Edition Two Is Here! Welcoming The Class 442 Wessex Electrics

by Rail Tags | Feb 4, 2023

We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the unusual yet charming Class 442 Wessex Electrics to the Rail Tags fleet!

Units 2421 & 2424 join us after being retired to the bustling sidings of Eastleigh Works and mercifully scrapped.

442424 sits at London Victoria preparing for a service to Gatwick Airport. (CC BY-SA 2.0 – train_photos)

442 421 was delivered to Bournemouth T&RSMD on October 25th 1988. Sister unit 442 424 was delivered on February 11th 1989 being the last manufactured 5WES by BREL at their Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The Class 442s are the most visually unique out of any of the Mark 3 Bodyshell EMU stock. Specifications during production meant the 442s were equipped with buckeye couplers, side buffers, jumper cables and ETH sockets to allow loco haul runs. This has meant the Class 442 has been seen working with the Class 73s in the Southern Region, as well as Class 37s and 47s on moves to Wolverton after South Western Railway canned their Wessex Electrics programme in 2021. There has also been a sighting of Class 455s coupled up to a 442 on a convoy between Bournemouth T&RSMD and Weymouth.

NSE Class 442s speeding through Eastleigh on December 30th 1991. (CC BY-SA 2.0 – Train Photos)

On June 27th 1998 2421 was sent to Crewe Works for modifications to MBLS 62957. It was released on the 31st of July in the same year. 2424 was also sent to Crewe Works for modifications to MBLS 62960 on January 8th 1999. Work was completed on January 23rd 1999.

During the turn of the new millennium the Class 442s were sent to Eastleigh Works for a refurbishment by South West Trains. 2421 was returned to traffic on March 14th 2000. In November 2000 2424’s MBLS was given the nameplate Gerry Newson at Bournemouth Depot. She was later refurbished at Eastleigh Works in January 2001.

Despite extensive overhauls in 2006, the Wessex Electrics found themselves on borrowed time as SWT decided not to extend their lease. The Class 442s found themselves being replaced by the much newer Class 444 and 450 Desiro fleet.

2421 found itself working its final SWML service on the 19:12 Winchester to Poole on December 2nd 2006. Two days later it was sent to Ilford EMU Depot for a C6 Overhaul. 2142 then emerged on December the 21st sporting the Gatwick Express interim white livery. She was then placed into warm storage, initially at Bournemouth but then moving to Eastleigh Works in the new year.

The final day of service for the Wessex Electrics was scheduled for January 13th 2007. This never happened as a third of the fleet was still going strong enough to survive.

2424 was one of those strong units, outliving 2421 on the SWML and operated until January the 18th 2007. On the 22nd 2424 was also sent for a C6 overhaul at Ilford EMU Depot, while still on lease to SWT.

South West Trains Class 442 passing Queenstown Road, running towards London Waterloo. (CC BY-SA 3.0 – Janderk1968)

Contradictory to the original plan by SWT, the actual final day of service for the 442s was February 3rd 2007. The last passenger run was honoured by 4212 `Special Olympics` operating the 21:05 Waterloo to Poole service. Earlier in the day 4212 also operated a staff tour via the Windsor and Shepperton branches.

That day marked the end of the Plastic Pig’s time with South West Trains, honoured with a bittersweet farewell.

On February 8th 2424 emerged carrying the same interim livery as 2421. 2424 was bound for Stewards Lane, unlike her younger counterparts. The majority of the fleet were sent for storage at Eastleigh Works.

By mid May the 442s were back out on the mainline in preparation to be moved to Stewarts Lane for the extension of Gatwick Express services.

The first test run was operated on Friday the 31st of August between Stewarts Lane and Three Bridges by none other then 442 424 with Class 73 136 for good measure.

On Tuesday the 9th of December 2008 the Wessex Electrics made their comeback into service, being used on Gatwick Express off peak services between London Victoria & Gatwick Airport. Peak time services to Brighton then commenced on December 15th.

Amazingly 2421 and 2424 both re entered service on December 15th working together from Brighton to London Victoria.

The Class 442s would operate GatEx services until 2016 when they were replaced by Class 387/2s. They would then be displaced to peak time Brighton to Eastbourne services which would be operated by a pair of Class 442s until March 2017. The final passenger service took place on the 10th of March 2017 being the 17:57 service from London Bridge to Brighton being operated by unit 2410 & 2413.
Class 442 402 at Beckenham Junction on the Southern Class 442 Farewell Tour. (CC BY-SA 2.0 – Train Photos)

On March 12th The Branch Line Society would host the Southern Class 442 Farewell Tour using 2402 and 2408. After this all units were taken to Ely for storage with an uncertain future.

In August 2017 South Western Railway would take over the South Western franchise from South West Trains and committed to leasing 17 Class 442 EMUs for services to Portsmouth.

This left six units off lease being 2401, 2405, 2407, 2412, 2421 and 2424. 4204 DTS 77832 would be saved by Northumbria Rail Ltd and is now undergoing restoration. Meanwhile Arlington Fleet would purchase all remaining vehicles for component recovery and scrap. Miraculously a few trailer vehicles from 2405 and 2407 still survive including an unknown driving coach. 2412 would also survive except for its MBLS coach and is currently in cold storage.

Unfortunately 2421 and 2424 would meet the chop. While it is a sorrowful ending we’re proud to have been able to continue the legacy of these two units through Rail Tags.

Rail Tags Edition Two Class 442 Wessex Electrics Lineup