In the past couple of years the size of the old British Rail designed or built train fleets has decreased dramatically with many classes disappearing completely. Others are in terminal decline or are seeing members being sent for store with their future uncertain. One class which has survived intact and that shows no sign of being retired is the seven strong , 2-car class 155 diesel fleet built by British Leyland at their Workington plant back in 1988. Numbered 155341-347 they were the tail end of a much larger order of 40 2-car trains which were converted to single-car units in the 1990s which are now being retired, leaving the West Yorkshire sets as the last of their kind. The reason the seven still exist is that they were paid for by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, who took a proactive approach to developing rail transport by funding mew trains (the Class 158/9s being another example).
The 155s were bought as a replacement for the ageing but powerful class 110 ‘Calder Valley’ units built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW for short) in 1961. To show their allegiance Yorkshire 155s were delivered from new in the WYPTE livery of red and cream with ‘metrotrain’ branding. With the onset of privatisation management of the 155s was taken on by Porterbrook leasing, on whose books they remain to this day. The 155s have remained in the North, having passed through the hands pf all the various Northern franchises right from the original Arriva Trains North. The units have always been allocated to Leeds Neville Hill depot although nowadays they’ve spread their wings and can be seen on other routes than just the Calder valley thanks to the arrival of the new CAF built Class 195s.
Here’s a pictorial review of their lives, times, liveries and the locations where they used to be found (and can be now).
155341, the first of the Yorkshire units is seen in Northern advertising livery approaching Sowerby Bridge in the Calder valley with a service from Manchester to Leeds via Bradford on the 21st January 2013.The builders and owners plate inside 155341 seen in 2017.Seem from the Pennine hills around Todmordon (which can be seen in the background) 155342 has just crossed the historic Gauxholme viaduct on the 12th September 2009 whilst working from Leeds to Manchester.Here’s 155343 carrying WYPTE ‘metrotrain’ branding and the simplified original livery (but operated by the Northern franchise) calling at Todmorden on the 4th September 2006. Here’s when 155344 was almost new and before the 1st generation DMUs they helped displace were still around. This is the very shabby looking Manchester Victoria station shortly before rebuilding on the 18th June 1991. One of the classic locations in the Calder Valley is Hebden Bridge where the station retains many of its original features including a fine selection of wooden signs. 155345 is pictured calling on its way to Manchester Victoria on the 25th September 2007.155346 is pictured in revised WYPTE livery stabled in York station on the 13th August 2004. Here’s 155347 pictured leaving Halifax station en-route to Bradford with the monolithic Halifax Building Society building dominating the skyline in the background. Seen on the 30th May 2017.Here’s 155347 in original condition with the full livery including the orange stripe seen at Blackpool North on the 5th April 1991. In BR years these units weren’t uncommon in the North-West, making it to Blackpool, Preston and Liverpool.
The units interior layout has always been superior to earlier units like the Class 150s. Here’s some views over the years.
Here’s the interior of 155346 seen on the 3rd March 2013. The view’s taken from mid-car, showing the 2+2 seating arrangement and table bays. The seats are covered with the original Northern mocquette. Cycle and luggage storage on the same unit and same date as above. The generous luggage space on 155342. The steel bar construction makes the units seem more airy than the likes of the 150s and 158s. 155344 on a quiet evening. 1st September 2016.
Here’s a few units in their later years when they began to spread their wings…
On the 29th July 2019 155345 is seen under the magnificent station roof at Hull. It’s sporting the latest variation of the Northern Liveries, this time the predominantly white Arriva Northern version. 155345 seen keeping company with converted classmate 153351 (in the old Arriva Northern livery) crossing the viaduct at Knaresborough on the 22nd August 2007. 155344 is seen heading West from the bay platform at Selby on the 12th August 2016.155341 waiting to return to Leeds after reversal at Knaresborough on the 10th August 2017. 155346 calls at Ulleskelf on the 2th November 2021 whilst working 2R21, the 1546 York to Bridlington. 155346 leaves Hull with an unknown service on the 18th April 2023. Hull’s the best place to see these units now as the units are allocated to the local depot and work many services from the town, including the routes to Bridlington, York, Leeds and back to their old haunts at Halifax. The Leyland logo embossed into the steel paneling above the cab end vestibule doors on 153344. Seen on the 18th April 2023.
