British Rail Class 421 - Preservation

Preservation

So far seven units have been preserved. In addition numerous buffet cars from 4Big units have also been preserved. The full list is shown below, with complete units highlighted:

• 'Phase 1' unit 1753 has been preserved by the Network SouthEast Railway Society and is stored at a Ellough Airfield, near Beccles, Suffolk. This is a private location, visits by arrangement only.
• 'Phase 2' unit 1881 was purchased by Knights Rail Services Ltd and moved from MOD Shoeburyness to Eastleigh Works in June 2007 along with "Greyhound" unit 1304 and a hybrid Cig/Vep unit comprising vehicles from units 1884 and 3536. Unit 1881 was intended for heritage/excursion traffic on the main line. The unit was successfully powered up at the Works in October 2008, becoming the first preserved EMU to draw third rail power in recent times. The unit was sold to a group of preservationists working on restoring a Brighton Belle train and unit 1881 has had all usable components removed at Barrow Hill and awaits scrapping.
• 'Phase 2' "Greyhound" unit 1399, also a former 4Big unit, was preserved on the Dartmoor Railway. It was rescued from there by 'Save the Cigs' (see http://www.savethecigs.org.uk ) and three vehicles were transferred in June 2008 to a secure home on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway where restoration is now under way. (One of this unit's driving trailers, 76747, was displayed along with the prototype "Networker Classic" coach to provide an opportunity for comparison.)
• 4Cig unit 1392 and 3Cig unit 1499 are preserved at the Dean Forest Railway. The latter was previously dedicated to services on the Lymington Branch Line. Both are in need of work as vandals have been busy.
• It was hoped that unit 1705 (formerly 7301), the first-built unit, would be preserved by Southern, for use on special excursion trains. Unfortunately its poor condition precluded this and it was eventually scrapped.
• South West Trains has retained two 'Phase 2' 3Cig units after their withdrawal and replacement on the Lymington branch.
• 14 February 2008. TSO vehicle 71085 from 1884 was delivered from store at Shoeburyness to Deptford, where it has become a café.
• 3Cig unit 1497 is preserved on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, arriving on 28 September 2010. The unit was delivered by rail, coupled to 73201 and driven to Dereham in push-pull mode.