Southern Class 455 Withdrawal

[Southern]

804 and 818 just departed on the 2340 from Victoria to Sutton

Indeed, wasn't sure this was going to run as intended but certainly turned out, got a video and everything! Got a bit of the Stewart's Lane ECS that followed it out, unfortunately my other device ran out of storage so only caught the front 4 departing, was 8-455 though. Thought they might cart off the sorry looking 805 on Victoria P9 but alas it was left behind, wonder when it'll be off...

So that I believe is a wrap as the last services have left their respective London termini, 39-40 years after they were first introduced. Know they were like Marmite for people but they must have put in hefty number of combined miles in their lifetime, plying some of the less than salubrious areas of the capital - trust me, speaking as a former South Londoner in the 90's/00's, saw my fair share of the states they got into to. Remember seeing a guy walk along the top of a moving one as it ascended the embankment just beyond Norwood, up to Bromley Junction and onwards to Crystal Palace...heaven knows how he managed it, must have been a circus performer!

 

[thedbdiboy]

Here's the 0025 Vic-Norwood Junction arriving at West Norwood last night (early this morning)

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

0025 from LB tonight is a class 377. 0025 from Vic is the last 455


delayed half an hour partly by late arrival (presumably for pathing) but also a passenger fainting.

The delay was planned - but NR didn’t want to accept the half an hour in the path request - so they took the hit for the delay minutes instead.

 

[swt_passenger]

Would this turn out to be one of the quickest recent withdrawals of a TOC fleet, ie the time between it becoming public knowledge, and the last day of normal diagramming?

I don’t think it’s worth counting the 442 sudden departure, as they didn’t really ever get into normal service...

 

[railwaytrack]

Would this turn out to be one of the quickest recent withdrawals of a TOC fleet, ie the time between it becoming public knowledge, and the last day of normal diagramming?

I don’t think it’s worth counting the 442 sudden departure, as they didn’t really ever get into normal service...

I think the SWR 456 also had very short notice too between the withdrawal being public knowledge and them being withdrawn although i can not remember how long.

 

[Jturner98]

Have we got a list of 455 units that have been scrapped? (Southern ones)

 

[PGAT]

I know 455838 and 839 are scrapped, not sure of the others

 

[317 forever]

First time I’ve ever been sad about the withdrawal of ex-BR stock. If it had been a SW 455, I wouldn’t have cared. The Southern 455s are lovely

I preferred the Southern to South Western 455s too.

 

[Neptune]

Would this turn out to be one of the quickest recent withdrawals of a TOC fleet, ie the time between it becoming public knowledge, and the last day of normal diagramming?

I don’t think it’s worth counting the 442 sudden departure, as they didn’t really ever get into normal service...

The 144’s were withdrawn literally overnight in March 2020. The plan was May 2020 but covid lockdown hastened it with immediate effect.

 

[swt_passenger]

Have we got a list of 455 units that have been scrapped? (Southern ones)

455838, 455839, 455810, 455825, 455827, 455831
That’s just from reading through this thread having searched for “Newport”.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

455838, 455839, 455810, 455825, 455827, 455831
That’s just from reading through this thread having searched for “Newport”.

Correct, as six have gone. Looks to be the 2 drags of 2 units per move per week pattern favoured for stock to be disposed of at Newport.

 

[317 forever]

I think that was definately gonna happen if the numbers returned. Doesnt look like peak will return to pre pandemic levels im afraid.

Weve now got a fleet of 379s, with a high lease cost, currently surplus to requirements.

There is also the matter of who paid to build them in the first place? If the taxpayer indirectly, then it was a short-term expense for us all. If a private company, they will want to recoup their losses, which will still cost us in the long run.

 

[Class455]

455838, 455839, 455810, 455825, 455827, 455831
That’s just from reading through this thread having searched for “Newport”.

Yes that’s correct.
Now all units are no longer in service, I will update the status list later today

 

[J burge]

Not best pic of 455 as it was taken from my dslr rear screen but this was 10th may at Newport

 

[Jturner98]

Current GTR 455 status

455801
455802
455803
455804
455805
455807
455808
455809
455810 - Scrapped
455811
455812
455813
455814
455815
455816
455817
455818
455819
455820
455821
455822
455823
455824
455825 - Scrapped
455826
455827 - Scrapped
455828
455829
455830
455831 - Scrapped
455832
455833
455834
455835
455836
455837
455838 - Scrapped
455839 - Scrapped
455840
455841
455842
455843
455844
455845
455846

Total Southern units - 46
Total scrapped 6
Total stored - 40

 

[Bikeman78]

For the average passenger this will be a distinct improvement as the service will now have toilet facilities! There can’t be many non enthusiasts sad to see the back of these trains!

Back in the day, I wasn't overly pleased to see the front of them! Much preferred the EPBs.

