British Rail Class 419

The British Rail Class 419 Motor Luggage Vans (or MLV) were battery electric multiple unit cars built from 1959-61 by BR at Eastleigh Works.

Description

Each MLV unit is essentially a motorised BG carriage, with a driver's position at each end. Each vehicle has two luggage compartments and a guard's compartment.<ref name="BRBEMU210" /><ref name="Marsden113" />

Ten of these units were built for the boat trains from London Victoria to Dover<ref name="Marsden90" /> and Folkestone. Units were originally numbered in the range 68001-68010, but were classified Class 419 under the TOPS system and were then renumbered 419001-419010, the numbers actually carried on the units in service reduced to 9001-9010, omitting the first two digits.

The units were able to work alone, hauling a limited load,Template:Refn or work in multiple with other EP-type rolling stock,<ref name="Anon171" /> usually in conjunction with Class 410 and Class 411.<ref name="FoxKnight103" /><ref name="Fox92" /> The units were also fitted with batteries to allow them to operate over the short-distance of non-electrified quayside lines at Dover and Folkestone.<ref name="Anon171" /> The batteries allowed the units to be used at low-speed for 20–30 minutes, and could be recharged when the unit was taking power from 750 V DC third-rail.

By 1963, it was discovered that one luggage carriage was insufficient for the boat train service.<ref name="Marsden113" /> Some trains were operated with paired MLVs, which resulted in a shortage of the vehicles.<ref name="Marsden113" /> To overcome the problem, six Trailer Luggage Vans (TLV) were introduced in 1968 and kept in use alongside the MLVs until 1975.<ref name="Marsden113" /> These were numbered 68201-68206 as Class 499 and were conventional BG carriages, except for having their gangway ends sealed from use.<ref name="Marsden113" />

The MLVs were withdrawn from traffic in 1991-92, with the closure of Dover Western Docks railway station and the end of the boat train services.<ref name="Marsden113">Template:Harvnb</ref>

Prototype

The design of the units was based on an earlier vehicle, numbered 68000, which was used as a parcels van on the Tyneside DC electrified network. When the South Tyneside network was de-electrified in 1967, the unit was initially transferred for use on the Southport to Liverpool electric line before being withdrawn.

Departmental service

After withdrawal from normal service, the entire fleet was transferred to departmental service as Class 931 tractor units.<ref name="Longworth148" /><ref name="Marsden113" /> Unit 9006 was damaged in an accident at Ramsgate in 1994,Template:Contradictory inline resulting in it being withdrawn and subsequently scrapped.<ref name="Marsden113" /> Units 9003 and 9009 were specially repainted in BR Blue and LSE "Jaffa Cake" liveries, by staff at Template:Stnlnk depot, to commemorate the closure of the depot in 1995.<ref name="Marsden113" />

Most of the units were withdrawn again in 1997.<ref name="Marsden113" /> They were kept at Bournemouth depot, while they were waiting for disposal.<ref name="Marsden113" /> While there, units 9001 and 9002 stayed in use as depot shunters.<ref name="Marsden113" /> Unit 9001 was retired in 1998, and subsequently preserved.<ref name="Marsden113" /> Unit 9002 was kept by South West Trains until 2004, when former 4CEP unit 1512 replaced it.<ref name="Marsden113" />

Preservation

All but two of the units have been preserved.<ref name="Marsden113" /> One unit was scrapped after an accident whilst in service, and the other was scrapped in preservation.<ref name="Marsden113" />

The first unit to be preserved was first-built no. 9001, which was saved in 1998 after a campaign by the EPB Preservation Group. It was bought to power the group's preserved 2EPB unit, no. 5759. The units dumped at Bournemouth were put out to tender in 1999, and were bought mainly for use as storage vehicles. Their ability to move under battery-power has also allowed limited passenger use. The final unit to be saved was no. 9002, which has now been stored at Southall. After extensive overhaul at Southall 9002 ventured back onto the main line on 28 August 2015 when it was hauled by Battle Of Britain Class 34067 Tangmere to Ramsgate Depot for an open day, it returned a day later but has not been out since. The table below gives details of the current (Template:As of) locations and fates of the Class 419 units.

Fleet details

Key:	Preserved	Scrapped

Unit Number		Final Livery	DMLV<ref name="Anon171" />	Introduced<ref name="Longworth148" />	Withdrawn	Status
Original<ref name="FoxKnight103" />	Departmental<ref name="Longworth148" />
9001	931091	BR Green	68001	April 1959	1998	Stored at Southall
9002	931092	NSE	68002	May 1959	2004
9003	931093	BR Green	68003	December 1960	1997	Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway
9004	931094		68004			Preserved at the Mid-Norfolk Railway
9005	931095	LSE "Jaffa Cake"	68005	January 1961		Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway
9006	-	-	68006	January 1961	December 1991<ref name="Longworth148" />	Scrapped March 1994 following a collision.<ref name="Longworth148" />Template:Citation needed
9007	931097	-	68007	February 1961	1997	Scrapped 2006 for spares.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
9008	931098	BR Green	68008	March 1961	1997	Stored at Southall
9009	931099		68009
9010	931090	In house colours	68010			Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway

Models

A OO gauge model of the Class 419 MLV has been produced by Bachmann Branchline.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

References

Sources

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Further reading

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite magazine

External links

• The Southern E-Group page on the Class 419s or MLVs.
• EPB Preservation Group - owners of preserved units 9001 and 9002.
• Eden Valley Railway - owners of preserved units 9003 and 9005.

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