British Rail Class 488

The British Rail Class 488 are unpowered trailer sets, converted from Mark 2F coaches for the Gatwick Express service from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.

British Rail Class 488
A Class 488 coach at London Victoria in 2003
In service1973–present
ManufacturerBREL, Derby Litchurch Lane Works
Formation2-car (Class 488/2), 3-car (Class 488/3)
Operator(s)Network Rail
Ministry of Defence
Specifications
Car length66 ft 1⁄2 in (20.13 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+1⁄4 in (3.89 m)
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)
Weight105 t (103 long tons; 116 short tons)
BogiesB5
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The sets were converted from conventional locomotive-hauled coaching stock in 1983–1984, and were used in combination 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 488201–488210 and the three-car sets are Class 488/3 and are numbered 488301–19.

Operations

After privatisation, the entire Class 488 fleet passed to the Gatwick Express franchise. One unit, 488301, was withdrawn before privatisation, following an accident at Battersea Park railway station in 1985.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 special 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 They were used a few times after this date for emergency cover, but have now been withdrawn.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. These 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 to 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, but were re-introduced in September 2006 to provide extra capacity on the Portadown to Belfast Central service, making one trip every morning. (Coaches 943+944 did not re-enter service and were used for parts). In 2009 the locomotives and coaches were due to be converted to push-pull operation following the purchase by NIR of a DBSO last used by National Express East Anglia. However, this never happened and the entire fleet was withdrawn on 18 June 2009.

Ministry of Defence

Preservation

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

In addition, 72641 is preserved at Dalton and 72707 the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. Ian Welch of the Mainline Steam Trust in New Zealand has purchased a number of ex-BR MkII cars formerly used on this service. Three cars comprising set 488313 (TSOLH 72624 and 72625, TSOL 72172) and a further two from 488209 (TFOH 72508 and TSOH 72644) arrived in New Zealand in 2008, still bearing the Intercity livery with 'Gatwick Express' branding. Most of the cars are in interim storage at Hutt Workshops in Wellington, while others have been trucked to the MLST Wellington base at Plimmerton.

These cars at present have not been equipped with bogies, and are transferred from Hutt to MLST Wellington by road. They will be fitted with either x-28020 bogies ex-FM guard's vans, or x-27750 'Kinki' bogies ex-FS steam-heating vans as part of the overhaul to bring them up to code-compliance for operation in New Zealand. Unlike most MkII cars in New Zealand, they are receiving only minor modifications to allow them to run in New Zealand, and will receive new numbers. They will also receive new names as well as the new MLST MkII livery of Pearl Grey roof with Midnight Blue body and white window band.

The ex-NIR carriages are now owned by RPSI, and currently in storage until they can join the RPSI's existing Mk2 fleet sometime in 2019.

Fleet status
Key: In service Withdrawn Preserved Departmental Use Further Use Scrapped


Class 488/2

Unit No. Vehicle Numbers Livery Operator Withdrawn Status
TFOH TSOH
488201 72500 ex 3413 72638 ex 6068 Gatwick Express Cotswold Rail 2002 Scrapped (2004)
488202 72501 ex 3382 72617 ex 6086 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2005 Preserved
488203 72502 ex 3321 72640 ex 6097 Gatwick Express (Advertising) Network Rail 2002 Scrapped, 72640 scrapped 2007.[1]
488204 72503 ex 3407 72641 ex 6079 Gatwick Express (Advertising) Network Rail 2002 72503 departmental service, 72641 preserved.[2]
488205 72504 ex 3406 72628 ex 6058 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2002 Scrapped (2003)
488206 72505 ex 3415 72629 ex 6048 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2005 Preserved
488207 72506 ex 3335 72642 ex 6076 Gatwick Express (Advertising) Cotswold Rail 2002 Scrapped (2004)
488208 72507 ex 3412 72643 ex 6040 Gatwick Express (Advertising) GB Railfreight 2002 Sent for Scrap 29/04/09
488209 72508 ex 3409 72644 ex 6039 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2004 Sold to New Zealand-based Mainline Steam Trust
488210 72509 ex 3398 72635 ex 6128 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2002 Sold to MoD for use at Marchwood Military Port. For sale.[3]