 

[Benjaminmorgan]

Which units will be scrapped on Tuesday

 

[Bikeman78]

Fitting toilets I doubt would have been easy!

Wouldn't have been that hard would it? Same bodyshells as class 317s which had their toilets completely rebuilt only two years ago.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

It was mentioned yesterday that flame cuts from a 455 / 455s were on auction aboard the farewell tour. Is there any idea as to which unit(s) these came from?

 

[Class455]

It was mentioned yesterday that flame cuts from a 455 / 455s were on auction aboard the farewell tour. Is there any idea as to which unit(s) these came from?

They came from 455825. I got the one from 77579, the first 455 vehicle to be produced.

5Z63 14:25 Streatham Hill to Hove Yard is 455822/814/836 in that order. Just seen it flying through Purley

 

[DEAN MURPHY]

Which units will be scrapped on Tuesday

Apparently the two used on the tour are going on Tuesday

 

[prod_pep]

Had a go on 455807, 814, 822, 836, 840 and 843 on the last day and 818+832 on Friday night. While 818 and 832 were both rather rough, jerky riders, the others were generally in decent fettle.

I won't pretend to be a fan of the 455s but it's still a real shame to see them go. Not a lot of variety on the Southern lines now, and even less once the 313s follow suit.

Saw 455801, 812, 820, 826, 844 and another stabled at Horsham today, while the aforementioned 814+822+836 12 car for Hove passed me near Wandsworth earlier.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It will be really interesting if there is any feedback tomorrow on how Southern Metro does on its first day as an entirely 377 operated service. Cuts aside, it really is something to lose forty-odd units and in return only get the two 377s back that were theirs in the first place!

 

[fgwrich]

For the average passenger this will be a distinct improvement as the service will now have toilet facilities! There can’t be many non enthusiasts sad to see the back of these trains!

As before, be careful what you wish for. The toilets in the 700s are appalling. You can completely understand why South Central had them locked and ultimately removed from the 456s.

Eg, an example of some of the state of the units working the Suburban Thameslink services are now. That wasn’t the worst either. It’s lucky that the rest of the units do actually have good quality CCTV in them, as anyone who’s studied the “Broken Window Effect” in criminology will know what happens when you allow one thing to develop into another.

 

[Timmyd]

As before, be careful what you wish for. The toilets in the 700s are appalling. You can completely understand why South Central had them locked and ultimately removed from the 456s.

Eg, an example of some of the state of the units working the Suburban Thameslink services are now. That wasn’t the worst either. It’s lucky that the rest of the units do actually have good quality CCTV in them, as anyone who’s studied the “Broken Window Effect” in criminology will know what happens when you allow one thing to develop into another.

Toilets don’t have to be appalling on suburban trains. The 377s used in south London are fine. So - to me surprise - are the networker toilets since the DDA ones were installed. It strikes be with the 700s there must be a problem with the cleaning regime or the surfaces used within the toilets being impossible to clean properly

 

[Goldfish62]

Toilets don’t have to be appalling on suburban trains. The 377s used in south London are fine. So - to me surprise - are the networker toilets since the DDA ones were installed. It strikes be with the 700s there must be a problem with the cleaning regime or the surfaces used within the toilets being impossible to clean properly

And the old toilets on the Networkers were generally OK.

 

[Class455]

Apparently the two used on the tour are going on Tuesday

They're Thursday's units, sadly

I think the SWR 456 also had very short notice too between the withdrawal being public knowledge and them being withdrawn although i can not remember how long.

Although the date that they were taken out of service came suddenly, the 456's planned withdrawal was known about since March 2017, and had the 701's entered service on time they would have been withdrawn in 2019/20.

It won't be the last time a fleet is quickly withdrawn too....

 

[XCTurbostar]

They're Thursday's units, sadly


Although the date that they were taken out of service came suddenly, the 456's planned withdrawal was known about since March 2017, and had the 701's entered service on time they would have been withdrawn in 2019/20.

It won't be the last time a fleet is quickly withdrawn too....

I'm guessing your illuding to the 313s?

 

[Cletus]

Oh well, another class I won't clear There's 7 of Southern's I won't get.

Only need 455855 and 455905 of SWR's though.

 

[PGAT]

Current update on train formations:

Victoria- Epsom Downs: will remain 8 coaches

Victoria- Sutton: mostly 10 coaches, sometimes 8

London Bridge- Caterham: 5 coaches

London Bridge- East Croydon: 5 coaches

London Bridge- Beckenham Junction: 5 coaches

London Victoria- West Croydon: 10 coaches, sometimes 8

London Bridge- Caterham/Tattenham Corner: 8 coaches

London Bridge- Victoria: 8 coaches

London Bridge- Epsom: 10 coaches

London Victoria- Epsom/Dorking/Horsham: alternates between 8 and 10 coaches

Clapham Junction- Watford Junction: 4 coaches