British Rail Class 488

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British Rail Class 488
8313 at London Victoria.jpg
A Class 488 coach at London Victoria in 2003
In service1973–present
Manufacturer BREL, Derby Litchurch Lane Works
Formation2-car (Class 488/2), 3-car (Class 488/3)
Operators Network Rail
Ministry of Defence
Specifications
Car length66 ft 1⁄2 in (20.13 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+1⁄4 in (3.89 m)
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)
Weight105 t (103 long tons; 116 short tons)
Bogies B5
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 488 are unpowered trailer sets, converted from Mark 2F coaches for the Gatwick Express service from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.

Contents

The sets were converted from conventional locomotive-hauled coaching stock in 1983–1984, and were used in combination with Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives and Class 489 luggage vans. Two variations were converted: 2-car sets (containing first class accommodation) and 3-car sets (containing standard class accommodation only). They are officially formed of two subclasses. The two-car units are classified as Class 488/2 and are numbered in the range 488201–488210 and the three-car sets are Class 488/3 and are numbered 488301–19.

Operations

After privatisation, the entire Class 488 fleet passed to the Gatwick Express franchise. One unit, 488301, was withdrawn before privatisation, following an accident at Battersea Park railway station in 1985.

Gatwick Express

Immediately after privatisation the Class 488 fleet was used exclusively on Gatwick Express trains. They were painted in the Gatwick Express variation of InterCity livery. Some sets were later reliveried with Continental Airlines advertisements, including units 488203/04/07/08/10, 488304/05/10/14/19.

From 2000 onwards, new trains in the form of Class 460 units were introduced to replace the old stock. By 2004 just six sets, formed into three 5-car rakes, were still in use with Gatwick Express. By January 2005 this had decreased to four sets. The sets were used sporadically during early 2005 but their use declined as the Class 460 reliability improved. Their final scheduled use was on 28 July following a special trip involving the two remaining Class 73 locomotives. They were replaced by two Class 458 units hired from South West Trains. They were used a few times after this date for emergency cover, but have now been withdrawn.

Network Rail

After retirement from Gatwick Express several sets were purchased by Network Rail for use as test trains or simply as brake-force runners. These sets have been repainted into either the now obsolete Railtrack blue/lime green livery or the new Network Rail yellow livery. Two sets, 8307 and 8309, have been reclassified as Class 910 departmental units and renumbered 910002 and 910001 respectively. In addition two coaches have been converted for departmental use with Network Rail:

Northern Ireland Railways

In 2001 eight carriages were sold to Northern Ireland Railways for further use as locomotive-hauled stock in combination with the 111 Class locomotive, and renumbered 8941 to 8948.

The NIR coaches were withdrawn on 19 January 2005, but were re-introduced in September 2006 to provide extra capacity on the Portadown to Belfast Central service, making one trip every morning. (Coaches 943+944 did not re-enter service and were used for parts). In 2009 the locomotives and coaches were due to be converted to push-pull operation following the purchase by NIR of a DBSO last used by National Express East Anglia. However, this never happened and the entire fleet was withdrawn on 18 June 2009.

Ministry of Defence

Preservation

Several complete sets have been preserved. These are listed below.

In addition, 72641 is preserved at Dalton and 72707 the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. Ian Welch of the Mainline Steam Trust in New Zealand has purchased a number of ex-BR MkII cars formerly used on this service. Three cars comprising set 488313 (TSOLH 72624 and 72625, TSOL 72172) and a further two from 488209 (TFOH 72508 and TSOH 72644) arrived in New Zealand in 2008, still bearing the Intercity livery with 'Gatwick Express' branding. Most of the cars are in interim storage at Hutt Workshops in Wellington, while others have been trucked to the MLST Wellington base at Plimmerton.

These cars at present have not been equipped with bogies, and are transferred from Hutt to MLST Wellington by road. They will be fitted with either x-28020 bogies ex-FM guard's vans, or x-27750 'Kinki' bogies ex-FS steam-heating vans as part of the overhaul to bring them up to code-compliance for operation in New Zealand. Unlike most MkII cars in New Zealand, they are receiving only minor modifications to allow them to run in New Zealand, and will receive new numbers. They will also receive new names as well as the new MLST MkII livery of Pearl Grey roof with Midnight Blue body and white window band.

