Class 458 5-JOP

The Class 458 4-JOP (Juniper Outer-suburban Porterbrook) was built for South West Trains in the late 1990s to replace some Class 411s. Although they were designed for the 750v DC third rail network they were "future proofed" with provision to support a pantograph and overhead electric collection, though have not carried one yet [1].

South Western Railway 458 506 at Reading

Information
Number built:	120 (30 4-car sets) (rebuilds) 180 (36 5-car sets)
Built:	1999-02 (rebuilds) 2013-6
Builder:	Althom (Washwood Heath) (rebuilds) Wabtec (Doncaster) & Brush Traction (Loughborough)
Motor:	6 Althom ONIX 800 traction motors (750v DC third-rail)
Power:	2, 172 hp (1, 620 kW)
Formation:	(original) Driving Motor Composite Open (DMCO)+ Pantograph Standard Open (PSO)+Motor Standard Open (MSO)+ DMCO (rebuilds) Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+ PSO+MSO+TSO+DMSO

Their entry into service as 458/0 was unfortunately fraught with technical difficulties with serious usage on the London Waterloo to Reading and Guildford-Ascot routes not happening for several years and after many modifications [2]. The unreliability of the trains saw SWT plump for the "Desiro" Class 444/450s instead of more 458s to order to replace the majority of its "slam door" EMU fleet [3].

In 2011 after the withdrawal of the similar Class 460 from the Gatwick Express it was decided to use cars from the 460 to strengthen the 458s as five car trains (5-JOP). The trains were also refurbished and rebuilt with an improved appearance including full gangways. Five "new" 458/5s (as they became known) were also created from spare rebuilt 460 cars. Work was completed in 2016 [5]. They are now operated by South Western Railway.

458 509 arrives at Winnersh Triangle

In SWT days, 458 534 and friend at Clapham Junction

458 520 arrives at Addlestone

458 535 at Clapham Junction

458 515 at Clapham Junction

[1] "Class 458" Southern Electric Group <http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class458_01.html>
[2] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013), p. 356
[3] "Train firm to replace new fleet", BBC News <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3388679.stm>
[4] "Fire damaged 458 under repair", Railways Illustrated Issue 157 (March 2016)
[5] "458/5 programme nears completion", Today's Railways UK Issue 171 (March 2016)

English Electric NZR E Class

The E Class battery electric locomotive was ordered by New Zealand Railways to accompany the five E^O class locomotives built for the Otira to Arthurs Pass section of the Midland Line. The locomotive was intended for engineering and maintenance work on the line (when the juice would most likely be turned off). The locomotive had a four wheeled battery tender.

E Class locomotive [1]

Information
Number built:	1
Built:	1922
Builder:	English Electric
Motor:	4 DK30 traction motors (battery electric)
Power:	176 hp (131 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Bo-Bo-2 (including battery tender)

The locomotive unfortunately did not last very long, it was withdrawn from service in 1930 and written off due to problems maintaining the batteries. The locomotive was scrapped though parts of the locomotive were reused elsewhere including the battery tender as a general purpose wagon.

E Class locomotive, notice the battery tender [2]

[1] English Electric Journal (1924 Vol 4) p. 278

[2] "Midland Railway of New Zealand", English Electric Journal (1923 Vol 4) p. 171

Class 387 Electrostar

The Class 387 is the final development of the Electrostar family having a higher top speed of 110mp/h. When the final carriages were built in November 2017 [1] it bought to an end eighteen years of continuous Electrostar production with a grand total of 2,805 carriages built of the Classes 357, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379 and 387 [2].

GWR 387 156 at Theale

Information
Number built:	428 (107 4-car sets)
Built:	2014-17
Builder:	Bombardier Derby
Engine:	Bombardier MITRAC DR1000 traction system (750v DC third rail and 25kv AC OHLE)
Power:	2, 250 hp (1, 900 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Composite Open (DMCO)+Motor Second Open (MSO)+Trailer Second Open (TSO)+DMCO

The Class 387 is in service with Great Northern, Great Western Railway, Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express. They were also in service with Thameslink until being transferred to Great Northern after being replaced by Class 700s and also c2c for a time.

Extermally Class 387s look the same as the likes of the Class 377. Class 387/1s are in service with Great Northern, Heathrow Express and GWR. 387/2s with Gatwick Express and Great Northern and 387/3s with Great Northern.

GWR 387 164 at Aldermaston

GWR 387 170 at Newbury

Back in Thameslink days, 387 103 at Bedford

Gatwick Express 387 223 passes Stafford on test

GWR 387 133 at Ealing Broadway

[1] Roger Ford, "Rolling stock factories over-capacity threat", Modern Railways (December 2017) p. 25
[2] "Last-ever Electrostar finished in Derby as 18 years of production come to an end" <http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/last-ever-electrostar-finished-in-derby-as-18-years-of-production-come-to-an-end>