Bachmann 4CEP EMU
31-426
The CEP in the coding stands for 'Corridor Electro-Pneumatic' - the latter referring to the brakes. They were constructed in 1956-63 by BR at Eastleigh as express commuter trains. 111 4-car units were built and were originally numbered 7101 to 7211. They were a development of the Southern Railway 4COR units that had been built in 1937.
The 4CEPs were built for the Kent Coast electrification scheme and were based on the
Mk1 coach design. The first four units were used initially from 1956 on Central Division
services. Operating on the British Railways Southern Region 650/750 volts DC third rail
system. The units replaced steam operation on services to Margate, Ramsgate, Dover and
Folkestone. All units were refurbished at Swindon Works between 1980 and 1983 and were
subsequently renumbered in the series 1501 to 1621, the additional units being provided
from 4BEP (Class 410) units. After privatisation, the units saw service with Connex
SouthEastern (later South Eastern Trains), Connex South Central and South West Trains. The
first unit was withdrawn in 2002 and the last in 2005. Several vehicles have been
preserved.
The Bachmann model, in late Southern Region multiple unit green livery with yellow warning panels, depicts the vehicles in the original condition as running between delivery and refurbishment. The unit is numbered 7126 and contains cars S61399, S61338, S70320 and S70277. It utilises components from the Bachmann Mk1 CK and SCK vehicles, but has authentic bogies, lit indicator boxes and new roofs. The Southern Electric Group assisted Bachmann in developing the model. It is released as a 4-car set and is 'DCC ready', with a 21-pin DCC decoder socket fitted. It is essential for the cars to be assembled in the prescribed order for the unit to work, otherwise the continuous electrical circuit will be broken. In 2009, it was voted best 00 scale electric or diesel locomotive model of the year.