About 3CIG 1498
Our CIG is one of the "Phase 2" units, which entered service in 1960s. It was previously numbered 1888, 1223, then 7423. The unit was originally a 4 coach electric unit, and entered BR service in the corporate blue & grey livery.
The unit became famous as one of the last "slam door" EMUs in mainline service, seeing out its final days on the Lymington Branch, gaining the nick-name of "Lymmy Slammers".
South West Trains considered that due to the self contained nature of the Lymington branch it would be more cost effective to continue Mk 1 operation. On this basis SWT bought and refurbished two British Rail 4CIGs / Class 421 units to exclusively operate services on the line. Work carried out on the units included the fitting of central door locking and other safety features to allow them to remain in service beyond the November 2005 deadline for the withdrawal of slam-door stock and the reduction of the original 4 carriage units to 3 carriages (3CIG) to address the extreme height difference between the train and the platform at Lymington Town.
Our 3CIG carries the BR green livery with the painting diagram devised by WS Atkins. The unit was numbered 1498 and officially named Farringford at a ceremony at Brockenhurst railway station on May 12, 2005. The "heritage" service commenced on 12 May 2005 and an exemption was obtained to enable the use of the 3CIG units until 2013, at which point they were estimated to be life expired.
However, in Summer 2009 South West Trains announced plans to replace the heritage EMUs with more modern units. This change took place on the 23 May 2010, with the final 3CIG service departing from Lymington Pier on the 22 May 2010 at 22:14 and arriving at Brockenhurst at 22:24.
Epping Ongar Railway were delighted to have the opportunity to preserve this unit, and have used this on the branch as loco hauled stock using diesel locomotives.
Sadly, its use is limited as the light and heating equipment require third rail power. As a result, the unit went up for sale in February 2014
The unit became famous as one of the last "slam door" EMUs in mainline service, seeing out its final days on the Lymington Branch, gaining the nick-name of "Lymmy Slammers".
South West Trains considered that due to the self contained nature of the Lymington branch it would be more cost effective to continue Mk 1 operation. On this basis SWT bought and refurbished two British Rail 4CIGs / Class 421 units to exclusively operate services on the line. Work carried out on the units included the fitting of central door locking and other safety features to allow them to remain in service beyond the November 2005 deadline for the withdrawal of slam-door stock and the reduction of the original 4 carriage units to 3 carriages (3CIG) to address the extreme height difference between the train and the platform at Lymington Town.
Our 3CIG carries the BR green livery with the painting diagram devised by WS Atkins. The unit was numbered 1498 and officially named Farringford at a ceremony at Brockenhurst railway station on May 12, 2005. The "heritage" service commenced on 12 May 2005 and an exemption was obtained to enable the use of the 3CIG units until 2013, at which point they were estimated to be life expired.
However, in Summer 2009 South West Trains announced plans to replace the heritage EMUs with more modern units. This change took place on the 23 May 2010, with the final 3CIG service departing from Lymington Pier on the 22 May 2010 at 22:14 and arriving at Brockenhurst at 22:24.
Epping Ongar Railway were delighted to have the opportunity to preserve this unit, and have used this on the branch as loco hauled stock using diesel locomotives.
Sadly, its use is limited as the light and heating equipment require third rail power. As a result, the unit went up for sale in February 2014
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• Network South East
Commuter Project
Commuter Project