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As it’s been announced that Southern will be retiring its BR built Class 455 units by the end of the year I thought I’d compile a picture gallery of the trains in use over the past 20-odd years, first with the late unlamented ‘Connex’ franchise and then with Southern which has run the service since August 2001 after buying Connex out of the last 2 years of its franchise (which Govia as winning bidder was originally going to operate from 2003). Originally run as Govia South Central the franchise began to repaint trains in the distinctive white and green livery in 2001 but didn’t introduce the ‘Southern’ brand and logo until 2003. It’s remained ever since even tho’ Southern were absorbed into the huge Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise in July 2015.
The 455s were built from 1982 onwards but the first units didn’t appear on the South-Central network until 1986 after Selhurst depot had been modified to cope with the new trains. Their career’s lasted 36 years but sets are already standing idle on a daily basis as not all 46 trains are needed to run the current timetable.
The Southern sets look very different to their South-Western sisters. Between 2004-06 the trains were refurbished by Alstom at Eastleigh works. As well as internal work the nose-end doors were removed and replaced with a revised front end that incorporates cab air-conditioning. A new light cluster also changed their appearance. Unlike the SWR refurbishment the passenger doors weren’t altered, which leaves the Southern sets with the old cramped arrangement.
Here’s a look back over their lives. Please note. All the pictures are my copyright…
Here’s Wandsworth Common station on the 26th June 2001 with units 5809 and 5830 standing in the platform in the days when the trains regularly worked to Leatherhead.5812 is seen entering Purley station with a service to Smitham on the 16th July 2001. On the same day as the last picture Connex liveried 5818 waits at South Croydon with a service bound for London Bridge. 5815 seen at Streatham Common on the 16th July 2001 with a Caterham service. Only 16 out of the fleet of 46 ever received Connex yellow livery. Unit 5823 in full NSE livery minus branding stands at Sydenham on the 15th June 1997. Connex had taken over the franchise in October 1996 but were slow in branding their trains. The destination blinds indicate this is a service to Charing Cross, another place the 455s aren’t seen at anymore. Here’s 5833 and 5825 both on Victoria – East Croydon services passing just outside Wandsworth Common station on the 26th June 2001. Both units are in original condition.
The Southern years.
On the 2nd April 2014 class leader 455801 pulls out of Victoria with an unknown service. The modified front end with the air-conditioning unit in place of the gangway doors is evident, as are the revised headlight clusters. A sight that’s changed out of all recognition since this shot was taken on the 12th November 2010. Here’s 455803 at the old London Bridge station. On the 1st September 2008. 455804 gets a wash and brush-up at the carriage wash plant at Selhurst depot – although the plant is far closer to Norwood Jn station (in the background) than it is the depot. 455810 emerges from the highly decorative tunnel at Tulse Hill on the 14th June 2012.The classic view of the approaches to Victoria – although the background has changed enormously since this view of 455824 arriving at the terminus was taken on the 30th April 2003. 455827 traverses the viaducts on the approach to London Bridge on the 8th March 2008. Another part of London where the skyline backdrop’s changed dramatically. On the 1st December 2008 units 455828 and 455836 pass outside Clapham Junction station. 455830 calls at West Norwood station in South London on the 1st September 2008. In the background the Crystal Palace TV transmitter dominates the skyline. 455831 is framed by one of the old Southern Railway concrete signal gantries at it arrives at Honor Oak Park on the 19th July 2010.455834 leaves Horsham and returns to London on the 11th November 2015.455839 stands at West Croydon station on the 20th April 2010.The first unit to appear in the new livery was 455841 which is seen working the 14.53 to Victoria at Dorking on the 22nd October 2001. 455843 speeds through Penge West on the fast lines on the 1st September 2008.The last of the Southern units. 455846 sits on the reverse curves at Clapham Junction station on the 3rd March 2010.
Here’s a comparison between the unmodified doors on the Southern sets compared to the rebuilt (and this wider) doors on the SWR 455s.
