Hornby R2946X DCC Fitted BR 4 VEP Class 423

Description

Hornby 2946x DCC Fitted BR Rail Blue 4 VEP Class 423

Running Number: 7756 (S76441 S62217 S70907 S76442)

Livery Details: Rail blue with yellow cab ends.

Prototype:

Standard VEP Units

The British Rail Class 423 (or 4 VEP (Vestibuled Electro-Pneumatic brake)) electrical multiple units were built by British Rail (BR) at York Works from 1967 to 1974, although the MBSOs and TSOs of the first 20, 7701-7720, were constructed at Derby Works. They feature manually opening doors next to every seating row and were the last coaching stock built in this pattern for BR. They were mostly found working outer suburban services in South London, and rural services in Kent and Sussex, up to 2005 when they were finally replaced by Electrostar and Desiro units. The fleet had a lifespan of 38 years.

Ordered in 1965, 194 standard four-car ‘4 VEP’ units were built between 1967 and 1974, numbered 7701-7894; subsequently becoming class 423 under TOPS. They were subsequently renumbered in the 1980s into the 30xx and 31xx series, in order to make numbers TOPS compliant. Between 1988 and 1990 the units were internally facelifted. The work involved fitting fluorescent lighting and public address equipment, and also rebuilding the MBS (motor brake second) vehicles with an additional two bays of seating in space formerly used for luggage. On refurbishment only the first 20 units were renumbered in order, in the 34xx series. All other units were renumbered from 3421 onwards, in the order they were refurbished. All units ended up swapping motor vehicles on refurbishment – the additional work on these cars made the work take longer than that carried out on trailer vehicles.

This 4 car unit is presented in the earlier BR Rail Blue livery of the period and is representative of the “slam door” commuter train so prevalent on the Southern network in the latter half of the last century.

Model Specification

• Class: 423
• Designer: BREL York/Derby
• Entered Service: 1967
• Number Built: 194
• Purpose: Passenger
• Motor: 5 Pole Skew Wound
• DCC Ready: DCC Ready
• Livery: BR Rail Blue with Yellow Ends
• Finish: Pristine