British Rail Class 411

British Rail Class 411
File:1586 at London Victoria.jpg Class 411 4 Cep no. 1586, about to depart London Victoria on 18 March 2003, with a service to Ramsgate. The unit was painted in the old Network SouthEast livery, and was operated by Connex South Eastern (later South Eastern Trains). This was the unit's last train before being withdrawn from traffic later the same day. It has since been scrapped.
In service	1956–2005
Manufacturer	BR Eastleigh
Number built	135 trainsets
Formation	power car + 2 trailer cars + power car
Operator	British Rail, South West Trains, Connex South Central, South Eastern Trains
Specifications
Car length	Category:Aldwych Branch The Short Streach Of Line Between Holborn And Aldwych Was Closed In 1994.The Line Was Due To be extended to Waterloo but never was.There will be a bit of Aldwych In My Website when added
Width	Category:Aldwych Branch The Short Streach Of Line Between Holborn And Aldwych Was Closed In 1994.The Line Was Due To be extended to Waterloo but never was.There will be a bit of Aldwych In My Website when added
Height	Category:Aldwych Branch The Short Streach Of Line Between Holborn And Aldwych Was Closed In 1994.The Line Was Due To be extended to Waterloo but never was.There will be a bit of Aldwych In My Website when added
Maximum speed	90 mph (Template:Convert/outsep)
Weight	Total - Template:Convert/t
Power output	4 x Template:Convert/hp traction motors total Template:Convert/hp
Electric system(s)	750V dc third rail

The British Rail Class 411 (or 4 Cep) electrical multiple units were built at Eastleigh works from 1956-63 for the newly electrified main lines in Kent. These units were based on the earlier Southern Railway 4 Cor design, built in 1937. Variants of the class 411 design included the class 410 and class 412 4 Bep units, which contained a buffet car in place of a standard trailer. They were later used on services in Sussex and Hampshire; following the privatisation of British Rail in 1995, the units were used by the Connex South Central, Connex South Eastern and South West Trains franchises. They were replaced by Juniper and Electrostar units. The fleet's lifespan was 49 years. These units are the longest-lived BR Mark 1 EMUs.

Description

A total of 133 units were built, as two different types. The majority of units were 'standard' passenger-only units, complemented by units containing a buffet car.

Standard units

The standard units contained passenger seating only, and formed the backbone of the new fleet. 111 units were built in several batches, initially numbered in the range 7101-7211. Units 7101-7104 were the prototype units, and were followed by 'Phase 1' units (7105-7153) and subsequently 'Phase 2' units (7154-7211).

Units were formed of two outer driving motors cars with 2nd class (later Standard Class) seating in open saloons, sandwiching two intermediate trailer cars - one a corridor second and the other a First/Second corridor composite.

4 Bep units

The 4 Bep units were similar to the standard units, but contained a buffet car in place of the second class open trailer. 22 units were built, initially numbered in the range 7001-7022. The first two units (7001-7002) were prototypes, and were followed by 'Phase 1' units (7003-7012) and 'Phase 2' (7013-7022).

The 4 Bep fleet were classified as Class 410 by British Rail under the new computer numbering system introduced in 1968.

Vehicle numbering

The numbering of individual vehicles and details of when units were built are shown in the table below.

Phase	Type	Unit Nos.	Years Built	DMBSO	TCK	TSK (*TRB)	DMBSO
Prototypes	4 Cep	7101-7104	1956	61033-61039 (odd)	70037-70040	70033-70036	61034-61040 (even)
	4 Bep	7001-7002	1957	61041-61043 (odd)	70041-70042	69000-69001*	61042-61044 (even)
Phase 1	4 Cep	7105-7110	1958	61229-61239 (odd)	70235-70240	70229-70234	61230-61240 (even)
		7111-7153	1958-59	61304-61388 (even)	70303-70345	70260-70302	61305-61389 (odd)
	4 Bep	7003-7012	1958-59	61390-61408 (even)	70346-70355	69002-69011*	61391-61409 (odd)
Phase 2	4 Cep	7154-7202	1960-61	61694-61790 (even)	70552-70600	70503-70551	61695-61791 (odd)
		7203-7204	1961	61868-61870 (even)	70043-70044	70241-70242	61869-61871 (odd)
		7205-7211	1963	61948-61960 (even)	70653-70659	70660-70666	61949-61961 (odd)
	4 Bep	7013-7022	1961	61792-61810 (even)	70601-70610	69012-69021*	61793-61811 (odd)

