Bachmann announces 4CEP third rail electric multiple unit
Date: 17 July 2006
Source: Bachmann
Bachmann announces 4CEP
third rail electric multiple unit
Bachmann Europe Plc today announced at its Annual Trade Open Day that it is to produce its first ever British electric multiple unit, the 4CEP (later designated Class 411). The CEP coding stands for Corridor Electro-Pneumatic (brake).
111 four car units were built between 1956 and 1963 and were originally numbered 7101 to 7211. They were a development of the Southern Railway 1937 built 4COR units. The 4CEP’s were built at Eastleigh for the Kent Coast electrification scheme, and were designed using Mark 1 coaches as a basis. The first four units were used initially from 1956 on Central Division services. Operating on the British Railways Southern Region 650/750 volts dc third rail system, the units replaced steam operation on services to Margate, Ramsgate, Dover and Folkestone. In 1975, unit No. 7153 (which became No. 1500) was refurbished with hopper windows, new interiors and the removal of the Guards van to from behind the driving cab to the composite trailer. All units were refurbished at Swindon Works between 1980 and 1983 and were subsequently renumbered in the series 1501 to 1621, the additional units being provided from 4BEP (Class 410) units. Post privatisation the units saw service with Connex SouthEastern (later South Eastern Trains), Connex South Central and South West Trains. The first unit was withdrawn in 2002 and the last in 2005. Several vehicles have been preserved.
The Bachmann model will initially depict the vehicles in the original condition as running between delivery and refurbishment. Utilising many components from the Bachmann Blue Riband Mark 1 CK and SCK vehicles, the 4CEP will have authentic bogies, lit indicator boxes and new roofs.
Merl Evans Design Manager said today “we have been working with the Southern Electric Group for some time in developing this exciting model. It is our first foray into the world of electric multiple units which, have been requested by many modellers over the past few years. If this project is successful, then we follow this with further options that we have been running in parallel with this project”.
BE 2006-29
