4Cor Unit 3142

Southern Railway 4Cor unit 3142 is the electric multiple unit owned and being restored by the Southern Electric Group's associate company Southern Electric Heritage Limited. Our unit is made up of driving motor brake third open (DMBTO) 11201, trailer third corridor (TK) 10096, trailer composite corridor (CK) 11825 and driving motor brake third open (DMBTO) 11161. In addition we have care of and are working on a third driving motor brake third open coach 11187 owned by the late Brian Juniper. 11201 is available for public viewing in platform 1 at Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway most weekends and public holidays. 11201 is displayed in a "work-in-progress" condition so visitors can view the construction of the coach and appreciate the work involved in restoring it. Brian Juniper's 11187 is currently located at London's Transport Museum Depot at Acton where it is being worked on and is available for viewing during Depot Open Days. The remaining three cars are stored at Shepherdswell on the East Kent Railway where they are not available for viewing by the public.

This page displays photographs of the coaches, mostly in the early days (pictures of our unit in more recent times appear in our 4Cor Preservation News section) and a brief history of the unit since acquired by the group, including an overview of the work required to restore it.

The Southern Electric Group was originally planning to buy a 2Bil unit, however in mid-1971 the National Railway Museum decided to preserve a 2Bil, so the Group decided to purchase a 4Cor. Due to lack of funds at the time the group purchased the motor coaches and two Group members purchased the trailer coaches. Therefore, in 1972, 3142 was acquired by a company associated with the Group and the original aim of preserving some of the early electric stock had been achieved.

Unit 3142, one of the last units to run in BR revenue earning service, did not keep in its original formation for most of its working life. The as-withdrawn 3142 represented how it ran in service for the majority of its service career but one coach became damaged after withdrawal and the company associated with the Group purchased a substitute. Motor coach 11201 and trailer third 10096 were originally from the as-built 3142. Motor coach 11161 came from 4Res unit 3065 and was reformed into 3142 during the Second World War as a means of overcoming war damages. Trailer composite 11825 from unit 3135 was purchased in preference to 3142s own damaged coach. 

In April 1973 3142 was moved to the South Eastern Steam Centre at Ashford, Kent. Actual ownership of all the coaches eventually passed into a newly formed company, S.E.G. (Preservation) Limited. The South Eastern Steam Centre had many attractions to the Group, not least that it was rail connected to the Southern Region as the aim was, and remains, to return 3142 to active service on the third rail network. However, in February 1976 3142 was moved to the Nene Valley Railway near Peterborough where better facilities existed and the Preservation Team was able to undertake much needed repair work. 3142 returned to active service (although hauled by steam locomotives) on 1st June 1977 when it formed the ‘Opening Special’ train of the Nene Valley Railway.

In the early eighties, it was clear that undercover accommodation would be needed so that essential major overhaul work could be undertaken. Therefore, 3142 was moved, by rail, to the newly established Brighton Railway Museum in the former Pullman Car sheds at Preston Park on 5^th September 1986; returning, once again, to Southern metals. Here serious restoration work could be started.

On 29^th June 1991 it proved necessary to move 3142, by rail, to the former St Leonards Depot workshop where the excellent facilities provided greatly helped restoration. Full restoration was then started with the object of bringing it up to mainline running standards—a much higher standard than required for running purely heritage railways.

In the early seventies, Brain Juniper acquired motor coach 11187 (from unit 3135) who subsequently moved it to his garden in Hertfordshire. Brian Juniper generously agreed to loaning his coach to the Group. Therefore, on 13^th January 1993 motor coach 11187 was moved, by road, to St Leonards to rejoin its sister vehicles. Consequently, the Group today has 5 Cor type vehicles in its care—3 motor coaches and 2 trailers.

St Leonards Engineering's commercial business built up over time and by 2003 was in need of the space taken up by others' preserved stock. In August 2003 the group was given notice to quit and it became necessary to find alternative accommodation - not an easy task. In February 2004 three cars, 11161, 10096 and 11825 were moved to the Woodpax site at Sheffield Park for storage in the open under tarpaulins. Eleven months later 11201 followed to Sheffield Park, but this time onto the Bluebell Railway. On 18th January it was delivered onto the tramway at Sheffield Park and two days later tripped to Horsted Keynes. Another two days later 11201 was opened to the public. The final car to be relocated was 11187 and in December 2005 it was moved to London's Transport Museum Depot at Acton. In late May 2006 a further move was required and the three cars on the Woodpax site were moved to Shepherdswell on the East Kent Railway.

All 5 coaches require a major overhaul. The Group is currently working on 11187 since it is in slightly better condition than 11161 or 11201. The sort of work done so far on motor coach 11187 has been:

• Removing the motor bogie.
• Removing from the wheel sets, stripping, cleaning and inspecting the axle boxes.
• Inspecting the wheel bearings.
• Replacing the oil pads.
• Stripping, checking, repairing and repainting the axle boxes.
• Stripping, checking for depth of tread and repainting the wheels.
• Stripping and inspecting other small items of the bogie.
• Stripping, priming and repainting the underfloor.
• Reassembling the motor bogie.
• Removal, repair and replacement of all steel body panels and brackets.
• Repair of timber where required.
• Rewiring the lighting circuits.
• Renovating and reinstalling the interior.

For an up to date report about the Preservation Team go to the Preservation Report Index.

Our three motor coaches:
(above left) 11161 being worked on at the former Steam Centre at Ashford on 16th August 1975, photograph by Greg Beecroft.
(above right) 11201 in platform 1 at Horsted Keynes receiving final attention before the opening ceremony on 22nd January 2005 , photograph by David White.
(left) 11187 at Acton during early 2006, photograph by Peter Taylor.

3142 needs your help!

Restoring an electric multiple unit is a massive task and your help in the form of donations and volunteer effort is sought.

Latest News:
DMBSO S11161S worked in service and carried passengers at the East Kent EMU Running Days 17th & 18th September 2011.

Further Related Pages

• History of 4Cor Units
• More 4 Cor pictures
• 4Cor Preservation News
• Preservation Report index
• 11201 moves platform at Horsted Keynes
• Move of 11201 to Horsted Keynes
• 11201 Opening Ceremony
• Southern Electric Heritage Limited