Refurbishment

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, British Rail recognised that the 4 Cep fleet was in need of refurbishment. This was carried out at BR's Swindon Works. Refurbishment included moving the guard's compartment from both the motor cars to one of the intermediate trailers. Many of the 4BEP fleet were converted to standard units, since the requirement for buffet cars had declined.

The first refurbished unit was no. 7153, which was later renumbered to 1500. This unit was experimentally refurbished in 1975 at Eastleigh Works. Following evaluation, the contract for the refurbishment of the rest of the fleet was awarded to BR's Swindon Works. Subsequent refurbished standard units were renumbered in the range 1501–1621, and reclassified as Class 411/5. Only seven 4 Bep units were retained and refurbished, being renumbered in the range 2301–2307, and reclassified as Class 412/0. The remaining 4BEP units were converted into 4CEP units by replacing the buffet car with a standard trailer converted from conventional locomotive-hauled coaching stock.

4 Tep units

Between 1983 and 1986, several 4 Big units required extensive refurbishment. To cover their workings, four temporary 4 Tep units were created, formed of three carriages from a refurbished CEP unit, with an unrefurbished buffet car from a BEP unit. The units were renumbered in the range 2701–2704. They were based at Brighton depot and operated mostly on the London to Hastings line. The units were disbanded by 1986, once the refurbishment programme was complete, and were reformed as standard 4 CEP units. The unrefurbished buffet carriages were scrapped.

Unit formation are given below:

Unit No.			Vehicle Nos.
New 4 Tep	Ex. 4 Cep	Ex. 4 Bep	DMSO	TBC	TSRB	DMSO
2701	1556 (ex-7144)	7011	61371	70336	69010	61370
2702	1557 (ex-7127)	7022	61337	70331	69021	61360
2703	1560 (ex-7152)	7021	61387	70344	69020	61386
2704	1558 (ex-7139)	7018	61361	70319	69017	61336

Final operations

After rail privatisation in the mid-1990s, the different divisions of British Rail were divided up into different franchises. The three former SR division; South-Eastern, South Central and South-Western; all operated 4 Cep units, and are dealt with separately here.

Connex South Central

The South Central (SC) division, operated as Connex South Central, briefly operated 4 Cep units in the period 1995–1998. Three standard units were converted to Class 411/6 by fitting them with high-speed Mk.6 motor bogies and B5(SR) trailer bogies, the combination giving an exceptionally smooth ride; this was a project sponsored by the Porterbrook train leasing company. These units were renumbered into the series 1697–1699. They were allocated to Brighton and the 12 car set normally made just one return journey per day on London Bridge to Brighton express services, which meant that the vehicles were in excellent condition. However, as the units were non-standard in the SC fleet, they were withdrawn and transferred to South West Trains.

South Eastern Trains

The South Eastern (SE) division inherited the largest fleet of 4 Cep units. The franchise was originally operated by Connex as Connex South Eastern, but after Connex lost the franchise it became South Eastern Trains. In 1996, when the franchise was awarded, a fleet of 85 standard units were in traffic. Many of these were quickly withdrawn from traffic, or transferred to the SW division. In early 1999, five units were converted to Class 411/9 3CEP units, with the removal of the second class open trailer. These removed trailers had not had so much work carried out on them at the time of refurbishment (as they were basically unchanged apart from cosmetic appearance and installation of hopper windows) and many had become severely corroded. This was necessary, as some stations could only accommodate 11 carriages. A further 13 units were later converted. The 3 Cep units were renumbered into the series 1101–1118.

The Connex fleet contained two 'celebrity' units. The first, no. 1592, was repainted by staff at Ramsgate depot into its original Green livery, to commemorate the final months in traffic for these units. The second, no. 1602, was the only 4 Cep unit repainted into Connex livery, after it received derailment damage outside London Bridge station, and had to be repaired at Eastleigh works. Both of these units were popular with railtours and excursion trains.