Note the poles on the opposite side to the open door that show the limit the doors open to. This can be seen with the open doors and how far they protrude into the available opening. Here’s the SWR rebuild.No poles and rebuilt runners without the protruding stops which mean the doors fit further into the unit body, allowing for a wider door. A far batter arrangement.
If you want to view (or buy) more pictures of the Southern 455s you can find them in these galleries.
It’s worth mentioning that the ‘Part-time Spotter’ WordPress blog is currently posting the daily allocations and diagrams of the Southern 455 fleet, so if you want to track and trace any particular members or travel on them before they disappear, give them a follow at this link.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Following on from part 1 I’ve completely skipped the logical path of documenting the Class 455/8s – for two reasons. One is that the fleet is split between SWR and Southern and the other is that this is the fleet that’s also the last that’s going to go! Instead, I’m concentrating on the 20 strong Class 455/9 fleet that all work on SWR and are based at Wimbledon Park depot.
The 455/9s were built at York works in 1985. They were identical to the earlier 455/7s apart from the fact they didn’t use recycled class 508 TSO trailers and were built as brand-new 4-car units. That said, set 5912 has a TSO formerly part of the prototype Class 210 DEMU (picture later) and set 5913 (now stored) had a MSO which was rebuilt from another former class 210 vehicle after the original was written off by a cement-mixer which fell off a bridge and crushed it at Oxshott in November 2010.
Just four years old, first in class No 5901 in original BR livery and condition leaves Vauxhall and heads for Clapham Junction on the 26th November 1989. 5902 arrives at Kingston-upon-Thames on the 3rd March 2010. Approaching Clapham Junction on the 30th December 2021 is 5903, paired with a 455/7 unit. A picture that illustrates the front end difference between the earlier 455/8’s and later 455/9s. Here’s5855 keeping 5904 company at Waterloo on the 3rd January 2018. Inside Wimbledon Park depot on the 20th May 2015 where 5905 is receiving fitters attention. On the same day as the previous picture and a few miles down the road from the depot 5906 and 5871 head for Waterloo wit a service from Guildford. A sight that will soon be gone forever. A trio of 455s 5907, 5911 and 5912 wait at Waterloo with services to Guildford and (in the case of 5912) Hampton Court on the 30th June 2011. On a wet 3rd April in 2018 5908 arrives at Guildford on the rear of a working from Waterloo. 5909 passes Wimbledon depot (and 5706 heading in the opposite direction) whilst working a service from Waterloo to Hampton Court on the 20th May 2015. Forward to the 27th January 2022 and 5910 is pictured at Waterloo after arriving from Woking. At Guildford London Rd station on the 24th April 2014 5911 arrives with a service to Waterloo via Surbiton. Sporting the old Stagecoach livery, set 5912 leads a service for Chessington South past Wimbledon on the 12th January 2005. 5913 calls at Clapham Junction on the 28th July 2015. This unit’s one of the early casualties and has already been taken out of service and stored. Back at Waterloo on the 27th January 2022 where 5914’s seen waiting to depart platform 2 with a service to Hampton Court. The 8th January 2022 was a day of torrential rain across the South-East and the aftermath can be seen in this view of Epsom, where 5915 leads 5851 whilst working, 2D43 the 1553 London Waterloo to Effingham Junction.Back at Clapham Junction on the 27th January 2022 as 5916 leads a Waterloo – Woking service.It’s the 8th September 2009 and set 5917 leads a service out of Waterloo station and across the complicated switches and crossings that make up the station throat. 20th May 2015 was a good day for capturing shots of 455s around Wimbledon. In this view 5918 brings up the rear of a service from Waterloo along with 5733 as it passes the Sutton branch to the left and the severed remains of the M&EE engineers siding. Clapham Junction on the 27th January 2022 again with 5919 arriving on the rear of a service from Dorking. It’s the 31st August 2021 and the last built Class 455 calls at Clapham Junction whilst working a service to Guildford.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances appreciate all the help that we can get to aid us in bouncing back from lockdowns. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Sunday 16th January saw the last passenger services operated by the old BR built Class 456, 2-car electric trains. The whole class of 24 units has now gone off-lease from Southwestern Railway and will be returned to the company who owns them, Porterbrook. It’s extremely unlikely these 750v 3rd rail units will find work elsewhere so it looks like a one-way trip to the scrapyard beckons. They were originally meant to be surplus to requirements in 2019 but long delays to the replacement class 701 sets being built by Bombardier at Derby meant they hung on for another two years. As 3rd rail units they were confined to the old ‘Southern’ network they were built for in 1990-91 and have led a busy but undistinguished career.
