The ex-LU stock, which comprised a mixture of ex-revenue service stock and departmental vehicles, was used to create 2-car trains (the 1938 stock originally being 4-car sets) as Ryde Depot next to Ryde St. Johns Road had difficulty handling longer trains [1].
The stock was refurbished and modified for Island Line use at BR Eastleigh which included changing from fourth rail to third rail operation. All exposed steel surfaces were also treated to protect against salt erosion [2] (the Island Line partly runs over the sea when it operates up to Ryde Pier Head, corrosion have proven to have been a problem with the earlier stock). Twenty vehicles were used in the 483 programme though only eighteen were used for passenger service, the others being used for spares. Since their introduction a number of vehicles were withdrawn and some scrapped leaving the fleet reduced to just a couple of operational trains, though this was usually sufficient for the Island Line schedule.
As "new" the Class 483s wore Network South East livery followed by "dinosaur" livery post-privatisation (the Island Line being part of the South West Trains franchise though treated as a separate entity) and lattery wore a livery based on London Underground historic deep red [3]. Earlier plans to replace the Class 483s fell through and the rolling stock was forced to soldier on for quite a lot longer than intended or desired despite ever greater challenges in maintaining the by-now approaching eighty year old trains. One of the original replacement plans was to use ex-Piccadilly Line 1973 Stock but these plans were foiled by the delay in the Deep Tube Upgrade which means the 1973 Stock will not now be withdrawn until the mid-2020s. 1983 Stock was also offered in the past but turned down as it was considered "too digital".
There was an floated idea to replace the Island Line with a light rail system based on former Midland Metro T69 vehicles [4] though these plans came to nothing and most of these trams have now been scrapped. Finally a replacement came in the form of a third generation of ex-London Underground trains! Ex-D78 Stock is being converted by Vivarail, who have already produced the upcycled Class 230 DMU. The Class 484 will enter service in 2021 following a line upgrade.
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| 483 007 at Ryde Pierhead |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 20 cars (2-car units) |
| Built: | 1939-40 (Rebuilt as 483s) 1989 |
| Builder: | Metro-Cammell (Rebuilds) BR Eastleigh |
| Motor: | 4 Crompton Parkinson / GEC / BTH LT100 traction motors (630v DC third rail - originally LU fourth rail) |
| Power: | 670 hp (500 kW) |
| Formation: | Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+DMSO |
The stock was refurbished and modified for Island Line use at BR Eastleigh which included changing from fourth rail to third rail operation. All exposed steel surfaces were also treated to protect against salt erosion [2] (the Island Line partly runs over the sea when it operates up to Ryde Pier Head, corrosion have proven to have been a problem with the earlier stock). Twenty vehicles were used in the 483 programme though only eighteen were used for passenger service, the others being used for spares. Since their introduction a number of vehicles were withdrawn and some scrapped leaving the fleet reduced to just a couple of operational trains, though this was usually sufficient for the Island Line schedule.
As "new" the Class 483s wore Network South East livery followed by "dinosaur" livery post-privatisation (the Island Line being part of the South West Trains franchise though treated as a separate entity) and lattery wore a livery based on London Underground historic deep red [3]. Earlier plans to replace the Class 483s fell through and the rolling stock was forced to soldier on for quite a lot longer than intended or desired despite ever greater challenges in maintaining the by-now approaching eighty year old trains. One of the original replacement plans was to use ex-Piccadilly Line 1973 Stock but these plans were foiled by the delay in the Deep Tube Upgrade which means the 1973 Stock will not now be withdrawn until the mid-2020s. 1983 Stock was also offered in the past but turned down as it was considered "too digital".
There was an floated idea to replace the Island Line with a light rail system based on former Midland Metro T69 vehicles [4] though these plans came to nothing and most of these trams have now been scrapped. Finally a replacement came in the form of a third generation of ex-London Underground trains! Ex-D78 Stock is being converted by Vivarail, who have already produced the upcycled Class 230 DMU. The Class 484 will enter service in 2021 following a line upgrade.
The Class 483 finally left service at the start of 2021. A number are planned to be preserved, one project may use battery technology to operate on non-electrified preserved lines.
[1] Brian Hardy, Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight (Capital Transport, 2003) p. 62
[2] Hardy p. 63
[3] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 367
[4] "Trams for the Isle of Wight?", Railways Illustrated (April 2016)
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| 483 007 at Smallbrook Junction |
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| Ryde St. Johns depot |
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| Aboard a 483 |
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| 483 004 approaches Ryde Esplanade |
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| A short while later 483 004 at Ryde Esplanade |
[1] Brian Hardy, Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight (Capital Transport, 2003) p. 62
[2] Hardy p. 63
[3] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 367
[4] "Trams for the Isle of Wight?", Railways Illustrated (April 2016)