400 Series Preservation Group

Home
United Kingdom
Shepherdswell With Coldred
400 Series Preservation Group

Directions Website

Official page of the 400 Series Preservation Group. Our page will document the preservation of the last surviving examples of these trains.

The 400 Series Preservation Group is dedicated to the "Class 400" EMU or "Electric Multiple Unit" trains which ran across Southern England until 2005.

12/10/2026

Another milestone: the first welding repairs were carried today out on 4-CIG driving trailer 76747 since it entered preservation in March 2005.

A huge thanks must go to the two gents that gave up their time to come over and carry out the work.

There will be more of this work to come over the next few weeks.

10/10/2026

Progress update on 4-CIG driving trailer 76747: A wild Alfie Pantalleresco was unleashed to ensure compartment A now has a new subfloor installed along with the full corridor.

Meanwhile CCTV cabling was being made up and run to its required locations.

07/10/2026

Little bit of “upstairs” work on 4-CIG driving trailer 76747: gutters checked and cleaned, rivets checked for security and the entire side of the coach water tested. No leaks inside and the water channels where we want it to - off of the vehicle via the cutouts made on the side of the rain gutters.

The cutouts prevent the gutters filling up, corroding the rivets which shears the heads off, leaving a zigzag pattern of holes through the bodyside with disastrous results.

Yes we know the roof looks like the surface of the moon but that is a job for another day!

25/09/2026

PA speaker, thermostat controller…..

4-CIG driving trailer 76747 - First Class Comp D.

You haven’t even seen half of the new “features” that this unit will be fitted with. Stay tuned!

18/09/2026

More progress on 4-CIG driving trailer 76747: Compartments B, C and D now have their new floors screwed down. Compartment D has its new sidelight glass fitted and the corridor floor has been levelled and secured.

13/09/2026

This weekend was spent fitting new floors to B, C and D compartments of 4-CIG driving trailer 76747, along with about 75% of the 1st class corridor.

This vehicle has come a long way since it was recovered from Meldon Quarry but still has quite a bit of work outstanding.

Big thanks to Alfie Pantalleresco for giving up his weekend off to assist with this, along with everyone else that has run errands and driven delivery vehicles for us.

08/09/2026

Another job from the long standing list - redundant cabling and conduit is being removed from the underframe of 4-CIG MBSO 62364. Not a pleasant job as it disturbs 50 years of brake dust and other nasties.

The vehicle is planned to be completely rewired using modern rail spec cable in due course. All of the old material will be recycled.

The traction motor connection boxes have also been removed for overhaul and repair, as seen one has been damaged at some stage in the past.

30/08/2026

Something else that hasn’t been seen. The proposed layout of the micro buffet area behind the guard’s office of 4-CIG MBSO 62364. It will comprise of 2+1 reclining seats with tables and a few other conveniences such as USB charging.

28/08/2026

One that isn’t seen very often, 4-CIG MBSO 62364. Its saloon lights were reinstated today in preparation for winter and darkness and a set of missing P.A speakers were also reinstalled at the same time. It probably hasn’t been lit since it ran on the Lymington line as part of 1499.

The tubes are held temporarily with zip ties until the lighting tray covers are powder coated.

The interior of this one is still in bits, but it is dry inside and waiting its turn in the endless queue of jobs.

21/08/2026

More on 76747: floors removed from C and D compartments ready for renewal. Fortunately for us, the subfloors are undamaged and the insulation will be left alone and reused.

Address

Shepherdswell With Coldred
CT157PD

Website

http://www.400series.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when 400 Series Preservation Group posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.