The ex-NIR carriages are now owned by RPSI, and currently in storage until they can join the RPSI's existing Mk2 fleet sometime in 2019.

Fleet status

Key:In serviceWithdrawnPreservedDepartmental UseFurther UseScrapped


Class 488/2

Unit No.Vehicle NumbersLiveryOperatorWithdrawnStatus
TFOHTSOH
48820172500ex 341372638ex 6068Gatwick ExpressCotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48820272501ex 338272617ex 6086Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48820372502ex 332172640ex 6097Gatwick Express (Advertising)Network Rail2002Scrapped, 72640 scrapped 2007. [1]
48820472503ex 340772641ex 6079Gatwick Express (Advertising)Network Rail200272503 departmental service, 72641 preserved. [2]
48820572504ex 340672628ex 6058Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Scrapped (2003)
48820672505ex 341572629ex 6048Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48820772506ex 333572642ex 6076Gatwick Express (Advertising)Cotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48820872507ex 341272643ex 6040Gatwick Express (Advertising)GB Railfreight2002Sent for Scrap 29/04/09
48820972508ex 340972644ex 6039Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2004Sold to New Zealand-based Mainline Steam Trust
48821072509ex 339872635ex 6128Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Sold to MoD for use at Marchwood Military Port. For sale. [3]


Class 488/3

Unit No.Vehicle NumbersLiveryOperatorWithdrawnStatus
TSOLHTSOLTSOLH
48830172600ex-612572700ex-613172601ex-6133InterCityBritish Rail1985Scrapped (1987)
48830272602ex 613072701ex 608872604ex 6087Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2003Scrapped (2003)
48830372603ex 609372702ex 609972608ex 6077Gatwick ExpressNetwork Rail2002Scrapped, 72603 scrapped 2007 and 72608 2009. [4] [5]
48830472606ex 608472703ex 607572611ex 6083Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Scrapped (2010). [6] [7] [8]
48830572605ex 608272704ex 613272609ex 6080Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland Railways2009Preserved
48830672607ex 602072705ex 603272610ex 6074Gatwick ExpressCotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48830772612ex 615672706ex 614372613ex 6126Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail2004Renumbered 910002, 72706 scrapped 2006. [9]
48830872614ex 609072707ex 612772615ex 5938Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail-In service, 72614 scrapped 2014, [10] 72707 preserved. [11]
48830972616ex 600772708ex 609572639ex 6070Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail2004Renumbered 910001, 72708 scrapped 2008. [12]
48831072618ex 604472709ex 598272619ex 5909Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Scrapped (2012). [13] [14] [15]
48831172620ex 614072710ex 600372621ex 6108Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48831272622ex 600472711ex 610972623ex 6118Gatwick ExpressGB Railfreight2002Sent for scrap 29/04/09
48831372624ex 597272712ex 609172625ex 6085Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2004Sold to New Zealand-based Mainline Steam Trust
48831472626ex 601772713ex 602372627ex 5974Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland Railways2009Preserved
48831572636ex 607172714ex 609272645ex 5942Gatwick ExpressGB Railfreight2002Sent for scrap 29/04/09
48831672630ex 609472715ex 601972631ex 6096Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail-In service
48831772632ex 607272716ex 611472633ex 6129Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2003Sent for scrap
48831872634ex 608972717ex 606972637ex 6098Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland Railways2009Preserved
48831972646ex 607872718ex 597972647ex 6081Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland Railways2009Preserved

References

  1. ↑ "72640 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  2. ↑ "BR 6079 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open later Class 488/2 built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "BR 6128 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open built 1974". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "72603 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  5. ↑ "BR 6077 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "BR 6075 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "BR 6083 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "BR 6084 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "72706 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  10. ↑ "72614 - « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  11. ↑ "BR 6127 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open built 1974". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "72708". departmentals.com.
  13. ↑ "BR 5909 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "BR 5982 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "BR 6044 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
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