This history was prepared by John Atkinson, and we are grateful for his permission to publish these notes detailing the life & times of 7717 from production at York.
“Some notes concerning 4 VEP 7717, then 3017 and 3417 from my records.
First twenty units, build was split with DTCs from York Carriage Works, and the MBS and TS coaches from Derby Litchurch Lane. This was done to speed-up construction as York was busy doing all the Mark 1 conversions for the TC and REP trailers.
Coaches for 7717 as follows:-
Unit ordered 30-4-65 as part of batch of first twenty units.
DTC 76262 LOT 30758 Diag. 458 Code FB
TS 70797 LOT 30759 Diag. 474 Code BQ
MBS 62137 LOT 30760 Diag. 880 Code EB
DTC 76263. LOT 30758 Diag. 458 Code FB
DTC 76262 released from York 27-5-67.
DTC 76263 released from York 3-6-67.
TS 70797 & MBS 62137 both released from Derby 17-6-67.
Unit 7717 was released into traffic after commissioning from 8-7-67, finished in plain blue livery, with blue cab ends and small yellow panel, also raised metal BR symbols on cab sides. It was allocated from new to Bournemouth depot for SWD duties.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 16-6-70, released 2-7-70 with ‘paint dates’ of 29-6-70 (76263) and 30-6-70 (other three). Unit now had full yellow ends and lost the metal BR symbols on cab sides.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 21-8-72, released 7-9-72 with ‘paint dates’ 5-9-72, now in blue/grey livery. Almost immediately after this overhaul DTC 76262 was temporarily replaced by 76370 (ex spare and still plain blue) and unit used for a few days from 25-9-72 for ‘windscreen washer tests’ propelled around by ‘Big ED’ E6101. For much of 1973 unit 7717 was used for various brake tests (presumably based at RSD Strawberry Hill).
First ‘C1’ overhaul at Eastleigh between 3-4-74 and 26-4-74 (‘paint dates’ 24-4-74).
AWS activated on the unit during 1975.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 9-6-76, released 22-6-76 with ‘paint dates’ 16-6-76 (76262), 17-6-76 (62137) and 18-6-76 (other two).
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 15-8-78, released 7-9-78 with ‘paint dates’ 25-8-78 (62137), 30-8-78 (70797 and 76262) and 31-8-78 (76263).
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C1’ overhaul ?-1-81 and released ?-2-81 (‘paint dates’ for all cars 16-2-81).
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul ?-5-84 and released ?-7-84 (‘paint dates’ for all cars 30-6-84).
Unit to Eastleigh 27-10-86 where both DTCs removed for C1A overhaul and asbestos strip. Both centre cars formed with DTCs 76340 and 76690 temporarily and ran as 7717 until returned to Eastleigh 201186 and both 62137 and 70797 taken-in for ‘C1’ overhaul. Whole unit released, back in original formation from 16-1-87 now in first version of NSE livery. Both DTCs rebuilt with the saloon-end first class compartment downgraded to seat 8 standard.
Unit renumbered 3017 during August 1987.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul ?-2-90, released ?-3-90 (‘paint dates’ for all cars 15-3-90).
Now in second version of NSE livery and both DTCs had their compartments reconfigured with the ‘standard class’ one now adjacent to the toilet.
Unit allocated to Eastleigh from 14-5-90, its first move away from Bournemouth since new.
Unit allocated to Wimbledon Park from 14-1-91.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 26-11-92 and all coaches fitted with fluorescent lighting, released 23-12-92.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C1’ overhaul 17-8-93 MBS 62137 had brakevan rebuilt and was released 30-10-93 now part of unit 3543. The three trailers were all released 27-9-93 now formed with MBS 62236 (ex unit 3075) and the unit renumbered 3417.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C6’ overhaul 5-2-97, released 28-2-97 now in SWT livery.
Unit to Eastleigh for ‘C6C’ overhaul 14-7-00, released 8-8-00 still in SWT livery.
Unit restored to near original livery at Wimbledon Park during May 2004 and named at Waterloo 2-6-04.
From here on, I presume you know the story………..”
Origins of MBS 62236.
Ordered 12-1-68 to LOT 30794, diag. 881, code EB-2A.
New as part of unit 7775 into traffic 14-5-69, allocated to Streatham Hill.
To Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 19-10-71, released 29-10-71 (‘paint date’ 28-10-71). Changed from plain blue to blue/grey livery.
Allocated to Lovers Walk (Brighton) from 10-7-72.
To Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 26-9-73, released 10-10-73 (‘paint date’ 8-10-73).
To Eastleigh for ‘C1’ overhaul 17-11-75, released 4-12-75 (‘paint date’ 1-12-75).
To Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul 12-6-79, released 22-6-79 (‘paint date’ 21-6-79).
Allocated to Ramsgate from 1-10-79.
To Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul ?-10-83, released ?-10-83 (‘paint date’ 25-10-83).
Allocated to Wimbledon Park from 19-8-85.
To Eastleigh for ‘C1’ overhaul ?-12-86, released ?-2-87 (‘paint date’ 12-2-87), now in first version of NSE livery.
Unit 7775 renumbered 3075 in August 1987.
Unit 3075 to Eastleigh for ‘C3’ overhaul ?-2-90, released ?-3-90 (‘paint date’ 21-3-90). Changed from first to second version of NSE livery.
To Eastleigh for ‘C1’ overhaul 13-7-93 and brakevan rebuilt, released 27-9-93 as part of unit 3417.
