The Southern Electric Traction Group (SETG) and the Bluebell Railway successfully restored No.3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’, an electric multiple unit, to passenger-carrying standards.
They were helped by GB Railfreight, South Western Railway and Network Rail.
The train was part of a batch of twenty units ordered by British Rail in 1965 to replace steam traction in the Southern Region. A total of 194 units were built between 1967 and 1975. They operated throughout the Southern Region until their withdrawal from mainline services in 2005. They worked mainly around London and the South East of England.
This train has now been restored and on January 27 it was unveiled at a special event at London Waterloo.
Gordon Pettitt, a significant figure in the railway industry who the train is named after, was at the event with his family.
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A Bluebell Railway spokesman said: “Without the driving force of Gordon’s passion, determination, and invaluable advice and knowledge (along with the help and support of many of Gordon’s former work colleagues and associates) this project would have not reached the point where we are today.”
The train was previously bought by the Bluebell Railway in 2009, and since then The Southern Electric Traction Group have been involved in restoring it.
The completion of the restoration means the train can now move on to become a mainline passenger service in the future.
The train is not yet cleared for mainline service however passengers are expected to be able to ride aboard the 3417 unit in 2024.
The train was originally numbered 7717 and was part of a batch of twenty units ordered by British Rail in 1965 to replace steam traction on the Southern Region.
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