Constructed at York and based on the Mark 3 coach bodyshell and powered by the famous EE507 traction motor (some of which had been salvaged from old 4-SUB units withdrawn in the 1980s) these 75mph units were originally destined for the South-Western division of the old Southern region. A change of plan occurred during construction which meant that they were allocated to the Central section instead. Although they’d been due to enter service in early 1991 a problem with the inability of drivers to see platform mounted CCTV screens clearly meant they had to have the drivers seat modified so didn’t enter passenger service until the 30th September 1991.
Their main sphere of operation was the South London lines, especially the route from Victoria to London Bridge. In later BR years under Network South East they increased their sphere of operation to include such places as Tattenham Corner and the loop via Crystal Palace.
At the end of BR the units became part of the Connex franchise, although only one unit (465024) ever wore that companies livery. They soldiered on under later operator Southern (who refurbished the entire fleet) until 2013 when they finally made it to the old South-Western they’d originally been ordered for – only by now it was run by the South-Western Trains franchise! Refurbished once again when the appearance of the front ends was changed by removing the prominent covers off the top of the jumper cables the units settled down to working services from Waterloo to destinations such as Guildford and Woking.
I’ve compiled a picture record of all 24 members of the fleet which stretches back to 1991 when they were still being tested and drivers trained before they entered service. It covers all the 5 operators of the trains, BR, Connex, Southern, SWT and SWR.
n the 15th April 2011 456001 and another member of the class call at West Norwood on a service to London Bridge.The 27th April 1991 was a beautifully sunny day in London and I was lucky enough to get this shot of new 456002 on test from Selhurst depot, pictured here at Norwood Junction. It’s sporting the Network South-East livery that all the units were delivered in. Sitting on Wimbledon Park depot on the 30th June 2014 is newly refurbished and repainted 456003 which has been transferred from Southern to South-West Trains. In the background is 456013 which is awaiting its call to works. Here’s 456004 leaving Streatham Common with a service from East Croydon to London Victoria on the 16th July 2001. Passing a London skyline that’s changed dramatically since this picture was taken on the 5th April 2005 456003 (left) and 456005 (right) cross the viaducts outside London Bridge with a service for South London.It’s the 1st November 2012 and the final member of the class (024) keeps company with 456006 which is carrying the rail safety advertising livery it gained after being the first of the class to be refurbished at Wolverton works in 2006. On the 28th April 2014 a pair of 456s with 456007 bringing up the rear depart from Guildford with a service from Ascot. Whilst the units still carry Southern livery all branding has been removed and they are in fact working for South-West Trains.
456008 leads sister unit 456009 plus 455829 into Honor Oak Park in South London on the 4th October 2013.
Back at Guildford on the 24th April 2014 and another pair of unbranded ex-Southern units with 456009 leading 456005 wait to operate a service to Ascot from the Surrey town which became one of the main destinations for the fleet under SWT aegis.Here’s a scene that’s disappeared completely now. 456010 sits in platform 11 at the old London Bridge station before working the 17:59 service to Caterham on the 3rd March 2003. It’s the 20th April 2010 and 456011 in multiple with a Class 455 works a Southern service into Norwood Junction from London Bridge.With just over a month left in service, 456012 is seen at London Waterloo with a service to Guildford on the 7th December 2021.456013 leads a 10 car formation with two class 455s around the curve from London Rd station into Guildford on the 3rd April 2018. 456014 in tatty NSE livery arrives at Clapham Junction from London Victoria with a service for Epsom Downs on the 31st March 2004. Another photographic location that’s changed dramatically over the years is this shot of the approaches to London Victoria with the old Battersea power station as a backdrop. Here’s 456015 ambling into the station on the 22nd April 2004. This is the (in)famous Waterloo platform extension blockade in 2017 during which another class 456 derailed and hit the adjacent engineers train due to a signalling fault. On this day (5th August) 456016 arrived on the rear of its train without incident. 456017 enters the tunnel at Crystal Palace with a service for London Victoria on the 1st October 2013. 456018 sits in the bay platform 3 at Woking whilst working Woking – Waterloo shuttles on the 21st December 2019. 456019 calls at Honor Oak Park in South London on its way to the country on the 16th June 2011.Working a route the units were synonymous with for so many years, 456020 calls at Denmark Hill station whilst working a service from London Victoria to London Bridge on the 12th November 2011. It’s the 31st August 2007 and 456021 is pictured calling at South Croydon on its way to London Victoria.Yet another aspect of the London skyline that’s changed dramatically since this picture was taken. Here’s 456022 pulling away from Wandsworth Rd with a service from London Bridge to Victoria on the 15th March 1996. Almost exactly a year later than the previous picture at the same location. 456023 works a London Victoria – London Bridge service into Wandsworth Rd on the 6th March 1997. The final member of the class, 456024 leads a pair of class 455s off the Hounslow loop into Twickenham on the 4th July 2019.
