Tag Archives: Class 455

The end of the line beckons. Southern’s BR built Class 455s.

10 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by in British Railways, Class 455, History, London, Photography, Railways

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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.

BR Years

Connex

Southern

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/

Thank you!

The end of the line beckons. The SWR Class 455s (part 2)…

07 Monday Feb 2022

Posted by in British Railways, Class 455, History, Photography, Railways

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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/

Thank you!

The end of the line beckons. The SWR Class 455s (part 1)…

31 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in British Railways (BR), Class 455, History, London, Photography, Railways, The end of the line

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*update* – the final pictures were added on the 2nd February. You can now find all 43 units plus internal shots of the SWT refurbishment.

The first part of this trilogy is featuring the 43 Class 455/7s which were built by BREL at York between 1984-85. Whilst they weren’t the first series to be built, they’re one of the fleets that’s already being withdrawn as several sets have already been taken out of service. They’re unique amongst the class in that they were built as 3-car sets but made up to 4-car by the addition of redundant but nearly new trailer cars from Class 508 EMUs which were transferred to Merseyside as 3-cars sets.

This makes the 455/7s easy to recognise as the Class 508 vehicles are a completely different design and construction with a very different roof profile. The front end of these units differs from their earlier siblings as they were built without the redundant headcode boxes which was a feature of the first sets (just as they were on the 1981 built 25kv Class 317s). The 7’s also featured a revised light cluster with the air-horns being moved to a different position.

All 43 trains were allocated to the SW Divison of BR where they’ve remained ever since. Latterly working for South-west trains and finally South-Western Railway who ordered new units to replace them back in 2017. That replacements been delayed for several years but the inevitable has started to happen.

I’m fortunate in that I’ve been photographing these trains for over 30 years and have a record of each member of the class. I’ll add them all to this blog eventually when time permits but for now these are the edited highlights. I’ll put a header on the blog each time I add new pictures. You can find all my Class 455 pictures in three galleries on my Zenfolio website. 1. The BR gallery. 2. South-West Trains. 3. Southwestern Railway.

