Class 931 Tractor Unit no.081 at Stewarts Lane T&RSMD, Battersea.
Carrying the obsolete LASER (London & South East Railway) 'Jaffa Cake' livery tractor unit 081 (cars DB 977397+DB 977398) is seen in the sidings at Stewarts Lane Depot, Batteresa. This former class 411/3 4-car EMU set was originally set 7153 and was a prototype for refurbishment of the entire class 410 and 411 EMU fleets in the late 1970's. The unit was rebuilt in 1976 at Eastleigh Works and emerged with a totally modernised interior in total contrast to the other class members which largely resembled standard Mk1 hauled stock. It will always be remembered for its "1970's interior" which featured lots of Formica panels, fake wood veneer and lurid green seats with orange curtains in second class.
To conform to TOPS numbering it was renumbered from 7153 to 1500 in November 1985 (thus set 411 500). Overhaul of the rest of the fleet was subsequently carried out off region at Swindon BREL Works to a different standard with double glazing and hopper vent windows plus a different configuration within the brake coach. The Swindon rebuilds were designated class 411/4 or 411/5 dependent on their electrical status as either 1951 or 1957 stock. So 7153 or 1500 as it became was something of a 'one off'. Because of its non conformist nature it only lasted in traffic until January 1990 when it was withdrawn. With nothing mechanically wrong with the unit departmental service beckoned and the BR CM&EE department took it on as a 1000hp tractor unit. They renumbered it 081 in May 1990 (effectively 931 081 but in standard BR-SR practice just the set number and not the class was applied).
The 2-car unit was available to haul test coaches or de-icing trailers as required and often operated with sister tractor unit 080 which was 2 spare class 411/5 motor coaches rebuilt at Swindon from class 411/2 sets 7102 and 7130 which were both accident damage victims that had lost trailer cars. 081 could also be used as a depot pilot to shunt defective stock. It was withdrawn prior to privatisation and was broken up at M.C. Metals in Glasgow in January 1996.
Class 931 Tractor Unit no.081 at Stewarts Lane T&RSMD, Battersea.
Carrying the obsolete LASER (London & South East Railway) 'Jaffa Cake' livery tractor unit 081 (cars DB 977397+DB 977398) is seen in the sidings at Stewarts Lane Depot, Batteresa. This former class 411/3 4-car EMU set was originally set 7153 and was a prototype for refurbishment of the entire class 410 and 411 EMU fleets in the late 1970's. The unit was rebuilt in 1976 at Eastleigh Works and emerged with a totally modernised interior in total contrast to the other class members which largely resembled standard Mk1 hauled stock. It will always be remembered for its "1970's interior" which featured lots of Formica panels, fake wood veneer and lurid green seats with orange curtains in second class.
To conform to TOPS numbering it was renumbered from 7153 to 1500 in November 1985 (thus set 411 500). Overhaul of the rest of the fleet was subsequently carried out off region at Swindon BREL Works to a different standard with double glazing and hopper vent windows plus a different configuration within the brake coach. The Swindon rebuilds were designated class 411/4 or 411/5 dependent on their electrical status as either 1951 or 1957 stock. So 7153 or 1500 as it became was something of a 'one off'. Because of its non conformist nature it only lasted in traffic until January 1990 when it was withdrawn. With nothing mechanically wrong with the unit departmental service beckoned and the BR CM&EE department took it on as a 1000hp tractor unit. They renumbered it 081 in May 1990 (effectively 931 081 but in standard BR-SR practice just the set number and not the class was applied).
The 2-car unit was available to haul test coaches or de-icing trailers as required and often operated with sister tractor unit 080 which was 2 spare class 411/5 motor coaches rebuilt at Swindon from class 411/2 sets 7102 and 7130 which were both accident damage victims that had lost trailer cars. 081 could also be used as a depot pilot to shunt defective stock. It was withdrawn prior to privatisation and was broken up at M.C. Metals in Glasgow in January 1996.