I mentioned that only one member of the class ever received Connex livery. Searching through my archives I realised I only ever managed to capture it in one picture – and that was by accident! Here is is sandwiched between wo other units outside London Bridge station on the 5th April 2005…
I hope you’ve enjoyed a look back at the life of these units and pictures that show them in service for over 30 years. Many of the old BR Classes are disappearing over the next year or two so expect other blogs like this – just don’t expect pictures of each class member. 24 is more than enough! But, you can find many more pictures like these on my Zenfolio website. Just click on this link. Cheers!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Today’s the last in the week where I’m based at home. It’s been a fruitful few days despite the awful weather. Staying indoors has given me time to write and to scan another hundred-odd slides from the 1990s, which has been in interesting look back in time. The pictures I’m scanning at the moment are from an open day at the old Tinsley locomotive depot in Sheffield in 1996. In those day the depot and adjacent marshalling yard were a shadow of their former selves. The depot was used by one of the BR freight sectors (Railfreight Distribution) to service their ageing Class 47 locomotives. Much of the place was taken up with stored or withdrawn examples awaiting scrapping. When RfD was bought by Wisconsin in 1995 they decided the place was surplus to requirements so the depot finally closed its doors in 1998.
Here’s a few shots from the day. You can find a dedicated gallery to the event on my Zenfolio website here. Just be aware that I’ve a lot more pictures to add to it next week!
Class 47 No 47325 unofficially named “Red Rum” stored at Tinsley. The loco had been out of service for some years but was only officially withdrawn the previous month. It was eventually cut up a few miles down the road at CR Booths, Rotherham in May 1998. Â
47291 inside the depot, displaying the damage to the No 1 end cab that it suffered in a head-on collision with another class 47 (47200) back in November 1995. It never returned to service and languished until June 2004 when it was cut up by CF Booth, Rotherham. Collision damage was a far more common occurrence in those days, so this wasn’t an unusual sight!Â
47285 under repair inside the depot. Unlike the previous examples this loco had a longer career. It worked for Railfreight Distribution then was bought by EWS, whom it continued to work for (on and off) until 2002 when it was bought by Fragonset in November 2002. In January 2005, Fragonset and Merlin merged to form FM Rail and 47285 was cut up the month after by R Hull Rotherham.Â
47525 stands under the tower at Tinsley. This loco had a long and chequered career, It was transferred from RfD to Freightliner in January 1998. It worked for them for several years before being withdrawn and spending a long time in store before it was finally scrapped by EMR, Kingsbury in August 2010.Â
My thanks to the very useful website http://www.class47.co.uk/ for the historical information on the individual locomotives.
Tomorrow I’m back on the rails heading for the NEC in Birmingham as I’m a guest at the annual Railstaff awards. I’ve not been for a couple of years, the last time I was there was to present a prize. This time I’m completely off-duty. As I’ll be staying in Birmingham tomorrow night I’ll be exploring the railways somewhere, depending on the weather – although it’s looking good for the Midlands these next couple of days, so I’ll almost certainly have a look at the Hs2 work in the city whilst I’m there. Watch out for the rolling blogs appearing.
Paul Bigland 