On the 17th October 2020 the leader of the Class calls at Clapham Junction with a service to Guildford via Surbiton.
5702 arrives at Dorking after working a service via Epsom on the 19th June 2013.
Back in BR days now on the 6th June 1990 when NSE liveried 5703 was working services to Shepperton, seen here at Clapham Junction.
Here’s 5704 in the company of a classmate passing Wimbledon depot on the 20th May 2015 whilst working a Waterloo to Guildford service.
In August 2017 the Waterloo blockade to extend platforms 1-4 to 10 car lengths was happening. On the 8th of that month 5705 is seen leading a service into the terminus.
On the same day as the previous picture 5706 is seen leaving the former Eurostar terminus at Waterloo with a service to Kingston upon Thames.
It’s the 11th November 2013 and in glorious autumn sunlight 5707 approaches Vauxhall from Waterloo with a service to Woking.
On the 8th September 2009 a pair of 455/7s with 5708 bringing up the rear arrive at London Waterloo.
On the 27th January this year 5709 approaches Clapham Junction with an inbound service to Waterloo.
Inside Wimbledon depot on the 22nd October 2013 where 5710 keeps company with 5918.
Several years earlier on the 29th November 2006 5711 sits outside Wimbledon Park depot adjacent to the main line.
Here’s Kingston on Thames on the 3rd March 2010 as 5712 arrives on a Waterloo to Shepperton service.
Back at Wimbledon Park on the 8th September 2009 as 5713 passes with a service for Guildford via Cobham.
It’s the 7th December 2021 and there’s steam in the air as an excursion approaches Clapham Junction whilst 5714 brings up the rear of a service heading for Waterloo.
A different view of Wimbledon on the 17th April 2007 as 5715 leads a sister unit on a ‘Kingston rounder’.
Back at Clapham Junction on the 21st December 2019 where 5716 is seen bringing up the rear of a Woking to Waterloo service.
This time we’re at Epsom on the 29th June 2014 as 5717 calls at the station with a service from Waterloo to Dorking.
Vauxhall again on the 13th November 2013 where 5718 is approaching the station from Waterloo with a service for Chessington South.
Another, rather different view of Wimbledon as 5719 crosses the flyover next to the depot and passes 444032 heading for Portsmough.
Between duties, 5720 sits alongside the shed at Clapham Junction on the 1st May 2019.
Having been repainted into Network SouthEast livery in the early 1990s 5721 waits at Windsor and Eton Riverside with a service to Waterloo on the 19th June 1994.
Guildford has been associated with the class all their working lives. Here’s 5722 sat at Platform 3 whilst working a Waterloo via Woking service on the 15th November 2015.
Also seen at Guildford, this time on the 26th May 2012, is 5723 after arriving from Waterloo via Surbiton.
Back at Clapham Junction on the 2nd November 2011 when 5724 was stabled in the yard in the company of a quartet of Siemens-built Class 450s
Livery transition time as 5725 in the new SWT suburban red liver passes classmate 5717 which was still in the old Stagecoach white and blue with orange and red stripes. The date is the 9th May 2006.
The changing scene at Guildford. 5726 departs on a service to Waterloo via Epsom on the 23rd April 2014, passing the relaying of stabling sidings which are being extended to take 10 car trains.
Back in BR days 5727 sporting Network South-East livery callas at Clapham Junction with a Shepperton branch service.
The footbridges West of Wimbledon station and the open vista provide a great location for open shots of South-Western suburban services. Here’s 5728 with a sister unit bringing up the rear of a Woking – Waterloo service on the 20th May 2015.
Another shot from the Wimbledon footbridges but this time taken several years earlier on the 29th November 2006. 5729 and a 455/9 units head off into the autumn sunset…
In this shot taken outside the shed at Clapham Junction 5730 is missing one of its driving trailers (77786) for reasons unknown. The unit’s sporting the earlier Stagecoach livery. The date is the 26th January 2001.
Back at Wimbledon on the 5th of September 2011 when the switches and crossings underneath the train were still awaiting renewal (see later pictures for afterwards). Here’s 5731 in multiple with a 455/9 set whilst working a service to Woking.
Framed by the lighting towers at Wimbledon Park depot unit 5732 is being shunted into the stabling sidings on the bright autumn day. The 29th November 2006 in fact.
On the same day in November 5733 sits inside Wimbledon Park awaiting attention.
Back at the Wimbledon footbridges on the 20th May 2015 and the track renewal has taken place. Meanwhile 5734 and a pair of class 456s with 456004 leading work a Waterloo – bound service from Guildford.
Journey’s end. 5735 unloads its passengers at Waterloo on the 20th February 2015.
With a skyline full of cranes as the Battersea Power station redevelopment is on full swing, 5736 brings up the rear of a Waterloo bound service at Clapham Junction. This vista has changed out of all recognition in the past decade as London’s skyline has become defined by new high-rise and landmark buildings. The date is the 19th May 2018.
A brace of 455/7s with 5737 pull out of platform 1 (The Cobham bay) at Guildford on their return to London via Epsom on the 23rd April 2014.
Another of those photographs that show how much London’s skyline has changed in a decade. Compare this view from the 2nd November 2011 when 5738 was heading for Waterloo past a brace of SWT Class 159 with this shot (link) taken in 2021.
On the 3rd April 2005, 5739 sporting Stagecoach livery approaches Raynes Park with a service for Chessington South.
It’s back at my old favourite, the footbridges West of Wimbledon station! Here’s 5740 bringing up the rear of a Shepperton branch service bound for Waterloo on the 5th September 2011.
It’s the 5th July 2017 and 5741 calls at Strawberry Hill, the home of the Southern Electric Traction Group and the last remaining 4-VEP. 3417.
Wimbledon one more for our penultimate 455/7. 5742 passes the depot with a Guildford via Surbiton service on the 4th October 2006.
And finally! Renumbered out of sequence as 5750 this is really 5743. It was given the new number in may 1991 to celebrate Wimbledon depot obtaining BS5750 quality services accreditation. It’s seem here on the 3rd July 2006.

