Class 442 Wessex Electrics | Introduced in 1988
for the Waterloo-Bournemouth line,
the class 442 units re-used the traction package from the original
1963-built REP units (Restaurant EPB) and were
allocated to Bournemouth depot.
With five 23m cars with First class retaining some compartments, and capable of 100 mile/h running, the units were something of an eye-opener on the Southern Region when they first took to the rails. For a railway used to Mk1 slab-fronted stock the contemporary design of the 442's was quite a surprise. Irreverently known as 'Plastic Pigs' it was the first time Mk3 coaches had been seen on the Southern Region and furthermore the twenty four 5-car sets were fitted with sliding plug doors. The author was involved with a few test runs, the initial commissioning of the units and the setting up of a computer-based component control system for these units at the depot. What a travesty that SW Trains saw fit to remove them from traffic in early 2007 for reasons best known to themselves. I hope that these excellent machines find further use elsewhere but the choices are limited. |
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A class 442 at Bournemouth depot
in early 1988 Author's collection |
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A class 442 on test pictured at
Wimbledon depot in early 1988 Author's collection |
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An unidentified location in late
1988 Author's collection |
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Departing Woking Author's collection |
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A class 442 unit heading for
Waterloo passes Basingstoke in early 1989 Author's collection |
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A view inside the cab - as built
Author's collection |
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An unidentified member of the
class is seen in the Down platform at Bournemouth after a test run from
Waterloo in the summer 1988 Author |
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442406 at Southampton on 23rd
January 1990 in original livery Steve Jones |
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Unit 442419 awaits departure
from Weymouth with the 14.00 service to Waterloo on 8th June 2006 Author |
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Unit 442411 leaves Southampton
Central with the 15.52 to Weymouth on 8th June 2006 Author |