Withdrawal of units started in 1999, after they were replaced by new Class 375 'Electrostar' units. The original aim was to totally replace the 4 Cep fleet by 2000. However, poor reliability of the new units saw the 4 Cep's retained beyond this date. By the end of 2002, the fleet was again being reduced, with many standard units being sent to Immingham for scrap. The 3 Cep units were all withdrawn by March 2003, as units in traffic beyond this date had to be fitted with TPWS equipment. In the event, only seven units, nos. 1562, 1590, 1592, 1593, 1594, 1602 and 1615 were retained. These became known to enthusiasts as the "Magnificent 7".

By the beginning of 2004, the seven units were withdrawn as they were due overhaul. They were replaced with units cascaded from South West Trains, which included the three Class 411/6 units. However, these units were themselves slowly retired, and it was expected the final units would have been withdrawn from service before the end of 2004. However, the Class 411/6 units were eventually withdrawn in July 2005, following the introduction of refurbished Class 465/9 "Networkers". Units 1697 and 1699 were sent for scrap, but 1698 was retained for working railtours. Due to a unit shortage It was later reinstated in August 2005, and remained in traffic until late September. It was one of three units to work a Ramsgate to Weymouth railtour, the others being 4 Cig 1866 and 4Vep 3545. Following this, it was quickly despatched for scrap.

South West Trains

The South West (SW) division franchise was won by the Stagecoach Group and was operated as South West Trains (SWT). SWT did not inherit any standard 4 Cep units, but it did operate the seven 4 Bep units. However, in 1996, a shortage of trains led to SWT hiring two sets (nos. 1568 and 1589) on a short-term lease. These units were quickly followed by more, until by 1998, SWT had a fleet of 29 standard 4 Cep units. These were gradually overhauled, and were employed on a range of duties, including services to Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth. Additionally, units commonly worked services on the Lymington branch.

The fleet stayed reasonably static until 2002, when SWT reformed several sets. The buffet cars from the 4 Bep units were inserted into seven standard units, which were renumbered 2321–2327 (reclassified as Class 412/2). The displaced carriages were inserted into the 4 Bep units, which were renumbered 2311–2317 (reclassified as Class 412/1). The reason behind this was that the 4 Bep units had faster acceleration, and the buffet cars were no longer used. Therefore the reformations allowed a higher seating capacity in the faster units.

By 2003, SWT had ordered new trains, to replace all its slam-door trains. These were designated Class 444 for express trains and Class 450 for suburban trains. The first units to be replaced were the units in the 232x series, which were due for early withdrawal. Of the seven sets, one, set no. 2323, was withdrawn in 2002 due to fire damage, but was later converted back to a standard unit. Another, set no. 2326, was reduced to a 3 Cep, for operating the "Lymington Flyer" service on the Lymington branch, and was renumbered 1199. The remaining five units lasted until December 2003, when they were withdrawn. One, set no. 2325 was preserved, whilst the rest were scrapped.

The standard units lasted until early-2004, when they were either withdrawn and scrapped, or transferred to South Eastern Trains. One of the 4 Bep units, no. 2314, was converted into a 3CEP to replace no. 1199, and was renumbered 1198. Of the remaining six 4 Bep units, four were withdrawn in October 2004, leaving just two units remaining in traffic into 2005. The 3 Cep unit, no. 1198, was withdrawn at the end of December 2004, and was preserved by the EMU Preservation Society on the Dartmoor Railway before moving in 2008 to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. A replacement came in the form of 3Cig unit no. 1499. The final two 4 Bep units 2311 and 2315, soldiered on in traffic until withdrawal in March 2005. They were both later preserved at the Eden Valley Railway as 4Ceps.