For those who may have never travelled on the 455/7s, here’s a few internal shots showing how they looked after SWT has refurnished the units between 2004-2008. The pictures show the interior of 5735, taken in July 2006.

Vehicle 77795, one of the driving trailers.
A great improvement over the BR design (and Southern units which don’t have the modification) was that the sliding doors were altered so they opened wider.
The interior of trailer 71563.
The roof line and vestibule area immediately give this away as one of the former Class 508 vehicles, in this case 62817.
Driving trailer 77796.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at the 455/7s. The rest of the series will follow, but I can’t promise I’ll be posting individual pictures of all 74 Class 455/8s!

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/

Thank you!

SWT Convert their Class 455 fleet to AC traction

21 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Class 455, Engineering, Rail Investment, South West Trains

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Yesterday I visited South West Trains Wimbledon Park depot to see the second of their Class 455 fleet being converted to AC traction & hear Christian Roth, Engineering Director for South West Trains, who was on hand to talk about the reasons for the programme.

Converting the 91 strong fleet from DC to AC traction will cost £38m. It’s funded jointly by owners Porterbrook and the Department of Transport (with DfT stumping up a 3rd of the cost). The project has a number of aims & advantages, which are;

AC traction motors give the train regenerative braking capability saving £2m a year in electricity bills and lessening wear and tear on the braking equipment compared to pure friction braking.

They’ll have new Wheel Slip Protection (WSP) system which is based on modern, European Algorithms rather than the legacy BR system the 30yr old units have now. This will reduce wheel flats during the leaf fall season & help extend the exam period from 10,000 miles to 15,000 miles. The new A/c motors are also less prone to damage from snow ingress.

Christian explained that the cost of overhauling a Class 455 is around £150,000-£200,000, so extending that period by 1/3 on a 91 strong fleet is a not insignificant saving. It’s not hard to see that there are advantages to carrying out the conversion. But the most significant one isn’t to do with the 455s at all…

Extending the maintenance regime frees up space at Wimbledon Park allowing it to become home to SWTs next fleet – The 30×5 car Class 707 Desiro City trains from Siemens. This £210m investment is vital to tackle growth & overcrowding on the SW network. Without the space at Wimbledon Park a new depot would have been necessary, significantly altering the finances of the Class 707 project. After Christian’s briefing we went to inspect the second unit to be converted (5870) which was sitting inside the Inspection shed on 12 road. Here’s a look at the work.

Fitting the AC traction package to 62778 from 5870

Fitting the AC traction package to 62778 from 5870

AC traction motors installed in 62778s bogies

AC traction motors installed in 62778s bogies

AC traction control pack for 62778

AC traction control pack for 62778

High speed circuit breaker for 62778

High speed circuit breaker for 62778

The first unit to be converted (5732) was also done at Wimbledon Park (in exactly the same place) back in 2014. Here it is;

DG184054. First AC Class 455 conversion. Wimbledon Park depot. 30.6.14.

Right now 5732 is undergoing tests between Bournemouth & Weymouth. Once 5870 is completed (which is expected to be 19th June) it’ll also be sent to Bournemouth & the two trains will carry out further tests such as passing at speed & running as 8-cars.

Christian told us that the testing programme is going well with the equipment performing “better than expected”
Once testing is finished by the end of July the converted trains will enter service & free up others for the programme which will be carried out at the Arriva train depot at Eastleigh, starting at the end of August/ beginning of September. Three trains per week will be converted until the programme is complete in August 2016.
So, if you’re an aficianado of the 1930s designed English Electric EE507 traction motors, you’ve got little more than a year to hear these long serving beasts in action under the 455s…

Here’s another fan with the EE507s taken out of 5870;

Roger Ford & old friends...

Roger Ford & old friends…