Western Main Line at Lymington Junction; and, at Lymington Pier, trains connect with...

. These two units were withdrawn from service on 22 May 2010 and replaced by Class 158

British Rail Class 158

British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...

Diesel Multiple Unit

Diesel multiple unit

A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...

s. 1497 is now preserved at The Mid Norfolk Railway and 1498 will be preserved on the Epping Ongar Railway

Epping Ongar Railway

The Epping Ongar Railway operates on a preserved railway along the final section of the old Great Eastern Railway and London Underground Central Line branch line between Epping and Ongar, with an intermediate station at North Weald...

Privatisation to withdrawal

After rail privatisation in the mid-1990s the different divisions of British Rail were divided up into different franchises. The three former SR division – South-Eastern, South Central and South-Western – all operated 4Cig units, and are dealt with separately here.

South Eastern Trains

South Eastern Trains
South Eastern Trains
South Eastern Trains was a British train operating company, in public ownership, that provided train services in south east London and South East England from 9 November 2003 to 31 March 2006....

(SET) operated a small fleet of three 'Phase 1' and 22 'Phase 2' 4Cig units. The franchise was originally operated by Connex as Connex South Eastern

Connex South Eastern

Connex South Eastern was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Connex Group and operated between 14 October 1996 and 9 November 2003. The company operated passenger services in South London and Kent...

.

All but one of the 'Phase 2' units continued to carry the obsolete Network SouthEast

Network SouthEast

Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...

livery. One unit, no. 1870, was repainted into Connex

Connex South Eastern

yellow and white. The three 'Phase 1' units were painted in white undercoat livery, since their use was originally only supposed to be short-term. However, despite this, the units remained in traffic for seven more years, from 1997 to 2004. They were popularly known as "Ghosts" by rail enthusiasts.

From 2003 units started to be withdrawn, having been replaced by the second batch of the new "Electrostar" units

British Rail Class 375

The British Rail Class 375 Electrostar electric multiple unit train was built by Bombardier Transportation at their Derby Works, from 1999 to 2005...

. The three 'Phase 1' units had gone by mid-2004. The final unit, no. 1843, lingered on for several months longer than its classmates, eventually being withdrawn in mid-November 2004. All the SET units have been scrapped.

South Central / Southern

The South Central Division inherited the largest fleet of 4Cig units. Originally this included all remaining 'Phase 1' units (though some were later transferred to South Eastern Trains

South Eastern Trains

South Eastern Trains was a British train operating company, in public ownership, that provided train services in south east London and South East England from 9 November 2003 to 31 March 2006....

), 35 'Phase 2' units, and the four 8Dig units. The remaining few 4Big units were also used on the former Central Division.

The South Central franchise was initially won by Connex South Central

Connex South Central

Connex South Central was a short-lived train operating company in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Connex Group, and operated under the Connex brand between October 1996 until mid-2001....

, which applied its yellow and white livery to most stock. In 2000 it lost the franchise to the Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead Group

The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...

, which operated the franchise as South Central
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...

. In 2004 this was changed to Southern. Four 'Phase 1' units (nos. 1735/38/40, 1908) and eight 'Phase 2' units (nos. 1854/56-62) received Southern's new green livery.

In 1997 the remaining 4Big units were withdrawn. Eight were transferred to South West Trains

South West Trains

South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...

. The remaining eleven unit were heavily rebuilt at Eastleigh Works, with compartments removed and opened out, and the buffet carriages withdrawn. The modified units were reclassified as Class 421/7 and renumbered into the 1401–1411 range. The units were also known as 3Cop units, which denoted their intended use, i.e. dedicated to East Coastway

East Coastway Line

East Coastway is the name used by the train operating company, Southern , for the routes it operates along the south coast of Sussex and Kent to the east of Brighton, England. Those to the West of Brighton are named the West Coastway Line...

and West Coastway

West Coastway Line

The West Coastway Line is a railway line in England, along the south coast of West Sussex and Hampshire, between Brighton and Southampton, plus the short branches to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis....

services out of Brighton

Brighton railway station

Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. The station master is Mark Epsom...

. Two units received names – a rarity for slam-door EMU stock.

1408 - Littlehampton Progress 2000
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
1409 - Operation Perseus
Operation Perseus
Operation Perseus was an initiative launched by the British Transport Police in August 1998. The aim of the operation was to reduce railway crime on the Brighton to Hastings East Coastway line. As part of the launch, Connex South-Central Class 421 3Cop no. 1409 was named "Operation Perseus" at a...

