The Class 442's - The NSE Years
The class 442's started traveling the Waterloo - Weymouth route back in 1987 just after the Branksome - Weymouth Electrification finished. The 10th October 1986 saw a small set of dignitories arrive at Poole Goods yard to participate in the Golden pot ceremony, Although preliminary work had started on pot laying, rail drops and various other works including the building of a new station at Poole. Also present was a HST buffet car which was to be used as a function room for the dignitories whilst at the ceremony. In May of 1988 the first Class 442 started operating between London Waterloo & Weymouth.
2401 on show at Bournemouth Open Day in March 1988, a few months before the pigs entered revenue earning service.
3 Shots of 2401 on the record breaking run from Waterloo - Weymouth on April 4th 1988. The unit achieved a speed of 109 mph between Basingstoke & Winchester. It was given special dispensation to run at 110mph. The unit completed the 143.75 mile run in 1 hour and 59 minutes and 24 seconds beating the old record run by nearly 45 minutes. During this run some £7630.00 was raised for the charity Polio Plus as a competition to guess the overall time the journey would take.
Another shot of the prototype 442. From my personal point of view These units looked better in Network SouthEast colours.
Two shots 2402 County of Hampshire at Poole.
2402 was the only Class 442 unit to carry the old South West Trains livery (that what was applied to the old slam door stock). Its seen here at Southampton Central on February 11th 1997.
2403 The New Forest leaves Poole with a service to Waterloo.
2404 Borough of Woking & 2403 The New Forest coupled together waiting for a service to Waterloo.
2405 City of Portsmouth at Bournemouth waiting to depart on an unknown service.
2406 at the rear with 2423 on a 10 car Waterloo to Poole service leaving Parkstone. The hose covers are already off. This is dated June 17th 1988
The only photo of 2408 I could get!!!
The DFTSO of 2409 Bournemouth Orchestra's at the rear of a Waterloo - Weymouth service.
The DFTSO & TSO of 2410 Meridian Tonight at Poole.
2412 passes the site (on the left) of the old Poole "a" signal box, that used to control the old gate style level crossing over the high street, on its way to Waterloo on June 17th 1989
2413 minus High level jumper covers at Poole. Early on during the 442's introduction accidents started to happen with the jumper covers, falling on shunters, or depot staff hands and arms.
2414 sits at Winchester with a service to Waterloo on May 1st 1989.
2415 one of the only 2 NSE units to have the old SWT branding on them departs Southampton Central for London Waterloo February 11th 1997.
Probably the only unit that gained notoriety in the early years of operation of the 442's was 2417. This was involved in a collision with a builders cement mixer that was left on the line at Parkstone by some mindless vandals. This promptly derailed the first DTSO, demolished the side parapet of the Salterns Road bridge and the DTSO came to rest precariously hanging over the edge of the bridge. This happened on the evening of December the 11th 1988. The next day this unit 2417 was diagrammed to take the ill fated 06:14 Poole - Waterloo service. Instead a 12 coach electric unit was diagrammed with devastating results. Ironically 2417 is pictured leaving Clapham Junction with a service to Waterloo on September 11th 1992.
3132 departs Totton as 2418 arrives with a service to Waterloo on August 25th 1989.
2419 passes the now closed Totton goods Yard on August 25th 1989.
2422 leaving Poole with a service to Weymouth May 28th 1994.
2423 County of Surrey & 2424 Gerry Newson in Platform 1 at Poole
All Pictures unless otherwise stated on this web site have been photographed and are Copyright of Anthony Henley
and may not be used without prior permission from me.
© 2002 - 2007