Today marks the official launch of an appeal to raise £50,000 to help bring 3417 back into mainline operation. Over the past few years, despite COVID 19 and the enforced pause in the restoration of the unit, the SETG team have been patiently working towards bringing 3417 back into traffic on preserved lines. We are now on the cusp of that goal and are working towards an event in the New Year which will formally launch 3417 back into traffic.
As part of that upcoming announcement, we are today unveiling plans to raise significant funds which will underwrite works including fitting GSM-R radio equipment and OTMR ‘Black Box’ systems to both driving trailers. Additionally we are going to undertake work to fit anti-override components to the buckeye couplers, fitting Controlled Emission Toilet equipment to the unit and – most crucially of all – carrying out preparatory work for the installation of Central Door Locking equipment to the unit. More than 40 years after being built, 3417 will finally carry the equipment that will allow it to return to where it belongs; the mainline, carrying passengers on the Southern Electric once again.
We are pleased to say that this announcement is being published in December’s edition of The Railway Magazine; our thanks go to Hassard Stacpoole for assisting us with the article.
You can donate here: https://gofund.me/30464751
