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Southern Electric Traction Group volunteers stand alongside immaculately restored 4VEP electric multiple unit 3417 Gordon Pettitt at London Waterloo on January 27, with special guest Gordon Pettitt reunited with the EMU that was named after him by South West Trains in 2004. Former Virgin Trains managing director Chris Green was also present at the event and is on the far left of the picture.

Andy Coward

In late January I was honoured to be invited to join the Southern Electric Traction Group at its special event at London Waterloo to showcase the work that had been completed on the truly stunning restoration of the Bluebell Railway’s preserved Class 423 4VEP electric multiple unit 3417 Gordon Pettitt, which has been in the care of SETG since 2012.

It was certainly a moment of celebration for all of those who have worked so hard on the restoration of this slam-door EMU, with high hopes that before too long the 4VEP can be re-registered for operating over Network Rail infrastructure under its own power and carrying passengers once again.

The event brought out some rail industry and preservation big-hitters to join in with the celebrations, with Network Rail chairman Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, South Western Railway managing director Claire Mann, GB Railfreight chief executive officer John Smith, and former Network SouthEast, InterCity and Virgin Trains managing director Chris Green all in attendance to see the 4VEP reunited with special guest, former BR Southern Region general manager Gordon Pettitt OBE, after whom the BR blue EMU is named.

I visited the SETG’s Strawberry Hill restoration base in February last year (Railways Illustrated issue 243). The group’s volunteers have been working to the highest possible standards and with a level of professionalism that many other preservation groups can only hope to match. The contrast between the 4VEP I saw last February and to the one at the end of January was significant, and everyone who has worked so hard on its restoration can be justifiably proud of their efforts.

The 4VEP is now in such a condition that it can be used as hauled stock at heritage railway events, marking the end of the first phase of its restoration. However, the SETG has an ambitious – but achievable – aim to return the EMU to main line use under its own power on the Southern Region third-rail network.

A fundraising appeal is currently running towards this goal, which will see the unit equipped with mandatory safety equipment and prepa