Some mention has been made of a CIG possibly coming to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway
Whether it does or not, In order to help folks see how the histories of this unit and the CEP 1198 co-existed, there is a potted history of both below. Someone asked me for this info at the weekend, as well as what the differences are; I cannot remember who right now, but here goes...
Differences between CEPs and CIGs
It is important to realise that CEPs were Southern built - for the Southern, while the CIGs were York built late Mk1 when Mk2s were becoming all the rage; it thus has the curved front and MK2 type bogies, while a CEP is more 'angular' at the ends
The CEPs were the natural follow on from the earlier wooden-bodied Maunsell units like the 4CORs or 'Nelsons', their initial layout was basically that of a 4COR only built to Mk1 bodywork with EP braking. As built, they followed the SR system of a motor bogie under each driving cab and guards brake behind the driver's cab.
The CIGs were more of an AC builder's idea of a DC unit, the motors are concentrated in one of the centre non-driving cars (the MBS), and this can make low speed shunting fairly tricky.
The CEPs were First Generation EMUs, before them was unelectrified tracks, the CIGs replaced wooden bodied EMUs such as the CORs, PULs and even Brighton Belle stock and thus were 2nd Generation stock.
The CIG's refurbishment was at Wolverton, before the CEP's, and meant they kept the sliding windows, wooden doorframes in compartments, and so on.
The CEPs, on the other hand were refurbished later on, at Swindon, and emerged very different from before; gone were the two guards brakes per unit, now there was one in one of the central trailers (the CK becoming the TBC - Trailing Brake Composite), the sticky (and more dangerous from the point of a 90mph plus unit) sliding windows which were a pain to replace if smashed were out and in came modern hoppers. Out went the old wood and in came light and airy aluminium compartments and melamine.
Both had buffet variants,
CEP [Corridored EP braked - class 411] had BEP [Buffet EP braked - class 412].
CIG [Corridored Brighton - class 421] had BIG [Buffet Brighton - class 422]; (IG being the code for Brighton).
Remember, the SR system of unit numbers consisting of 4 digits continues to this day with some modern stock, the last 4 digits of the TOPS unit number only being carried, thus 1198's full number is 411 198 and 1399's is 421 399
Current layouts
1198:- DMSA - TBC - DMSB
1399:- DTC - MBS - TSO [ex-CEP] - DTC
Anyway, the histories... (with Thanks to John Atkinson)
16-9-60 CEP TSK 70508 new from Eastleigh, part of 4CEP unit 7159, for phase 2 of the Kent Coast Electrification
24-11-60 4CEP unit 7175 new from Eastleigh, for phase 2 of the Kent Coast Electrification, coaches 61736 + 70573 + 70524 + 61737.
21-8-71 4CIG unit 7397 new from York, part of 4COR replacement, unit later renumbered under TOPS as (42)1297
17-2-81 CEP TSK 70508 converted at Swindon to a TSO and still part of refurbished 4CEP 7159 now numbered under TOPS as (41)1595
5-5-83 4CEP unit 7175 sent to Swindon for refurb, emerging minus its TSK 70524 (to renumbered unit 1621) and gaining a buffet car (69344) instead, unit numbered under TOPS as 4BEP (41)2304
late 1988, 4BEP unit 2304 rebogied and has Greyhound modification.
27-3-89 CEP unit 1595's TSO 70508 hit by stores unit at Stewarts lane, repaired at Selhurst
27-11-89 4CIG unit 1297 loses TS and gains a buffet car instead, becoming a 4BIG and renumbered (42)2256
2-6-96 4BEP unit 2304 has Buffet car decommissioned, this is across the whole fleet, trolley service starts instead.
16-7-99 CEP TSO 70508 removed from unit 1595 at Chart Leacon- which became 3CEP 1117.
11-9-99 CEP TSO 70508 moved to Eastleigh where it was built, and added to new 4CIG unit being formed of 2256 minus the buffet car, now numbered (42)1399
20-9-02 4BEP unit 2304 loses decommissioned buffet car (which goes to renumbered unit 2324) and gains a TSO, (70517) renumbered 2314, while technically now a CEP, it's TOPS number is still a class 412, not 411 [BEP not CEP]
29-5-04 unit 2314 loses TSO and is reformed for work on the Lymington Line, numbered 1198 as a 3CEP and gaining the moniker 'Linda the Lymington Flyer' It has retained the coaches 61736 + 70573 + 61737 throughout.
24-12-04 3CEP unit 1198 works its last SWT service, 20:44 Lymington - Brockenhurst. It later runs from Bournemouth depot to Fratton depot for shoegear removal
12-1-05 3CEP unit 1198 hauled to Meldon for service.
9-3-05 4CIG unit 1399 taken out of service with electrical faults while working 06:42 Hilsea - Waterloo, taken initially to Wimbledon park. Condemned there.
6-4-05 4CIG unit 1399 moved to Clapham Yard for store
13-4-05 4CIG unit 1399 hauled to Meldon for store.
2005 and 2006 3CEP 1198 was sanded, primered and painted; the airbraked steam engine it was supposed to work with had a cracked boiler and its replacement is only vac braked. Requests to use the class 73 in multiple are rejected as it is felt to be too heavy for the 1 in 70 gradient.
In Oct 2006 however 1198 and the TC work together during the diesel gala 1198 has ETH fitted and is popular with a lot of people.
Meantime the only action 1399 had was to be shunted from its siding to 1198's siding a month or so before the gala.
2007 saw little use of 1198 or 1399; however, 1198 was to be given a fitness to run and be used for driver training with 73117 in multiple, getting up to 60mph linespeed between Okehampton and Coleford Junction.
During 2007 1399 was put up for sale, at the time the Bluebell Railway was attempting to persuade people they were not just a steam railway, 1399's owner let it be known they could have 1399 for nothing if this were the case. Bluebell Railway did not take up the offer.
2008 After a vote between the Eden Valley Railway and the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, the P&B was chosen and 1198 was delivered by road to Furnace sidings, making a few test runs to and from Whistle Inn with 73126 in multiple.
1399 meantime has been sold to Save the Cigs, and their website states they hope it can come to P&BR for storage. It remains at Meldon at this time.
Anyway, I hope this explains a bit about the differences and histories of these units?
I am now off to bed, Goodnight
Regards
Albert
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