Further use and departmental units

Over the years, several unit have seen further use as departmental units. These are listed below:

• 7102 - Converted to Tractor Unit 932080.
• 1500 - Converted to Tractor Unit 932081.
• 1505 - Converted to Route-learning Unit 930082 for use by Southern, including removal of end-gangways. Later converted to static training unit at Selhurst depot. Sent for scrap in September 2005.
• 1512 - Used as a 3-car Tractor Unit by South West Trains at Bournemouth depot. Scrapped in June 2005 after being replaced by a Class 73 electro-diesel locomotive.
• 1545 - Converted to test unit 932545 and exported to Sweden. Scrapped there.
• 1620 - Converted to test unit 932620 for central door locking trials. Then used for paint trials at Eastleigh Works. Scrapped in November 2005.

Preservation

Four complete units have been saved for preservation.

• 4 Bep unit no. 2325 (containing 3 coaches of ex 1537, ex-7105) has been preserved by the EPB Preservation Group, based on the East Kent Railway. This set was the first of the production units to be built, and it is planned to restore it to its original unrefurbished condition. The set contains the buffet car previously in set no. 2305 (ex-7014).
• 3 Cep unit no. 1198 has been preserved by the EMU Preservation Society on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. It was moved in May 2008 from the Dartmoor Railway to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway until August 2013, immediately prior to that railway's closure pending re-organisation. This unit was converted from former 4 Bep unit 2314 (ex-2304, ex 7175) for use on the Lymington Branch Line.
• 4 Bep units nos. 2311 and 2315 (which contains the other coach of 7105) are preserved on the Eden Valley Railway. These were the final two 4BEP units in service with South West Trains.
• Both driving motors from unit no. 1589 (ex-7178) are preserved on the Dartmoor Railway. Its TBC carriage can be found at Snibston Discovery Park in Leicestershire, and its TSO carriage was in now disbanded Cig 1393, at the Whitwell & Reepham railway station. Three vehicles from this unit could in theory be reunited.
• The TBC 70345 from unit no. 1500 (ex-7153), which was also in 1547, is currently preserved In a Private Garden in Sutton Bridge.

The full list is shown below. Complete units are highlighted:

Unit Number (current in bold)				Type	Phase	DMBS	TC (+TBC)	TS (*TRSB)	DMBS	Livery	Location	Notes
7016	2305	2315	-	4 Bep	Phase 2	61798	70354	70229	61799	South West Trains	Eden Valley Railway	70229 was in 7105 originally
7019	2301	2311	-	4 Bep	Phase 2	61804	70607	70539	61805	South West Trains	Eden Valley Railway	-
7105	1537	2325	-	4 Bep	Phase 1	61229	70235	69345*	61230	South West Trains	East Kent Railway	Unit 7105 was the first-built production unit.
7113	1524	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	-	70262	-	BR Green	Hastings Diesels	Operates with preserved Class 201 unit 1001.
7124	1530	1392	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	-	70273	-	BR Blue/Grey	Dartmoor Railway	Ex 4-CIG No. 1392, Now removed from unit and stored on Dartmoor Railway.
7135	1520	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	-	70284	-	Network SouthEast	Northamptonshire Ironstone	-
7143	1554	1398	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	-	70292	-	South West Trains	Long Marston, for sale	Operated in 4 Cig unit 1398.
7147	1559	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	-	70296	-	Network SouthEast	Northamptonshire Ironstone	-
7153	1500	1547	-	4 Cep	Phase 1	-	70345+	-	-	Network SouthEast	Sutton Bridge	Unit 7153 was the prototype refurbished unit, latterly renumbered 1500.
7159	1595	1399	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70508	-	BR Blue/Grey	Dartmoor Railway	Ex 4-CIG No. 1399, Now removed from unit and stored on Dartmoor Railway.
7161	1597	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70510	-	Network SouthEast	Northamptonshire Ironstone	-
7175	2304	2314	1198	3 Cep	Phase 2	61736	70573	-	61737	Rail Blue	Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway	Unit 1198 was dedicated to the "Lymington Flyer" service.
7178	1589	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	61742	-	-	61743	61742 part NSE, part green 61743 DR corporate Green	Dartmoor Railway	-
7178	1589	-	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	-	70576+	-	-	BR Green	Snibston Discovery Park	- converted to vacuum brake
7178	1589	1393	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70527	-	Carmine & Cream	Whitwell & Reepham railway station	Operated with 4CIG unit 1393. Now loose
7182	1610	1396	-	4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70531	-	South West Trains	Long Marston, for sale	Operated in 4 Cig unit 1396.
7198	1569	207203		4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70547	-	Connex	Private site, Hungerford	Operated in Class 207 unit 207203.
7200	1567	207202		4 Cep	Phase 2	-	-	70549	-	Connex	East Lancashire Railway	Operates in Class 207 unit 207202.

