History of 2304
History of 2304
Linda the Lymington Flyer – Brief History 3 & 4CEP / 4BEP
This unit started life on 3rd December 1960 on the Ardingly Branch (which is now part of a proposed extension to the Bluebell Railway in Sussex). This branch line was utilised to store new units until the electrification was energised for the Kent coast lines. It was painted in green livery and was numbered 7175. The four coaches were based on the traditional concept of two motor coaches being sandwiched by two trailer coaches. It received yellow panels in the early 1960’s as standard for locomotives and multiple units and then received full yellow ends and a full coat of rail blue paint in 1967 which was revised to blue and grey in 1970.
In 1983 all the Kent coast units were sent to Swindon Works to be fully refurbished and substantial modifications were carried out. Each Motor coach lost its guards compartment and was replaced by additional seating bay for 8 people. The trailer second was opened up and the trailer composite received the guards accommodation in place of two sets of seating bays. This particular unit lost its trailer second and was substituted with a refurbished buffet coach from Ex-4BEP 2013. The unit was renumbered 2304 and was freshly outshopped in Blue and Grey livery. It was then used for the Portsmouth route where catering facilities were standard at that time.
Within a few years Network South-East was formed and a new vibrant colour scheme was devised using Red, White, Blue and dark Grey which gave everything a really fresh appearance and 2304 was duly treated likewise. A few years later South-West Trains took over the line and a variation of the paint scheme added Orange in place of the dark Grey, otherwise collectively known as toothpaste livery.
As buffet services were withdrawn from the line, 2304 then lost its buffet car and substituted with another open second coach and again renumbered 2314. In the meantime the buffet car was put into another unit numbered 2324 but this was short lived and that unit was eventually withdrawn. However 2314 continued in its revised 4 car formation until there was a need to provide a shuttle service between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier for the ferry services to the Isle of Wight. This time it was renumbered 1198 in line with other 3 car versions at various locations around the southern region. It was frequently nicknamed “Linda the Lymington Flyer” alongside Lucy, Louise and Lisa which had gone before.
1198 was withdrawn from traffic on the 24th December 2004 and sold into preservation and homed at Meldon Quarry in Devon. The colour scheme changed yet again to all over green with yellow front and it spent several years there until it was decided to move to Furnace Sidings at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, where there was a suitable Electro-Diesel locomotive that could operate in push-pull mode with the train. Another coat of paint, this time rail blue was applied and the unit was used in fairly regular service.
In August 2013 the unit moved to Chinnor where it has received the bulk of its restoration attention and has been used in regular passenger duties and Galas. 1198 was formally named at Chinnor Station on 13th October 2015 by Andrew Munden, the Director of Operations Chiltern Railways at that time.
2019 was the year when the decision was made to repaint the entire unit into Blue & Grey once certain welding works had been completed and since this colour scheme represented its Ex-Swindon condition, it was decided to renumber it back to its former 4BEP number of 2304. Two coaches have been painted in this livery.
The unit still contains three of the original coaches as built in 1960: 61736, 70573 & 61737. Sadly the buffet car 69344 was scrapped many years ago along with the original trailer second coach.
New Buffet Car - a BEP once again!
In 2022 EMUPS acquired the last remaining buffet car No. 69345/69013. We have not been able to join this carriage with the rest of the unit as it requires modifications to its braking equipment, for which we need to raise money.
