Class 423/1 '4-VEP' no.3471 at Maidstone East. 1996.
The refurbishment programme started in 1988 to update the 4-VEP EMU's was a long drawn out affair driven by the fact BR had no spare stock so units were rebuilt on a largely one in and one out of works basis so the overhaul programme took seven years to complete. The units gained new lighting and a public address system but the biggest change was to the Motor Coach which was almost 50% guards brake and luggage/parcels van on the original sets. The refurbished sets saw the brake van area reduced by half with additional seating bays. To speed up overhauls BR had several motor coaches from disbanded sets and seeing as these vehicles took longest in works most sets ended up with motor coaches from other units after overhaul.
Set 3471 seen here was outshopped from Eastleigh Works after its mid life refurbishment in April 1989 and comprised vehicles from class 423/0 set 3084 and the motor coach from 3108. The unit is standing at Maidstone East while working train 1N62 the 10.50 Ramsgate to London Charing Cross.
Class 423/1 '4-VEP' no.3471 at Maidstone East. 1996.
The refurbishment programme started in 1988 to update the 4-VEP EMU's was a long drawn out affair driven by the fact BR had no spare stock so units were rebuilt on a largely one in and one out of works basis so the overhaul programme took seven years to complete. The units gained new lighting and a public address system but the biggest change was to the Motor Coach which was almost 50% guards brake and luggage/parcels van on the original sets. The refurbished sets saw the brake van area reduced by half with additional seating bays. To speed up overhauls BR had several motor coaches from disbanded sets and seeing as these vehicles took longest in works most sets ended up with motor coaches from other units after overhaul.
Set 3471 seen here was outshopped from Eastleigh Works after its mid life refurbishment in April 1989 and comprised vehicles from class 423/0 set 3084 and the motor coach from 3108. The unit is standing at Maidstone East while working train 1N62 the 10.50 Ramsgate to London Charing Cross.