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British Rail Class 489
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The British Rail Class 489 (GLV) is a type of electric multiple unit, specially converted for use on Gatwick Express trains, from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.
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British Rail Class 489 (GLV) | |
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![]() 489107 at Wirksworth Station on 17 April 2003. This unit is one of two preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Derbyshire. | |
In service | 1984-2005[1] |
Manufacturer | British Rail |
Order no. | 30452[2] |
Built at | Ashford/Eastleigh[2] |
Replaced | Class 427 |
Constructed |
|
Entered service | 1984[1] |
Refurbished | British Rail Engineering Limited Eastleigh (conversion)[3] |
Number built | 10 |
Number preserved | 4 sets |
Number scrapped | 3 sets. |
Formation | Single car (DMLV)[1] |
Diagram | EX561[4] |
Design code | GLV |
Fleet numbers |
|
Capacity | Luggage space only[5] |
Operators |
|
Depots | Stewarts Lane[2] |
Lines served | Brighton Main Line |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Steel[4] |
Car length | 19.495 m (63 ft 11+1⁄2 in) (over body)[4][1] |
Width | 2.826 m (9 ft 3+1⁄4 in)[1] |
Height | 3.861 m (12 ft 8 in)[4] |
Doors | Twin-leaf slam[5] |
Articulated sections | Single car |
Wheelbase |
|
Maximum speed | 90 mph (140 km/h)[5] |
Weight | 40.5 t (39.9 long tons; 44.6 short tons)[2] |
Traction system | Electric |
Traction motors | 2 × EE507 of 185 kW (248 hp)[2] |
Power output | 370 kW (500 hp) |
HVAC | Electric[4] |
Electric system(s) | 660-750 V DC third rail[1] |
Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
Bogies | SR mk4 powered and unpowered (one of each)[4] |
Braking system(s) | EP[4] |
Coupling system | Automatic drophead buckeye[4] |
Multiple working | 1951, 1957, 1963 and Gatwick Express stock[5] |
Headlight type | Originally tungsten,[4] later halogen |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Notes/references | |
Units converted in 1983-84 from Class 414/3 DMBS vehicles, to operate with Class 488.[1][2] |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/9108_at_London_Victoria.jpg/640px-9108_at_London_Victoria.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/9110_at_London_Victoria.jpg/640px-9110_at_London_Victoria.jpg)
The units were converted from Class 414 driving motors cars, by Eastleigh Works in 1983-84, for use on the new Gatwick Express service. They were used to allow push-pull operations, on the London-end of the rakes of Class 488 stock, with a Class 73 locomotive at the other end and both used for propulsion. The units were used as baggage cars.
Units were given unit numbers in the range 489101-489110, with individual carriages numbered 68500-68509. However, purely for aesthetic purposes, only the last four digits of the set numbers were shown, to fit with the traditional Southern style (maintained until privatisation by British Rail's Southern region) - older (pre-TOPS) units were originally assigned four-digit numbers. The units were originally painted in BR Blue/Grey livery, which was quickly replaced by InterCity livery. The final livery carried by these units is a variation of the InterCity livery, with a claret stripe and Gatwick Express lettering.