Fleet details

The final three units (nos. 1697–1699) were withdrawn in July 2005. Unit 1698 was reinstated a month later and was finally withdrawn in September 2005. All three of the final units were scrapped except for their TSO coaches, which were dispersed as follows:-

• 1697's TSO 70294 to HM Prison, Lindholme.
• 1698's TSO 70300 to Fighting Cocks PH, Middleton.
• 1699's TSO 70512 to HM Prison, Lindholme.

Unrefurbished Units

Class	Type	No. Built (Converted*)	Year Built (Converted*)	No. Range	Withdrawn	Notes
Class 410	4 Bep	22	1957-63	7001-7022	1984	Refurbished 1979–1984.
Class 411	4 Cep	111	1956-63	7101-7211	1984	Refurbished 1979–1984.
Class 412	4 Tep	4*	1982*	2701–2704	1986	Converted back to standard 4CEP.

Refurbished Units

Class	Type	No. Converted	Year Converted	No. Range	Operator	Unit Numbers	Withdrawn	No. preserved
Class 411/4	3 Cep	6	1993	1401–1406	BR	1401–1406	1994	-
Class 411/5	4 Cep	122	1979-84	1500–1621	SET	1509/11/51/60/62/64/70/74-76/82/84-88/90-95/99, 1602/07/09/11/14-16 1517/35/39/50/55/71/78 (ex. SWT)	07/2004	-
					SWT	1507/12/17/19/31/33-35/37-39/44/47/48/50/53/55, 1563/65/66/68/71/73/78/81, 1612	05/2004
Class 411/6	4 Cep	3	1995	1697–1699	SET	1697–1699 (ex. SWT)	09/2005	-
					SWT	1697–1699	04/2004
Class 411/9	3 Cep	18	1999	1101–1118	SET	1101–1118	03/2003	1
		2	2003-04	1198–1199	SWT	1198–1199	12/2004
Class 412/0	4 Bep	7	1979-84	2301–2307	SWT	2301–2307	12/2002*	-
Class 412/1	4 Bep	7	2002	2311–2317	SWT	2311–2317	03/2005	2
Class 412/2	4 Bep	7	2002	2321–2327	SWT	2321–2327	12/2003	1

Modelling

Bachmann have released a 00 gauge model of the 4-CEP in 2009. An N Gauge version was released in late 2011 by Graham Farish.

Gallery

1592 at Dover Priory.jpg

Class 411 4 Cep no. 1592, at Dover Priory on 27 April 2003, whilst forming a special excursion train around Kent and East Sussex. This unit was specially repainted into its original Green livery, to commemorate the retirement of the 4CEP fleet from service. This unit was withdrawn from traffic 2004, and has since been scrapped.

1602 at Dover Priory.jpg

Class 411 4CEP no. 1602, at Dover Priory on 27 April 2003. This was the only 4 Cep unit to be painted in Connex South Eastern livery, after it suffered damage in a derailment, and had to be repaired at Eastleigh works. This unit lasted in traffic until 2004, and has since been scrapped.

2325 departing London Waterloo.jpg

Class 412 4BEP no. 2325, departing London Waterloo on 15 August 2003. This unit was reformed in 2002, with the addition of a buffet car. It was retired by South West Trains later in 2003, and is now preserved at the East Kent Railway.

1521 at Waterloo East.jpg

Class 411 no. 1521 at Waterloo East station in 1988, in British Rail's "Jaffa Cake" express livery.

External links

Template:Commons category

• EMU Preservation Society - owners of preserved set 1198.
• EPB Preservation Group - owners of preserved set 2325.
• Eden Valley Railway - owners of preserved sets 2311 and 2315.
• Southern Electric Group - Kent Coast Electrification Scheme.
• Southern Electric Group - Information on Class 411/412 and other EMUs.