In 2004 some units were augmented to four carriages with the addition of a 'Phase 1' intermediate trailer, and thus became 4Cop units.

From 2003 Southern started to replace its slam-door fleet with new Class 377

British Rail Class 377

The Class 377 Electrostar is an electric multiple unit type built by Bombardier Transportation at their Derby Works, from 2001 to present. The Electrostar family, which also includes Classes 357, 375, 376, 378, and 379, is the most numerous type of EMU built in the post-privatisation period of...

Electrostar

British Rail brand names

British Rail was the brand image of the nationalised railway owner and operator in Great Britain, the British Railways Board, used from 1965 until its breakup and sell-off from 1993 onwards....

units. In general the 'Phase 1' units were withdrawn first due to their age, but as deliveries of the Electrostars increased some 'Phase 2' units were also taken out of service. By late 2004 only a handful of 'Phase 1' units and 4Cops remained in service. The final 'Phase 1' units in traffic were nos. 1704/08/11/12/14/17/43 and 1901, with the final unit, no. 1704, being withdrawn in February 2005. The final 4Cop units, nos. 1404/10/11, were withdrawn in March 2005.

The 'Phase 2' units lasted longer and two, nos. 1805 and 1866, were retained beyond August 2005, when slam-door trains lost all diagrammed work. They lasted until 19 November 2005, when they worked a farewell railtour, following which they were withdrawn.

South West Trains

South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...

inherited a small fleet of twelve 'Phase 2' 4Cig units, and the larger fleet of 22 "Greyhound" units which had been modified to allow faster acceleration.

In 1997 the fleet was augmented with the addition of eight 4Big units from Connex South Central

Connex South Central

Connex South Central was a short-lived train operating company in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Connex Group, and operated under the Connex brand between October 1996 until mid-2001....

. These operated with the counter in the buffet carriages locked out of use. By 1999 these units had been stored, but then eight additional "Greyhound" units were converted from the redundant 4Bigs. The units were reclassified as Class 421/8, and renumbered in the range 1392–1399. The modifications included the removal of the buffet carriages, which were replaced by spare intermediate trailers from 4Cep

British Rail Class 411

The British Rail Class 411 electrical multiple units were built at Eastleigh works from 1956-63 for the newly electrified main lines in Kent. These units were based on the earlier Southern Railway 4Cor design, built in 1937. They were replaced by Juniper units.-Description:A total of 133 units...

units. Most of these trailers came from 4Cep units to make 3Cep units, but a few came from withdrawn units. These trailers were immediately recognisable since although they had the same body profile as the rest of the unit the windows were different and they had InterCity70 seating. The buffet carriages were withdrawn, although many were saved for preservation.
In December 2004 unit no. 1394 was reduced to a three-car unit with the removal of its Cep trailer. It was reclassified as Class 421/7, renumbered 1499, and dedicated to the Lymington Branch Line

Lymington Branch Line

service, where it replaced the previous incumbent unit, no. 1198.

Withdrawals of units started in mid-2004, when many new Class 444

British Rail Class 444

The British Rail Class 444 Desiro electrical multiple units were built in Germany by Siemens AG from 2003-04. Forty-five of these units were built for express services for South West Trains....

and Class 450

British Rail Class 450

The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family and are more commonly known as the 'Blue Desiro'...

"Desiro" units became available for service. By the end of 2004 just a handful of units remained in traffic. The final few units were withdrawn in May 2005, with the last in traffic being 1304/09/12/16, 1392/95/96/97/98, 1499 and 1881/90. The final slam-door service ran on 26 May from London Waterloo

Waterloo station

Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....

to Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

using units 1396, 1398 and 4Vep

British Rail Class 423

The British Rail Class 423 electrical multiple units were built by BR at York Works from 1967 to 1974, although the MBSOs and TSOs of the first 20, 7701-7720, were constructed at Derby Works. They feature manually-opening doors next to every seating row and were the last coaching stock built in...

3536. Following withdrawal two units, nos. 1304 and 1881, were transferred to "warm storage" for use by Southern

Southern (train operating company)

Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...

if required. Most of the other units were sent for scrap, with the exception of nos. 1392 and 1499.

Services on the Lymington Branch Line

Lymington Branch Line

were operated as a "heritage" operation using one of two refurbished 3Cig units, nos. 1497 and 1498. The two units were launched into service on 12 May 2005 having been repainted into heritage liveries, 1497 in blue and grey and 1498 in the green that the units carried when built. However, in May 2010, the new timetable changes saw the units replaced for more modern stock to save maintenance on a non-standard fleet of two units. As stated in the relevant timetable, "The slam door trains will be remembered with affection
as they pass into history." The change took place on 22 May 2010 and the units have been replaced by a Class 158

British Rail Class 158

on weekdays and a Class 450

British Rail Class 450

The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family and are more commonly known as the 'Blue Desiro'...

