Class 508 history and pictures from the Southern E-Group.
Eastleigh Works Centenary Open Days
Saturday 23rd - Monday 25th May 2009
© copyright photographs by Colin Duff
| Southern Electric Multiple Units |
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| Other Southern EMUs on display were one of South West Trains' Lymington Branch 3 Cigs, 1497, and stored 508301 which started its life on the South West Division of the Southern Region as a 4 car unit. With the introduction of Class 455 units the Class 508/0s moved as Class 508/1 3 car units to the Mersey electrified suburban network (the other trailer remaining south an incorporated into Class 455/7 units). 508301 being one of 15 that eventually found their way south again, 12 as 508/2s to South East Trains and 3 to Silverlink as 508/3 to supplement the Class 313s on DC only services. At the time of writing all 12 508/2s are stored but 508302 and 508303 remain in service with LOROL, almost certainly not for much longer. |
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| Above shows a feature which was unique to the Cigs and was not perpetuated to other contemporary Mk1 EMUs as it was not a success - the underframe mounted water tanks (for the lavatories). |
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| I have a 4mm scale kit of a 4 car Class 508 unit to build one day, so the opportunity to walk round and photograph normally difficult to see details was most welcome! Class 508 history and pictures from the Southern E-Group. |