- Class: Class 423 ‘4 VEP’
- Type: 4 Vep (Class 423) 4-car Electric Multiple Unit
- Built: 1967, BREL York (62236 built in 1969)
- Unit No: 3417 (423 417), previously 7717, 3017
- Vehicle Nos: DTCsoL 76262, MBSO 62236, TSO 70797 & DTCsoL 76263
- Arrived On Bluebell Railway: 17 January 2009
- Current Status: In the care of The Southern Electric Traction Group (SETG). Operational, for occasional use at events on Heritage lines, with the long-term aim of being able to carry passengers on main-line tours.
- Owned By: Bluebell Railway plc
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3417 was formally handed over by South West Trains to the Bluebell Railway on Saturday 17 January 2009 at a ceremony at East Grinstead.
The unit remains in Bluebell Railway ownership, but since May 2012 has been in the care of The Southern Electric Traction Group. This was founded in 2009 by staff members of South West Trains based at Wimbledon Park depot. A long-term loan agreement exists with the Bluebell Railway for SETG to provide specialist operational and technical knowledge to ensure the long-term future of 4 Vep No. 3417, with the eventual aim being to return the unit to mainline operation. The unit is currently based at Strawberry Hill Depot, and maintained such that it can be hauled over the network to participate in events on heritage lines. The latest news on 3417 may be found on SETG’s news page, Facebook and Twitter.
→ Find out more
→ The Southern Electric Traction Group (SETG)
→ SETG Facebook
→ SETG Twitter