Desiro at weekends.

Further use

Following withdrawal from normal service several vehicles have seen further use in departmental service.

3Cop unit 1401 was employed as depot shunter at Ashford Chart Leacon
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...

depot. However, it was made redundant when Chart Leacon stopped overhauls of slam-door stock and was sent for scrap in July 2005.
MBS 62356 (ex-unit 1850) was converted into an ultrasonic test train vehicle for use by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...

. It has been renumbered 999606.
The rest of unit 1850, namely DTC 76629, TS 71036 and DTC 76789, were retained by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...

to provide spares for 999606 but have now been scrapped by C.F. Booth in Rotherham.
One vehicle, no. 76112 from 'Phase 1' 4Cig unit 1749, was rebuilt as the Class 424 "Networker Classic"
British Rail Class 424
The British Rail Class 424 "Networker Classic" electric multiple unit was built in 1997 by ADtranz at Derby. It was a prototype vehicle rebuilt from a Class 421 driving trailer vehicle....

prototype in 1997. It was displayed to the public at London Victoria, paired with unrebuilt driving trailer 76747 from 4Big unit 2256, for comparison purposes. The project was shelved, but the prototype vehicle remains in store at Derby.
DTCSoL vehicles 76765 and 76836 (from 1882) plus 76775 and 76846 (from 1890) were released recently by HSBC from Shoeburyness for parts stripping at Derby RTC, after which they went to C.F. Booth.

Preservation

So far seven units have been preserved. In addition numerous buffet cars from 4Big units have also been preserved. The full list is shown below, with complete units highlighted:

'Phase 1' unit 1753 has been preserved by the Network SouthEast Railway Society and is stored at a Ellough Airfield, near Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...

, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...

. This is a private location, visits by arrangement only.
'Phase 2' unit 1881 was purchased by Knights Rail Services Ltd and moved from MOD Shoeburyness to Eastleigh Works in June 2007 along with "Greyhound" unit 1304 and a hybrid Cig/Vep unit comprising vehicles from units 1884 and 3536. Unit 1881 is intended for heritage/excursion traffic on the main line. The unit was successfully powered up at the Works in October 2008, becoming the first preserved EMU to draw third rail power in recent times.
'Phase 2' "Greyhound" unit 1399, also a former 4Big unit, was preserved on the Dartmoor Railway
Dartmoor Railway
The Dartmoor Railway is a long railway line in Devon, England. From Crediton the line parallels the Tarka Line to the site of the former Coleford Junction. Heading west it then serves Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton and Meldon Quarry. The route is owned from Coleford to Meldon by Aggregate...

. It was rescued from there by 'Save the Cigs' (see http://www.savethecigs.org.uk ) and three vehicles were transferred in June 2008 to a secure home on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway in South Wales, running trains between a halt platform opposite the Whistle Stop public house southwards to the town of Blaenavon via a two-platform station at the site of former colliery furnace.The line is the highest...

where restoration is now under way. (One of this unit's driving trailers, 76747, was displayed along with the prototype "Networker Classic" coach to provide an opportunity for comparison.)
4Cig unit 1392 and 3Cig unit 1499 are preserved at the Dean Forest Railway
Dean Forest Railway
The Dean Forest Railway is a long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The route was part of the Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and...

. The latter was previously dedicated to services on the Lymington Branch Line
Lymington Branch Line
The Lymington Branch Line is a railway that runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier, both in the New Forest. The railway line is around long, and is single track throughout its length. It diverges from the South Western Main Line at Lymington Junction; and, at Lymington Pier, trains connect with...

. Both are in need of work as vandals have been busy.
It was hoped that unit 1705 (formerly 7301), the first-built unit, would be preserved by Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...

, for use on special excursion trains. Unfortunately its poor condition precluded this and it was eventually scrapped.
South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...

has retained two 'Phase 2' 3Cig units after their withdrawal and replacement on the Lymington branch.
14 February 2008. TSO vehicle 71085 from 1884 was delivered from store at Shoeburyness to Deptford, where it has become a café.
3Cig unit 1497 is preserved on the Mid-Norfolk Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....

, arriving on 28 September 2010. The unit was delivered by rail, coupled to 73201
British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...

and driven to Dereham in push-pull
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...

mode.

