BRITISH RAIL CLASS 488

488313 at London Victoria on 18th March 2003. This was one of the last six sets in service with Gatwick Express until its withdrawal in 2004. It has since been preserved.

The British Rail 'Class 488' are unpowered electric multiple unit trailer sets, converted from Mark 2F coaches for the Gatwick Express service from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.
The sets were converted from conventional loco-hauled coaching stock in 1983-1984. They worked in multiple with Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives and Class 489 luggage vans. Two variations were converted: 2-car sets (containing first class accommodation) and 3-car sets (containing standard class accommodation only). They are officially formed of two subclasses. The two-car units are classified as 'Class 488/2' and are numbered in the range 488201-10, whilst the three-car sets are 'Class 488/3' and are numbered 488301-19.

Contents
Operations
Gatwick Express
Network Rail
Northern Ireland Railways
Ministry of Defence
Preservation
Fleet status

Operations


After privatisation, the entire Class 488 fleet passed to the Gatwick Express franchise. One unit, 488301 was withdrawn prior to privatisation, following an accident at Battersea Park railway station in 1985.
Gatwick Express

Immediately after privatisation, the Class 488 fleet was used exclusively on Gatwick Express trains. They were painted in the Gatwick Express variation of InterCity livery. Some sets were later reliveried with Continental Airlines advertisements, including units 488203/04/07/08/10, 488304/05/10/14/19.
From 2000 onwards, new trains in the form of Class 460 units were introduced to replace the old stock. By 2004, just six sets, formed into three 5-car rakes, were still in use with Gatwick Express. By January 2005, this had decreased to four sets. The sets were used sporadically during early 2005, but their use declined as the Class 460 reliability improved. Their final scheduled use was on 28 July following a specially trip involving the two remaining Class 73 locomotives. They were replaced by two Class 458 units hired from South West Trains. They were used a few times after this date for emergency cover, but have now been withdrawn.
Network Rail

After retirement from Gatwick Express, several sets were purchased by Network Rail for use as test trains or simply as brake-force runners. Sets have been repainted into either the now obsolete Railtrack blue/lime green livery, or the new Network Rail yellow livery. Two sets, 8307 and 8309, have been reclassified as 'Class 910' departmental units and renumbered 910002 and 910001 respectively. In addition, two coaches have been converted for departmental use with Network Rail:

★ 72503 (ex 488204) - converted to hot-box detection coach no. 977983

★ 72715 (ex 488316) - converted structure-gauging train coach no. 977985
Northern Ireland Railways

In 2001, eight carriages were sold to Northern Ireland Railways for further use as locomotive hauled stock in combination with the 111 Class locomotive, and renumbered 8941 to 8948.

★ 72605 (ex 488305) - renumbered 8943

★ 72609 (ex 488305) - renumbered 8944

★ 72626 (ex 488314) - renumbered 8945

★ 72627 (ex 488314) - renumbered 8946

★ 72634 (ex 488318) - renumbered 8941

★ 72637 (ex 488318) - renumbered 8942

★ 72646 (ex 488319) - renumbered 8947

★ 72647 (ex 488319) - renumbered 8948
The NIR coaches were withdrawn on 19 January 2005. They have recently been reintroduced to provide extra capacity on the Portadown to Belfast (Central) service, making one trip every morning.
Ministry of Defence


★ 488210 has been sold to the Ministry of Defence for use at Marchwood in Hampshire. It has replaced two former Class 501 vehicles as passenger vehicles for personnel movement around the site.

Preservation


Several complete sets have been preserved. These are listed below.

★ 488202 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

★ 488206 - Vale of Glamorgan Railway

★ 488209 - Wisbech and March Bramleyline

★ 488304 - Great Central Railway (Nottingham)

★ 488310 - Great Central Railway (Nottingham)

★ 488311 - Vale of Glamorgan Railway

★ 488313 - Wisbech and March Bramleyline

★ 488317 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Fleet status


Key:In serviceWithdrawnPreservedDepartmental UseFurther UseScrapped



'Class 488/2'
Unit No.Vehicle NumbersLiveryOperatorWithdrawnStatus
TFOHTSOH
48820172500ex 341372638ex 6068Gatwick ExpressCotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48820272501ex 338272617ex 6086Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48820372502ex 332172640ex 6097Gatwick Express (Advertising)Network Rail2002Stored
48820472503ex 340772641ex 6079Gatwick Express (Advertising)Network Rail2002Stored
48820572504ex 340672628ex 6058Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Scrapped (2003)
48820672505ex 341572629ex 6048Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48820772506ex 333572642ex 6076Gatwick Express (Advertising)Cotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48820872507ex 341272643ex 6040Gatwick Express (Advertising)GB Railfreight2002Withdrawn
48820972508ex 340972644ex 6039Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2004Preserved
48821072509ex 339872635ex 6128Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Sold to MoD Marchwood



'Class 488/3'
Unit No.Vehicle NumbersLiveryOperatorWithdrawnStatus
TSOLHTSOLTSOLH
48830172600ex-612572700ex-613172601ex-6133InterCityBritish Rail1985Scrapped (1987)
48830272602ex 613072701ex 608872604ex 6087Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2003Scrapped (2003)
48830372603ex 609372702ex 609972608ex 6077Gatwick ExpressNetwork Rail2002Stored
48830472606ex 608472703ex 607572611ex 6083Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Preserved
48830572605ex 608272704ex 613272609ex 6080Gatwick Express (Advertising)Gatwick Express2002Sold to Northern Ireland Railways
48830672607ex 602072705ex 603272610ex 6074Gatwick ExpressCotswold Rail2002Scrapped (2004)
48830772612ex 615672706ex 614372613ex 6126Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail2004Renumbered 910002
48830872614ex 609072707ex 612772615ex 5938Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail-In service
48830972616ex 600772708ex 609572639ex 6070Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail2004Renumbered 910001
48831072618ex 604472709ex 598272619ex 5909Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Preserved
48831172620ex 614072710ex 600372621ex 6108Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2005Preserved
48831272622ex 600472711ex 610972623ex 6118Gatwick ExpressGB Railfreight2002Stored
48831372624ex 597272712ex 609172625ex 6085Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2004Preserved
48831472626ex 601772713ex 602372627ex 5974Gatwick Express (Advertising)Gatwick Express2002Sold to Northern Ireland Railways
48831572636ex 607172714ex 609272645ex 5942Gatwick ExpressGB Railfreight2002Stored
48831672630ex 609472715ex 601972631ex 6096Railtrack Blue/GreenNetwork Rail-In service
48831772632ex 607272716ex 611472633ex 6129Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2003Preserved
48831872634ex 608972717ex 606972637ex 6098Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express2002Sold to Northern Ireland Railways
48831972646ex 607872718ex 597972647ex 6081Gatwick Express (Advertising)Gatwick Express2002Sold to Northern Ireland Railways


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