Introduced in 1989, they were designed for one route: the former mainline of the London & South Western Railway from Waterloo to Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth.
Sleek and fast -- they still hold the world speed record for 3rd rail traction -- these lovelies were based on BR's Mk3 family of coaches, whose passenger comfort has never really been equalled on Britain's rails.
The flagship of BR's Network SouthEast division, these beauties transformed travel on this line.
With privatisation they were dumped by the dynamic new franchisee, who preferred to use bog-standard outer suburban units that offered less passenger comfort but less running cost.
In the bizarre world of Britain's railways they've now found a new home on the London-Brighton line, undertaking work for which they're not particularly well designed. But it's better than them rotting in sidings.
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