Preserved units

Unit Number (current in bold)					Type	Phase	DTCsoL	MBSO	TSO (*TSRB)	DTCsoL	Livery	Location	Notes
7032	2101	2251	-	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69302*	-	Network SouthEast	Abbey View Disabled Centre	-
7034	2110	2260	-	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69304*	-	Network SouthEast	Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust The Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust operates a mile long heritage railway line at Hunsbury Hill, south-west of Northampton. The line is mainly dedicated to freight working, featuring many sharp curves and steep gradients which were typical of the industrial railway, but rides are...	-
7036	2104	2254	2002	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69306*	-	BR(S) Green	Spa Valley Railway Spa Valley Railway The Spa Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway that runs between Tunbridge Wells, High Rocks, Groombridge, and Eridge railway station, where it links with the Oxted Line. En route it crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, a distance of 5 miles , along the former Three Bridges to...	-
7040	2105	2255	2003	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69310*	-	BR(S) Green	Dartmoor Railway Dartmoor Railway The Dartmoor Railway is a long railway line in Devon, England. From Crediton the line parallels the Tarka Line to the site of the former Coleford Junction. Heading west it then serves Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton and Meldon Quarry. The route is owned from Coleford to Meldon by Aggregate...	-
7046	2108	2258	-	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69316*	-	BR(S) Green	Riccarton Junction Riccarton Junction railway station Riccarton Junction, in the county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, was a railway village and station. In its heyday it had 118 residents and its own school, post office and grocery store...	Waverley Route heritage centre.
7048	2109	2259	2004	-	4Big	Phase 1	-	-	69318*	-	BR(S) Green	Colne Valley Railway Colne Valley Railway The Colne Valley Railway is a heritage railway based at Castle Hedingham Station, near Halstead in Essex, England. The railway consists of a mile-long running line, with a fully reconstructed station, signal box and railway yard...	-
7051	2203	-	-	-	4Big	Phase 2	-	-	69332*	-	Network SouthEast	Dartmoor Railway Dartmoor Railway The Dartmoor Railway is a long railway line in Devon, England. From Crediton the line parallels the Tarka Line to the site of the former Coleford Junction. Heading west it then serves Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton and Meldon Quarry. The route is owned from Coleford to Meldon by Aggregate...	-
7053	2205	-	-	-	4Big	Phase 2	-	-	69339*	-	BR(S) Green	Great Central Railway Great Central Railway The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...	Part of 4-Big no 7059.
7055	2207	2112	2262	2001	4Big	Phase 2	-	-	69333*	-	BR(S) Green	Lavender Line Lavender Line The Lavender Line is an informal name for a heritage railway based at Isfield Station, near Uckfield in East Sussex.- History :The Lavender Line formed part of the Lewes to Uckfield Railway when it was opened on the 18 October 1858...	-
7057	2209	-	-	-	4Big	Phase 2	-	-	69335*	-	LNER Green/Cream	Wensleydale Railway Wensleydale Railway The Wensleydale Railway is a railway line in Wensleydale and Lower Swaledale in North Yorkshire, England and the name of the company that operates services on the line....	-
7058	2210	-	-	-	4Big	Phase 2	-	-	69337*	-	BR Green	Hastings Diesels	Operates with preserved Class 201 British Rail Class 201 The British Rail Class 201 six-car diesel-electric multiple units were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and Ashford. They were built for use on the London-Hastings line... unit 1001.
7327	1127	1753	-	-	4Cig	Phase 1	76102	62043	70721	76048	Connex	Network SouthEast Railway Society	-
7337	-	1816	1303	-	4Cig	Phase 2	-	62287	-	-	South West Trains	Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Lincolnshire Wolds Railway The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway is a heritage railway based at Ludborough station, near Grimsby in Lincolnshire, England and the only standard gauge steam railway in Lincolnshire open to the public. The line is part of the original Great Northern Railway , a rail system that opened in 1848 and once...	-
7373	-	1819	1306	-	4Cig	Phase 2	-	-	71041	-	South West Trains	Hever railway station Hever railway station Hever railway station serves Hever in Kent, in England. Train services from the station are provided by Southern, and the station is on the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line.Hever Castle is around a 1 mile walk from the station.-Services:...	In use as office extension by station building owners.
7376	1276	2251	1394	1499	4Cig	Phase 2	76726	62364	71080	76797	South West Trains	Dean Forest Railway Dean Forest Railway The Dean Forest Railway is a long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The route was part of the Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and...	Dedicated to the Lymington Branch Line Lymington Branch Line The Lymington Branch Line is a railway that runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier, both in the New Forest. The railway line is around long, and is single track throughout its length. It diverges from the South Western Main Line at Lymington Junction; and, at Lymington Pier, trains connect with... . TSO 70273 from 1392 Sold to Dartmoor Railway. Received 71080 from 1881.
7390	1290	2255	2003	1392	3Cig	Phase 2	-	-	-	76811	South West Trains
Still at Dean Forest Railway 08/11. To be sold for scrap.
7390	1290	2255	2003	1392	3Cig	Phase 2	76740	62378	-	-	South West Trains
Sold for Scrap for Brighton Belle Project, located at Southall.
7396	1296	2258	1393	7059	4Big	Phase 2	-	62384	69339	-	BR(S) Green
Unit sold following vandal attack where braking components were stripped. 62384 & 69339 purchased for "further use", 76746 & 76817 sold for scrap.
7397	1297	2256	1399	-	3Cig	Phase 2	76747	62385	-	76818	South West Trains	Save The CIGs Group	76747 & 62385 to Meldon Quarry, Dartmoor Railway 9/11/11. 76818 at Eastleigh Works.
7412	1212	1881	-	-	4Cig	Phase 2	76762	-	-	76833	South West Trains
Sold for Scrap for Brighton Belle Project, located at Barrow Hill. MBSO 62400 cut up. TSO 71080 Sold to DFR.
7414	1214	1883	1497	-	3Cig	Phase 2	76764	62402	-	76835	BR Blue/Grey	Mid-Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....	Purchased by Mid Norfolk Railway.
7417	1217	1884	-	-	4Cig	Phase 2	-	-	71085	-	White / Art Design	Deptford High Street	In use as static cafe.
7423	1223	1888	1498	-	3Cig	Phase 2	76773	62411	-	76844	BR Green	South West Trains South West Trains South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...	Purchased for use on the Epping Ongar Railway Epping Ongar Railway The Epping Ongar Railway operates on a preserved railway along the final section of the old Great Eastern Railway and London Underground Central Line branch line between Epping and Ongar, with an intermediate station at North Weald... .

