This page contains brief notes on each unit's history supplied by John Atkinson with significant events from their latter days of operation added later by the webmaster.

(left) Brighton is well off Wessex units' normal purlieu, however this group's "Coming of Age" Railtour took u2413 - appropriately the reverse number of our 4 Cor 3142 - to the cosmopolitan Sussex resort on 7th December 1991. This before returning to Victoria, thence to Portsmouth Harbour and finally Weymouth via Fareham. Note this was during one of the periods when the front hatch covers were off!
photograph by Colin Duff

2413 was delivered to Bournemouth on the 9th July 1988. MBLS 62949 from this unit was exchanged with 62957 (ex 2421) during August 1990. 2413 reverted to its normal formation towards the end of October 1990. The unit went to Crewe on 7th March 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 11th April 1998. 2413 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 21st February 2000.

This unit went to Bombardier Ilford for its C6 overhaul between 23rd October and 9th November 2006. On 15th December 2006 its DTS 77423 was failed and swapped with 77418 from already withdrawn 2418. To keep up an eventful final few months this unit failed at Branksome on 8th January 2007 whilst working the 08.05 Waterloo to Poole. It was reunited with its own DTS on 25th January and its last working was on the 30th January. It was used for a Freightliner driver training trip (Freightliner drivers being used to move the units to store) between Bournemouth and Weymouth on 24th January. 2413's last working was the 23.05 Waterloo to Bournemouth serice on 30th January. It was put into store at Eastleigh on 2nd February.

2413 was used on 17th May with 2405 on a training run between Eastleigh and Basingstoke for Freightliner Heavy Haul drivers. On 8th October this unit was moved within Eastleigh Works by shunter 07007. In 2008 this unit has had outings to Basingstoke on 19th February with 2404 and on 19th March with 2407. On 13th May 2413 was moved, accompanied by 73205 and 73209, from Eastleigh to Lovers Walk. On 30th June and 1st July this unit was paired with 2406 on training runs, but running these alone on 15th July. During the week commencing 28th July 2413 and 2404 were out together on Sussex training runs.

(left) The Portsmouth Direct Line is no stranger to Class 442 units, however 2414 is seen here passing through Havant on 27th December 2005 on its way to Weymouth, diverted due to major track engineering work at Woking.
photograph by Mike Cook

2414 was delivered to Bournemouth on 21st July 1988. DTF 77395 was exchanged with 77382 (ex 2401) on 11th October 1988. Its original formation was restored by November 1988. DTS 77419 was slightly damaged in collision with a car at Holme level crossing near Wool on 7th January 1990. This unit went to Crewe on 24th October 1998 for MBLS modifications, being released on 6th November 1998. 2414 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 15th November 2000.

Its last working was the 08.35 Waterloo to Bournemouth service on 2nd January 2007 prior to going to Ilford for its C6 overhaul the next day. It returned from Ilford in "white and grey" livery (see 2421) on 18th January as far as Poole Yard, moving onto Bournemouth T&RSMD the next day. It never returned to service and was put into store at Eastleigh on 24th January.

If units are stored with the prospect of being reactivated it is necessary to move them periodically to keep them in running order. On 31st October 2414 did a round trip between Eastleigh Works and Basingstoke with 2404 and again on 28th November with 2408. On 3rd December 2414 was hauled by 47830 with 2412 to Wolverton works, the first two units to undergo refurbishment for Southern's forthcoming Victoria - Brighton Gatwick Express services. The motor brake car was moved by road to Derby during December, believed for "sway" testing.

2415 was delivered to Bournemouth on 4th august 1988. Its MBLS 62951 was named ‘Mary Rose' at Portsmouth & Southsea on 1st June 1992. The unit was sent to Crewe on 21st November 1998 for MBLS modifications and was released on 5th December 1998. 2415 was then refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 9th October 2000.

its last working was the 21.05 Waterloo to Poole service on 10th November 2006. It was separated from its MBLS for most of January 2007 whilst in store at Bournemouth. It was put into store at the former Alstom Works at Eastleigh on 2nd February. As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Not having a C6 overhaul before coming off lease nor having been run since being in store it is believed 2415 is not a candidate for going on lease to Southern.

(above) The third opportunity taken by Network SouthEast to show off their new Wessex Electric units, this time away their from normal territory, was at the Network day at London Bridge on 28th August 1988.
photograph by Colin Duff

2416 was delivered to Bournemouth on 23rd August 1988.

Getting somewhat away from regional themed naming, MBLS 62952 was named "Mum in a million, Doreen Scanlon" at Waterloo on 10th March 1997. Subsequently this unit has been affectionately referred to by enthusiasts as "our Doreen". This unit went to Crewe as the prototype for the second series of luggage van modifications on 3rd January 1998. 2416 was released to traffic on 21st March 1998, also being the first Wessex Electric in a new version of South West Trains livery. It was not put back into traffic until 7th April following resolution of a number of problems with the new layout in the MBLS. This unit was refurbished at Eastleigh and returned to traffic on 15th December 2000.

This unit is fitted with a non-standard Liebherr air conditioning system. Problems with this led to unit being briefly taken ‘off lease' on 4th August 2006 and stored at Bournemouth depot. However, due to a shortage of units repairs were undertaken and unit restored to use from 11th August 2006.

Thunderbird 73235 was attached to the front of this unit at Woking on 2nd October 2006 due to a faulty speedometer in the leading cab. To add to its eventful life it was failed at Weymouth on 28th December. This unit was then split at Bournemouth whilst its motor bogies were swapped with those from stored 2421. It returned to service on 31st December but its last working was the very next day on the 11.51 Bournemouth to Waterloo service.

"Our Doreen" was the class 442 unit remaining at Bournemouth and was not moved to Eastleigh until 3rd May. As far as can be established this unit has not moved since, except perhaps within the confines of Eastleigh Works. Because of the non standard airconditioning it is believed that 2416 is not a candidate for going on lease to Southern.

(above) 2416 at Bournemouth at the head up an up working on 1st February 2003. photograph by Neil Walkling
(top) 2416 at the rear of an up working departing Southampton on 14th August 2004. photograph by Colin Duff