British Rail Class 442 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 442 Wessex Electric |
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442419 "BBC South Today" at London Waterloo on 19 July 2003. This train is painted in South West Trains Express livery
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| In service | 1988–2007, 2008– |
| Manufacturer | BREL |
| Built at | Derby Works |
| Family name | Mark 3-derived |
| Number built | 24 trainsets |
| Number in service | 8/17 trainsets |
| Formation | 5 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | (SWT) 266 standard class, 50 first class |
| Operator(s) | Southern |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | DTS - 23.15 m (75 ft 11.4 in) TSO/TSW/MLC - 23 m (75 ft) |
| Width | 2.74 m (9 ft) |
| Height | 3.81 m (12.5 ft) |
| Maximum speed | 160 km/h (100 mph) |
| Weight | Trainset total 202.84 t (199.64 long tons; 223.59 short tons) |
| Traction system | 4 x English Electric 546 of 300 kW (402.31 hp) each |
| Power output | 1,200 kW (1,610 hp) |
| Power supply | Third rail electric |
| Electric system(s) | 750V DC |
| Braking system(s) | Disc |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The Class 442 Wessex Electric trains are special electric trains used in Britain. They are also known as "5WES" trains. These trains started running in 1988. They were mainly used on the South Western Main Line. This line connects London Waterloo to towns like Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, and Weymouth.
Twenty-four of these trains were built between 1988 and 1989. They were made by a company called BREL at their Derby works. These trains started running when the electric lines were finished all the way to Weymouth. The company South West Trains operated all these trains until February 2007. After that, other trains took over their services.
Contents
What is the Class 442 Wessex Electric?
The Class 442 is a type of electric train. This means it runs on electricity and has its own engines. It does not need a separate locomotive to pull it. These trains were designed for long-distance journeys. They offered a comfortable ride for passengers.
How Many Trains Were Built?
A total of 24 Class 442 train sets were built. Each train set has five cars or carriages. This made them quite long trains. They were built to handle many passengers.
Where Did These Trains Run?
The Class 442 trains mostly ran on the South Western Main Line. This is a very important railway line. It connects London Waterloo to the south coast of England. Key destinations included Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, and Weymouth.
Why Were They Introduced?
These trains were introduced in 1988. This was a special time because the railway line from Bournemouth to Weymouth was just finished being electrified. Electrification means adding electric power lines to the tracks. The Class 442s were perfect for these new electric lines.
Who Operated the Class 442 Trains?
For many years, the South West Trains company operated the entire fleet of Class 442 trains. They were a familiar sight on the South Western Main Line.
When Did Their Service Change?
The Class 442 trains ran regularly until February 2007. At that time, South West Trains replaced them with newer trains. However, some of these trains have been refurbished and are now used by other operators.
Images for kids
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The inside of a refurbished First Class section.
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A Class 442 train at Weymouth station in September 1992.
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442414 in Gatwick Express colors at Battersea Park in June 2009.
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442403 approaching Eastleigh in June 2019.
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Network SouthEast 442410 approaching Mount Pleasant crossing in 1988.
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