Photo Class 442 'Wessex' NSE 'Plastic Pig' EMU Train Basingstoke 1990s

 

Class 442 EMU Basingstoke             Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Photo of unidentified Class 442 'Wessex' 5-Car electric multiple unit, in Network SouthEast livery, about to pass Basingstoke signal box before entering the station with a scheduled service from London Waterloo on an overcast day in the early 1990s.

Nicknamed the 'Plastic Pigs' by rail enthusiasts, due to the amount of plastic used in the construction, the Class 442 EMU was introduced by NetworkSouthEast on the line between London Waterloo and Weymouth in 1988.

Twenty four five-car units were manufactured by British Rail Engineering at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works.

In 1988 the Class 442 had the honour of entering railway history books for holding the world speed record for a third-rail 'Contact Shoe' (DC) train when, on the 11^th April that year, it reached a speed of 108 mph (174 km/h). Impressive for a train that was designed with a maximum speed of 100 mph.

Operated by South West Trains after privatisation, the units were replaced with Desiro UK Class 444 and Class 450 EMUs in February 2007.

Following a period of storage, the 442s once again saw service, this time on the Gatwick Express services from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

In 2016 the units were withdrawn from this route.

Class 442412 EMU on Gatwick Express Duties

                                                Photo: Peter (flickr)

 

Eventually the units were put into storage where they remain at present, although there has been talk that they may be used once again for mainline running. Time will tell on that one.

 

The eventual fate of the Class 442 EMU:

In January 2020, 'Global Railway Review' magazine reported that South Western Railway (SWR) had reintroduced four of its 10-car Class 442 trains, running on the London - Portsmouth and London - Poole routes.

However, in April 2021 'Modern Railways Magazine' reported that SWR's reintroduction plans for the Class 422 units had been abandoned.  The reason cited was "lack of demand".

An SWR Engineering spokesman stated that six of the 24 '442s' had already been sold, donated or scrapped by Angel Trains.  The spokesman went on to say that with no future prospective use for them, all remaining units will be sold for scrap.

442s Scrapped or Used For Spares:

No. 2401 stripped for spares at Eastleigh Works, for scrapping 7/2020.

No. 2405 coach number 62944, scrapped at Eastleigh 5/2020.

No. 2421 stripped for spares at Eastleigh Works, for scrapping 7/2020.

No. 2424 coach number 62960 scrapped at Eastleigh 5/2020.

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Photo Railfreight Livery Class 37074 Class 37101 UK Diesel Locos Basingstoke 1992

Class 37 Diesel Locomotives at Basingstoke Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

A summer day train photo of Railfreight General Livery, Class 37074 (leading) and Class 37101 UK diesel locomotives in a sad and thoroughly neglected condition, double-heading a container freight train through Basingstoke station, Hampshire, heading south on a sunny July day in 1992.

 

Run down UK diesel locomotives such as these, along with electric and diesel multiple units, were a common sight on Britain's railway network prior to rail privatisation in 1994 and 1997.

Class 37074 was built by English Electric Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns and released for service on the 17th September 1962 in a livery of BR green with half yellow end warning panels and allocated to Thornaby.

The loco was the third to have the nose rebuilt to centralise the headcode and remove the corridor connection in 1970 after receiving severe damage.

After years of service Class 37074 was officially withdrawn on the 22nd September 2005.  It was cut up at Booth's, Rotherham, 2nd November 2005.

Class 37101 was built at the English Electric Vulcan Foundry and released into service as D6801 on the 28th December 1962 and allocated to Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

It was renumbered 37345 on the 2nd September 1994.

Sadly, 37101 was cut up at Immingham MPD on the 20th August 2003.


Basingstoke station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo - at Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, should he require it.


Wellington was not a fan of the 'new fangled railways' and it is not known if he ever used his train.

Class 37 Locos at Basingstoke on YouTube:

DRS Tractor 37603 at Basingstoke with DRS convoy.
DRS Class 37s with nuclear waste through Basingstoke.

Class 37s clag out of Basingstoke.

DRS Class 37 Convoy passing Basingstoke.

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Photo Class 47701 Network South East UK Diesel Loco Basingstoke 1990s

  Class 47701 Diesel Locomotive, Basingstoke

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

 

In Network South East livery, UK Class 47701 'Old Oak Common Traction & Rolling Stock Depot', (formerly named 'Saint Andrew' then, in May 1997 renamed 'Waverley'), stands at platform 2 Basingstoke station with a rake of Network South East coaches before heading to Salisbury.

 

Class 47701 was built in February 1966 at Brush Traction in Loughborough.

The UK diesel locomotive was withdrawn from British Rail service in 1997.  It was then purchased by Tracy Lear and hired to Fragonset who sub-contracted it out to anyone who wanted it.

47701 is now based at Meldon Quarry on the Dartmoor Railway.


Basingstoke railway station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo - at Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, should he require it.
Wellington was not a fan of the 'new-fangled railways' and it is not known if he ever used his train.

More Class 47 and 57 images on 'Along These Tracks'.

Class 47100 'Merlin'

Class 57316 'Fab 1'

Class 57305 'John Tracy'

Class 57308 'Tin Tin'

Class 47822

Class 47790 'Galway Princess'

Class 57307 'Lady Penelope'

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'Along These Tracks' - blog update:

Previous posts are now easier to find.  

All blog posts are now listed alphabetically on the right side of your screen; under the heading, 'Previous Photo Posts'.


"I hope this makes your search easier".

Night Photo BRCW Sulzer Class 33 Diesel Loco Cab Front at Night 1980s

Class 33 Cab In the Dark, Basingstoke

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Cab front of an unidentified Class 33 diesel locomotive stabled for the night on a siding at Basingstoke station in the late 1980's.

The Class 33 stands close to where one of Basingstoke's lever-operated signal boxes once stood, opposite the current signal box (see photo below) where the track diverges to Reading station.

As a young boy in the early 1960's, I was lucky enough, with a friend of mine, to be able to visit the older wooden signal box in question and watch for a while as a variety of Southern Region steam-hauled trains passed by in both directions. 

A treat I will never forget.

Basingstoke Signal Box     Photo: Charles Moorhen

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' railway blog to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

Blog update:

Previous photo posts are now easier to find.  

All blog posts are now listed alphabetically on the right side of your screen; under the heading, 'Previous Photo Posts'.


"I hope this makes your search easier".