Class 455 Preserved

Being of the North, these aren't units I know or have an affection for, but this seems like welcome news:

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/southern-electric-traction-group-saves-class-455

The stuff on FB/Insta etc make a big deal of it all being done in a very hush-hush way/

 

What fascinates me about this initiative, in common to some extent with the 4-VEP 3417 project, is that the proposed model almost has more in common with the 1980's/1990's "shed pet" EMU's (such as the Class 306) than 21st century unit preservation.

Having an EMU based at a mainline depot and looked after by staff predominantly drawn from the mainline railway rather than heritage lines, was said to have been killed off around the time of privatisation.

Given that EMU's (with an incredibly small number of exceptions) have done spectacularly badly in "traditional" preservation, I'm very hopeful and have my fingers crossed that whatever these guys have cooked up to work on the 2026 railway, as opposed to the 1996 one, is going to succeed. EMU preservation could do with a boost in this area!

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Good news that one has been saved, and looking at how well 3417 is looked after, it’s in very good hands.

I had always assumed that the blue/grey unit would be preserved. However I suppose it’s only a coat of paint, and the most important thing is getting one in good overall condition.

 

Also interesting they hope to buy another 455, and then use them for rail tours for raise funds for 3417. Is there really enough money in it to keep 2 EMUs on the mainline and also raising money to restore a third?

 

I wonder if two is actually more cost effective than 1? If a railtour has fixed costs and pathing limits, selling twice as many tickets for the same cost base may work better. Obviously there are non-fixed costs, but with a centrally-controlled door, OMO-fitted train, your staff requirements might not jump up much.

Also, the SE has two advantages, general affluence, and the high rail usage. You have a much better chance of finding people with a disposable income who have fond memories of using the things than you would for an equivalent unit in, eg, rural Wales.

I'd want to try to fit a toilet though, and possibly buffet provision (the two are very linked)

 

I can see running a small number of tours using residual life being effective for raising cash in the short term; I'm less sure about long term.

Railtours are more of an "interesting" question, especially with inner suburban units like these. I considered, briefly, trying to do one of the farewell runs (the 455s were the inner suburban units of my childhood), but the combination of stock, loos stops, and limited clearance didn't really cut it for me. Those tours were, however, considered successful despite the lack of facilities and I've done others in the past (a 313, the 306) that lasted all day and worked well.

 

Indeed, but building up a pot of cash now whilst the memories and interest is there seems a good idea.
Agree re loos; which is why I suggested fitting one. There are plenty of that generation of BREL MUs that did have loos, so something should be doable.
Once you have a loo you can serve food/drinks and open up a slightly different market

This is predicated on being able to afford the second unit and having warm storage on the juice and the infrastructure to run tours.