EMU preservation

[4SubAsociation]

313 121 has, however, been preserved anyway - in Fife, as of last week.

I was waiting until it was made official. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/historic-test-train-gets-new-lease-of-life-in-fife

 

[WAO]

I was pleased to see the generally positive noises about preserving a 455 and also PEP derived units. It should be noted that the 455's are just dc versions of the Mark 3 derived units from 317's onwards (but originally with SR traction!). Hopefully, representative samples of the various vehicles will survive, with complete units possible.

What EMU preservation does need is support from the fit, capable and monied. It also needs a secure base as previous attempts at preservation have foundered on site owners' rent demands etc. The SERA scheme was based originally on the idea of a preserved EMU Leaseco but the Coventry site had unexpectedly to be acquired and run. This took time and was increasingly successful, with a HRA small sites prize in the 2010's. Unfortunatley an unsympathetic Council decided to redevelop without compensation, leading to a costly immediate "Dunkirk" evacuation.

I hope that there will be both effort and money forthcoming for the wider EMU cause from those advocating more preservation.

The HETT/503 is in much better condition than was the 502, which needed much new bodywork.

Mainline use is largely for high cost luxury tours; you can't dine well in a SUB! EMU's must look to the IPEMU pricinple for operation on preserved lines.

WAO

 

[8A Rail]

I have heard rumours of a 507 unit possibly going to a museum in Liverpool (please correct me if I'm wrong) but the thought of preserving a 507 was merely an idea of mine. I fear that the 503 unit will go down the path of the last remaining 506 unit, if it can't find a home but we can only hope for the best. Again, money, time and locations are a big hurdle in the preservation of EMUs.or even further afield as there is no suitable location

Well the rumours are incorrect, as there is no suitable location in Liverpool or nearby let alone a Museum. The National Museums of Liverpool (Life or World) don't have any space in the existing Museums as well as no space in the large Storage Warehouse they have which includes former MDHB (1904) 0-6-ST No 1 and Mersey Railway (1892) 0-6-4 No 5 'Cecil Raikes' which still needs cosmetically restoring and that is more worthy than a Class 507 unit. Currently on display is a Liverpool Overhead Railway Coach as well as ex L&M (1837) loco 0-4-2 'Lion' which are both at the 'Liverpool of Life' Museum.

There was talk of a Class 507 / 8 unit being part of a new Dock Branch Park in Birkenhead (see: https://www.wirral.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/major-projects/dock-branch-park-green-corridor) but nothing more appears to happen, regarding the 'park' let alone a Unit being part of it (which would be outside anyway). Given its Wirral Borough Council is involved, their track record is not brilliant, look what ultimately happened to the Class 503 unit and at least the former Class 03 shunter found a new home at the Llangollen Railway. There is also Wirral Transport Museum & Heritage Tramway (see: https://wirraltransportmuseum.business.site/) which has been closed since April, although may reopen in October but there is no space there and mainly concentrates on former Trams too.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I hope that there will be both effort and money forthcoming for the wider EMU cause from those advocating more preservation.

Which of the two are you offering, for the record?

 

[WAO]

Would 25 years of both satisfy you?

WAO

 

[4SubAsociation]

I was pleased to see the generally positive noises about preserving a 455 and also PEP derived units. It should be noted that the 455's are just dc versions of the Mark 3 derived units from 317's onwards (but originally with SR traction!). Hopefully, representative samples of the various vehicles will survive, with complete units possible.

What EMU preservation does need is support from the fit, capable and monied. It also needs a secure base as previous attempts at preservation have foundered on site owners' rent demands etc. The SERA scheme was based originally on the idea of a preserved EMU Leaseco but the Coventry site had unexpectedly to be acquired and run. This took time and was increasingly successful, with a HRA small sites prize in the 2010's. Unfortunatley an unsympathetic Council decided to redevelop without compensation, leading to a costly immediate "Dunkirk" evacuation.

I hope that there will be both effort and money forthcoming for the wider EMU cause from those advocating more preservation.

The HETT/503 is in much better condition than was the 502, which needed much new bodywork.

Mainline use is largely for high cost luxury tours; you can't dine well in a SUB! EMU's must look to the IPEMU pricinple for operation on preserved lines.

WAO

One of the 503 carriages is worse than the 502 carriages. Mainly due to the windows are missing and interior missing too. Another issue is there is no spares for the unit. So anything missing would need to be recreated. With the 502 i am not sure if there was much missing but the condition of the body work did not look good when they started.

I have been involved in EMU preservation since 2016, albeit not with the SUB at 1st. The last 4 years i have been the sales officer for the SUB. With occasional help on the 457 (sourcing parts and reinstating some of them) and the odd bit of help with other EMUs (4cor at EKR and 2EPB 6307)