Fleet details

Original-condition Units

Class	Type	No. built (Converted*)	Year built (Converted*)	No. range	Withdrawn	Notes
Class 420	4Big	18	1965-66	7031-7048	1986	Facelifted 1985-86, and renumbered 2101-2112.
Class 420	4Big	10	1970	7049-7058	1988	Facelifted 1986-88, and renumbered 2201-2210.
Class 421	4Cig	36	1963-66	7301-7336 (later 1101-1136)	1993	Facelifted 1986-1993, and renumbered into 17xx range.
Class 421	4Cig	102	1970-74	7337-7438 (later 1201-1300)	1993	Facelifted 1987-1993, and renumbered into 18xx and 13xx range.
Class 421	8Mig	2*	1983*	2601-2602	1983	Converted back to standard 4Cig.

Facelifted units

Class	Type	No. Converted	Year Converted	No. range	Operator	Units nos.	Withdrawn	No. preserved
Class 421/3	4Cig	53	1986-93	1701-1753	SET	1701/42/48	06/2004	1
Class 421/3	4Cig	53	1986-93	1701-1753	Southern	1702-14/17/19-22/24-27/31/33-48/50-53	02/2005	1
Class 421/4	4Cig	87	1987-93	1801-1826 1831-1891	SET	1806-1813/39-43/70-73/75-79	11/2004	-
					Southern	1801-1805/31-35/37/45-48/50/51/53-69/74	11/2005
					SWT	1880-1891	05/2005
Class 421/5	4Cig	22	1990-92	1301-1322	SWT	1301-1322	05/2005	-
Class 421/6	4Cig	8	1994	1901-1908	Southern	1901-1908	01/2005	-
Class 421/7	3Cop	11	1997	1401-1411	Southern	1401-1411	03/2005	-
Class 421/7	3Cig	3	2004-05	1497-1499	SWT	1497-1499	05/2010	2
Class 421/8	4Cig	8	1999	1392-1399	SWT	1392-1399	05/2005	2
Class 422/0	8Dig	4	1992	2001-2004	South Central	2001-2004	1996	-
Class 422/1	4Big	10	1985-86	2101-2112	BR	2101-2112	1989	-
Class 422/2	4Big	10	1986-88	2201-2210	South Central	2203-06/8-10	1997	-
Class 422/3	4Big	12	1989	2251-2262	South Central	2251-62	1997	-
Class 422/3	4Big	12	1989	2251-2262	SWT	2251/54-56/58/59/61/62	1999	-

Diagrams

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