Class 488/3

Unit No. Vehicle Numbers Livery Operator Withdrawn Status
TSOLH TSOL TSOLH
488301 72600 ex-6125 72700 ex-6131 72601 ex-6133 InterCity British Rail 1985 Scrapped (1987)
488302 72602 ex 6130 72701 ex 6088 72604 ex 6087 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2003 Scrapped (2003)
488303 72603 ex 6093 72702 ex 6099 72608 ex 6077 Gatwick Express Network Rail 2002 Scrapped, 72603 scrapped 2007 and 72608 2009.[4][5]
488304 72606 ex 6084 72703 ex 6075 72611 ex 6083 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2002 Scrapped (2010).[6][7][8]
488305 72605 ex 6082 72704 ex 6132 72609 ex 6080 Northern Ireland Railways Northern Ireland Railways 2009 Preserved
488306 72607 ex 6020 72705 ex 6032 72610 ex 6074 Gatwick Express Cotswold Rail 2002 Scrapped (2004)
488307 72612 ex 6156 72706 ex 6143 72613 ex 6126 Railtrack Blue/Green Network Rail 2004 Renumbered 910002, 72706 scrapped 2006.[9]
488308 72614 ex 6090 72707 ex 6127 72615 ex 5938 Railtrack Blue/Green Network Rail - In service, 72614 scrapped 2014,[10] 72707 preserved.[11]
488309 72616 ex 6007 72708 ex 6095 72639 ex 6070 Railtrack Blue/Green Network Rail 2004 Renumbered 910001, 72708 scrapped 2008.[12]
488310 72618 ex 6044 72709 ex 5982 72619 ex 5909 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2002 Scrapped (2012).[13][14][15]
488311 72620 ex 6140 72710 ex 6003 72621 ex 6108 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2005 Preserved
488312 72622 ex 6004 72711 ex 6109 72623 ex 6118 Gatwick Express GB Railfreight 2002 Sent for scrap 29/04/09
488313 72624 ex 5972 72712 ex 6091 72625 ex 6085 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2004 Sold to New Zealand-based Mainline Steam Trust
488314 72626 ex 6017 72713 ex 6023 72627 ex 5974 Northern Ireland Railways Northern Ireland Railways 2009 Preserved
488315 72636 ex 6071 72714 ex 6092 72645 ex 5942 Gatwick Express GB Railfreight 2002 Sent for scrap 29/04/09
488316 72630 ex 6094 72715 ex 6019 72631 ex 6096 Railtrack Blue/Green Network Rail - In service
488317 72632 ex 6072 72716 ex 6114 72633 ex 6129 Gatwick Express Gatwick Express 2003 Sent for scrap
488318 72634 ex 6089 72717 ex 6069 72637 ex 6098 Northern Ireland Railways Northern Ireland Railways 2009 Preserved
488319 72646 ex 6078 72718 ex 5979 72647 ex 6081 Northern Ireland Railways Northern Ireland Railways 2009 Preserved

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 488.
  1. "72640 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  2. "BR 6079 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open later Class 488/2 built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  3. "BR 6128 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open built 1974". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  4. "72603 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  5. "BR 6077 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  6. "BR 6075 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. "BR 6083 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  8. "BR 6084 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  9. "72706 - Test Train coach « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  10. "72614 - « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com". www.departmentals.com.
  11. "BR 6127 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open built 1974". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  12. "72708". departmentals.com.
  13. "BR 5909 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  14. "BR 5982 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
  15. "BR 6044 Mk 2f Tourist Second Open (scrapped) built 1973". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
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