South West Trains unveil their community-heritage
operation on the Lymington Branch

1497 and 1498 departing Lymington Pier on their second round trip of the day.  Note the headboard is still on the rear of the train!

photograph by Anthony Poulton

South West Trains commenced their community/heritage operation on the Lymington Branch on Thursday 12th May with a civic ceremony at Brockenhurst. For this operation two 4Cig units 1883 and 1888 have been refurbished to 3CIG units 1497 and 1498 respectively which included being repainted into "heritage" liveries - 1497 into BR blue & grey and 1498 into a version of Southern Region green.

These two units were taken from Wimbledon Traincare Depot to Bournemouth TRSMD at dawn on the 12th.   Unfortunately 1498 was failed upon arrival, however both units appeared at Brockenhurst at 1010.  They arrived from Bournemouth in platform 2 and after a pause were then drawn forward so they could be shunted back into platform 4.  An unveiling and naming ceremony then took place involving local dignitaries, SWT management plus SWT staff involved in the refurbishments and operating the Lymington branch.  The pair of units then worked round trips to Lymington Pier at 1059, 1129 and 1159.  Because of short platform at Lymington Town the rear unit in each direction was locked out of use.  This gave riders the opportunity to ride in the green unit between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier and the blue & grey unit on the return trip.  Even with additional hands available to lock and unlock the doors at each end and to steward passengers to the front unit, given the normal tight 5 minute turn rounds on the branch late running soon set in.   However, on this special occasion no one was complaining!  The final round trip of the pair worked into platform 1 at Brockenhurst.  Both units then went into the up siding where 1498 was detached and 1497 returned to platform 1 to work the 1229 to Lymington Pier.

(top left) James Burt, South West Train's Customer Service Director, explains the initiative to run the Lymington Branch as a community based railway and the refurbishment of the two units. Speeches from local authority dignitaries followed.
(top right and bottom left) The winner of a local community competition then unveiled the name on 1498 -"Farringford" - followed by the winners from competitions held in three local schools unveiling the name on 1497 to be "Freshwater"; appropriately names of Isle of Wight ferries.
(bottom right) Press were in attendance to cover the event including crews from BBC South Today and, as below at Lymington Pier, ITV Meridian News.