British Rail Classes 445 and 446

British Rail Class 445 and 446
File:4-PEP-4002.jpg 4PEP unit No.4002 in the sidings at Wimbledon depot
In service	1971-1980
Manufacturer	BREL York
Family name	1972 design (PEP)
Number built	2 Class 445, 1 Class 446
Formation	2/4 cars per trainset
Capacity	280 (445) 136 (446)
Operator	British Rail
Specifications
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Electric system(s)	750V dc third rail
Gauge	{{#switch:sg |3mm=3 mm (0.118 in) |4mm=4 mm (0.157 in) |4.5mm=4.5 mm (0.177 in) |4.8mm=4.8 mm (0.189 in) |6.5mm=6.5 mm (0.256 in) |6.53mm=6.53 mm (0.257 in) |8mm=8 mm (0.315 in) |8.97mm=8.97 mm (0.353 in) |9mm=9 mm (0.354 in) |9.42mm=9.42 mm (0.371 in) |10.5mm=10.5 mm (0.413 in) |11.94mm=11.94 mm (0.470 in) |12mm=12 mm (0.472 in) |12.7mm=12.7 mm (0.5 in) |13mm=13 mm (0.512 in) |13.5mm=13.5 mm (0.531 in) |14mm=14 mm (0.551 in) |14.125mm=14.125 mm (0.556 in) |14.2mm=14.2 mm (0.559 in) |14.28mm=14.28 mm (0.562 in) |14.3mm=14.3 mm (0.563 in) |15.76mm=15.76 mm (0.620 in)

The PEP Stock were prototype electric multiple units used on British Rail's Southern Region during the early 1970s. They were forerunners of the BR Second Generation electric multiple unit fleet. Three units were built, one two-car unit (2001), and two four-car units (4001/4002). Under TOPS, they were allocated Classes 445 (4PEP) and 446 (2PEP). Internal layout was for commuter services; low-backed, bus-style 2+2 seating in open saloons, wide gangways with hanging straps, and no lavatory facilities. They were the first electric multiple units designed by British Rail with electric sliding doors, outside the Scottish Region. They were unable to operate with any other stock due to their new coupling system. Externally, 2001 was finished in unpainted aluminium, while 4001/4002 were painted in all-over Rail Blue. In passenger use, they normally operated together as a ten-car formation.

Production classes

The production-run classes which are most visibly similar to the PEP Stock are the dual voltage 750V DC/25kV AC Class 313, the 25kV AC Classes 314 and 315, and the 750V DC Classes 507 and 508. However, subsequent builds have also drawn heavily on the experience gained by this stock. The PEP units had three sets of sliding doors per car, for handling dense inner-suburban traffic. However, the Class 313 and all subsequent builds, including later Mark 3-based units, have only had two sets of doors per car.

Departmental use

After the units were withdrawn from passenger service, they continued to be used by the Research department for further tests. For this purpose, the units and individual carriages were all renumbered into the departmental series. Two power cars were teamed with a newly built trailer and became TOPS Class 920, number 920001. The remaining cars were formed into two four car sets and became TOPS Class 935, numbered 056 and 057 in the Southern Region departmental (non-revenue earning) unit series.

Disposal

All three units were finally taken out of use in the mid-1980s. None of the cars has survived; 920001 was scrapped in 1987, 056 in 1986 and 057 in 1990.

Formations

The unit formations in passenger and departmental service were:

Unit No.	Class	Unit Type	DMSO	MSO	MSO	DMSO
Formations in Passenger Use
2001	446	2PEP	64300	-	-	64305
4001	445	4PEP	64301	62427	62428	64302
4002	445	4PEP	64303	62426	62429	64304
Formations in Departmental Use
920001	920	3PEP	975430 (ex. 64300)	975431 (PTSO)	-	975432 (ex. 64301)
(935) 056	935	4PEP	975848 (ex. 64303)	975845 (ex. 62427)	975846 (ex. 62428)	975847 (ex. 64302)
(935) 057	935	4PEP	975844 (ex. 64305)	975849 (ex. 62426)	975850 (ex. 62429)	975851 (ex. 64304)

External link

• Youtube clip of the PEP stock - 1973

Template:Network Rail Departmental Multiple Unit Classes Template:PEP-derived

simple:British Rail Classes 445 and 446