There was a flurry of Class 442 activity on Tuesday 12th February when First GBRf EDLs 73205 and 73209 top and tailed a transfer of 2402 and 2406 from Eastleigh, where they had been in "warm" storage, to Lovers Walk and then in the afternoon the same locos conveyed, over an hour later than scheduled, 2424 in the reverse direction. 2424 was the only Wessex unit not to have been stored at Eastleigh following withdrawal as on 8th February 2007 it was taken straight from C6 overhaul at Ilford to Stewarts Lane and then on 15th November moved from there to Lovers Walk.

(above) 73209, 2402, 2406 and 73205 pass through Burgess Hill with not much further to go to Lovers Walk.
photograph by Stephen Hodgson

Refurbishment of former Network SouthEast/South West Trains Class 442 "Wessex Electric" units for future use by Gatwick Express has commenced at Wolverton. The first two units, 2412 and 2414, were hauled there by 47830 on 3rd December 2007. No further units are expected to be worked on until at least March.

(left) Survivor "Duff" 47830 hauls 2412 and 2414 past worting 75 minutes late on 3rd December 2007.
photograph by Ian Parrish

It is currently believed:

• All standard class accommodation will be in the trailers - i.e. the current driving trailer first will be rebuilt to a driving trailer standard open.
• Seating in standard class will be airline 2+2, save for two sets of facing seats with tables , one each side of the gangway.
• Door vestibules will be made larger and will have tip up seats.
• The doors from the vestibules into the saloons will be wider.
• Luggage racks will back onto the bulkheads to the vestibules.
• First accommodation will be open and in the motor brake.
• It is thought a wheelchair area plus wheelchair accessible lavatory will also be in the motor brake first.
• Existing traction motors and equipment will be retained.

These units will only run as 10 cars providing ~600 seats compared to ~350 in an 8 car class 460, so providing a significant increase in capacity.

For a comprehensive history of Class 442s units to date, please click here.

Test running of class 442 (former "Wessex" units) on the Brighton Main Line, in preparation for their introduction on London Victoria-Gatwick Airport-Brighton peak services to be run by the coming Southern run Gatwick Express franchise, have commenced. The first test run was on Friday 31st August between Stewarts Lane and Three Bridges yard using Stewarts Lane based unit 2424 plus Stewarts Lane based EDL 73136 for "insurance". The working was driven by First GBRf staff although it is believed Southern staff were also on board. The EDL was on the rear of the unit in both directions.