On Friday 1 December, Bluebell Railway in Sussex launched an appeal to raise fifty thousand pounds to help bring 3417 back into mainline operation.
The unit has been under restoration since 2015, with the work sponsored by the Southern Electrical Traction Group (SETG).
The work had to pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, but since then, the SETG team has been working towards bringing 3417 back into traffic on preserved lines. It has nearly reached that goal, and is now preparing for an event in the New Year which will formally launch 3417 back into traffic.
The team now needs to raise a large amount of money to underwrite works including:
- fitting GSMR radio equipment and OTMR ‘Black Box' systems to both driving trailers;
- fitting anti-override components to the buckeye couplers;
- fitting Controlled Emission Toilet equipment to the unit; and
- preparing for the installation of Central Door Locking equipment to the unit.
This will mean that more than four decades after being built, 3417 will carry all the equipment needed for its return to the mainline, carrying passengers on the Southern Electric again.
Donations can be made via the appeal's GoFundMe site. Or, to donate with Gift Aid, please go to the Bluebell Railway Trust, select ‘Other' from the drop-down menu and write ‘VEP' in the box.
The ex BR coaches (around 200) imported to New Zealand were all MKll’s, not Mark111’s.
I am happy to see one of those back on the tracks 🙂. Well done 👍.
I remember these trains in the early 70’s on the mainline
Meanwhile in NZ …. the Wellington–Palmerston North line..+- 145 km, has re-refurbished its exBR Mk 3 fleet of 7? used on the one return trip 5x per week.
In addition, the perfectly comfortable, excellently lit, upholstered, power-point equipped ( 1 per px ) and tables! fleet of 14 or more late 1974 Mk 3 stock does the 4 x return trips , 100 km each, on the Wellington–Masterton line rounding out at 6 x per week. Plans are afoot to replace with some sort of hybrid battery trains, but don’t hold your breath–another round of earthquakes/hurricanes/ tropical deluges wreaking havoc will unbalance the $$ books again.
A superb project…..well done wonderful Bluebell.