PEP prototype?

[Richard Scott]

I know this is a photo of two 73s (138 and 130) at Clapham Junction but in background is what appears to be a prototype PEP unit. I know photo isn't great quality as it's a photo of a photo but can anyone confirm what unit is likely to be, please? Date is 28/3/89.
Any information greatly appreciated.

 

[EnriqueEspaña]

Looks like one of the sprinter prototypes to me, class 151 maybe?

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

It is a PEP, departmental unit 057 (formerly 4002), stored in Clapham yard from 1983 to 1990.
Details in the link below from the Blood and Custard website

BloodandCustard - Pack 'Em Perpendicular 4 PEP

 

[33017]

That’s former 4 PEP unit 4002, which was stored at Clapham Jn from 1983 until 1990. It was officially departmental unit 057 but never carried the number.

 

[Richard Scott]

Thanks both.

 

[4SubAsociation]

The photo of the two Class 73 in intercity revisied is really rare as there was only 4 done. 73130, 73138, 73201 and 73205 where the 4 in this livery.

 

[Richard Scott]

The photo of the two Class 73 in intercity revisied is really rare as there was only 4 done. 73130, 73138, 73201 and 73205 where the 4 in this livery.

Hadn't realised that, thanks for info.

 

[Rover]

That’s former 4 PEP unit 4002.

It certainly is.
(Photo of 4002 in the sidings at Clapham Junction in 1987 that's seen better days)

 

[Helvellyn]

I know this is a photo of two 73s (138 and 130) at Clapham Junction but in background is what appears to be a prototype PEP unit. I know photo isn't great quality as it's a photo of a photo but can anyone confirm what unit is likely to be, please? Date is 28/3/89.
Any information greatly appreciated.

What was the building between the PEP and the Class 73 hauled set, and when was it demolished, because that's all just open sidings these days on that side.

 

[sh24]

Did the PEP ever move during that period? I can remember seeing it many times from 83-90 but zero recollection of it being used for anything.

 

[Mr. SW]

I rode the PEP in Southwestern Land. This would be about 1976 or so, and it was all blue. Smoother than the SUBs and EPBs.

 

[Acathater]

I dunno what everyone else is looking at, but the 2-car unit to the left of the shed looks like the bare aluminium finished 2-PEP 2001
It was parked up seemingly unmoving for years in the 1970s and 80s somewhere alongside the LSWR main line, Wimbledon carriage sidings maybe?
The two blue painted 4-car units got used, but the 2-car unit seemed to be a bit irrelevant at the time

 

[Big Jumby 74]

What was the building between the PEP and the Class 73 hauled set, and when was it demolished

The shed with the three roundels was the carriage repair shop, the right hand road having three short pits within the shed. Can't remember when it was demolished, but it would have outlived loco hauled working. If you check google earth the rails of those three roads (within the shed as was) are still visible buried in the concrete today, loads of white transit vans etc parked in the area.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2026 ==

I dunno what everyone else is looking at, but the 2-car unit to the left of the shed looks like the bare aluminium finished 2-PEP 2001

4002 as per the image by Rover above, which I can confirm from first hand myself from the time in question. By then the 2 car was up at Shields road depot. (late 1987) the 2 car had been scrapped, having languished at Derby research for ages.
(Source ref 2001: Bloodandcustard web)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2026 ==

Did the PEP ever move during that period?

No. It was just stored there, as it was taking up valuable space at Wimbledon depot.

 

[33017]

Did the PEP ever move during that period? I can remember seeing it many times from 83-90 but zero recollection of it being used for anything.

According to Blood & Custard, it was last used in March 1981. Following 2 years in storage at Wimbledon, it moved to Clapham Jn on 22/02/83, staying there until 05/06/90 when in moved to Strawberry Hill for stripping.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

it moved to Clapham Jn on 22/02/83

Made a point of watching it depart Wimbledon depot. The planned move was out via Earlsfield and Up the Main Fast, but it only got as far as the Earlsfield shunt cabin in the depot before heading back through to the Top Yard, and eventually departing via East Putney.

 

[Snow1964]

I am trying to work out what the unit is on the left, looks like a DMU but might be an inspection train.

The main photo looks like one of the last Bournemouth line transition sets, when the REPs had gone to provide traction equipment for 442s. Pairs of 73s with two 4TCs (and sometimes reformed with a buffet car too)

 

[LowLevel]

I am trying to work out what the unit is on the left, looks like a DMU but might be an inspection train.

The main photo looks like one of the last Bournemouth line transition sets, when the REPs had gone to provide traction equipment for 442s. Pairs of 73s with two 4TCs (and sometimes reformed with a buffet car too)

It's an LMS pattern (but often BR built) inspection saloon, I think.

 

[eastwestdivide]

It's an LMS pattern (but often BR built) inspection saloon, I think.

There was often an inspection/route learning saloon parked there

 

[Big Jumby 74]

It's an LMS pattern (but often BR built) inspection saloon, I think.

There was often an inspection/route learning saloon parked there

Correct. Probably TDM 395280, ex Stanier Kitchen car M30106M.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Correct. Probably TDM 395280, ex Stanier Kitchen car M30106M.

Yes, 395280 would be the one. The older picture here shows it with 33 020 on 19/08/81 while the picture of the vehicle itself in close up is at 08.31 on 13/01/90.

 

[nlogax]

Did the PEP ever move during that period? I can remember seeing it many times from 83-90 but zero recollection of it being used for anything.

It was my favourite part of waiting around CJ for connecting trains during the end of the 1980s. The permanently stranded PEP always filled me with curiosity, but I was young and had no understanding that it was the genesis for what felt like the weird, out-of-place carriages on the 455/7s I was hopping on and off at the time.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Here's 4002 again in summer 1983, carefully positioned in the background of one of my photos:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Here's 4002 again in summer 1983, carefully positioned in the background of one of my photos:

...and I see you've captured it with 50 041, which that autumn turned over in a derailment at Paddington...

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

I dunno what everyone else is looking at, but the 2-car unit to the left of the shed looks like the bare aluminium finished 2-PEP 2001

As per the Blood and Custard site that I linked above, the set had silver car 64305 from unit 2001 substituted for blue -painted car 64303 before entering departmental use in 1977.

 

[33017]

As per the Blood and Custard site that I linked above, the set had silver car 64305 from unit 2001 substituted for blue -painted car 64303 before entering departmental use in 1977.

Blood & Custard also says the whole unit got painted in a variation of the APT livery in October 1978. Regardless of that, the four vehicles of 4002 were the only ones to exist beyond 1987.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Yes, 395280 would be the one. The older picture here shows it with 33 020 on 19/08/81

It was still in all blue in the summer of 83 when it formed a backdrop to a pic I took of 4002.

 

[SargeNpton]

One of the PEPs hiding in the shadows at Waterloo on 1st July 1976...

 

[WesternLancer]

One of the PEPs hiding in the shadows at Waterloo on 1st July 1976...

against the image of the trains behind it - to me, it really does look like something has landed from the future... it's a great image in that regard

 

[Bletchleyite]

The odd front end certainly has a futuristic look to it, but in the end a much more conventional one was applied to the production units. Though sliding doors probably looked space age!

 

[Rover]

What was the purpose of the connecting door was it just for staff, the distance between two sets when coupled up looks quite a gap?