SWR Class 455 in British Rail Livery

South Western Railway have a "new" livery for one of its Class 455 units, inspired by the original 1980's British Rail colours.
Unit number 455 868 has received a makeover at Bournemouth Depot, during its last paint job ahead of its eventual retirement, and SWR invited me down to Chessington South to go for a ride ...
Francis Bourgeois video on the SWR Channel : • Francis Bourgeois meet...

[@jamesrobert94949]

Geoff reliving his childhood is just pure gold.

[@Jonsku124Transit]

real

[@user-acs64]

You gotta thank SWR for letting him have a Cab Ride and the Paint Scheme

[@RHTeebs]

SWR has done my heart well. I hate to say it, but that looks more fetching than their current livery. It's so simplistic, and so nice.

[@winterbliss4459]

reminds me of the livery they have on a lot of their desiro units

[@caramelldansen2204]

SWR's livery for the 455s is so much better than Merseyrail's livery for the 507s and 508s (considering they've both also done BR Blue homage liveries) so I can't say I blame you but I must also tell you that it could have been so much worse! 😅

[@R160A]

My thoughts exactly

[@neilpearson157]

Absolutely great that SWR have used staff skills to repaint a train 'properly' rather than using vinyl overlays. The finished train looks superb and is a fitting tribute to the Bournemouth depot staff and their craftsmanship.

[@sabersz]

This was the one I saw going in a while back then!! Was wondering what it was doing down here

[@soulman3590]

I've just retired from SWR as a driver. I drove 455's which were a nice train to drive. Separate power and brake handles which always reminded me of the CEP's/CIG's/VEP's I drove because they had the same. I'm so pleased to see this BR livery. I never liked the red. 43 years of use is amazing. I only ever had 1 failure in all the years so they are very reliable.

[@caramelldansen2204]

It could have been worse - look at the current Merseyrail livery on their 3-PEPs!

[@soulman3590]

@@caramelldansen2204 you're not wrong!

[@alfi_csgo6011]

One failure mate?! Respectfully I’ve not been a productive guard for even a few months now and I’ve already had 2 train faults on mine, notably MA.

[@EILEENZ0122]

Oh you are super cool! Thx for ur devotion😘 I tried the app mentioned by comments section, amazingly it is 💥super save🤩

[@ZackMurray12]

I was on this unit yesterday, i cant say that i miss the old BR livery because im not old enough to remember, but im glad to see SWR taking to hand that the 455s have been the backbone of the South West of london for 41 years now and giving a big tribute by painting this train!

[@not_lewis2649]

same shepperton to London via Richmond was the route

[@RandomTFLupdates-PEPS_FOR_LIFE]

ZACK! TOP COMMENT ON GEOFFS VID?! WELL DONE!

[@ZackMurray12]

i have no idea how this "top comment" thing works but yeah im suprised i am. Its probs just luck i guess@@RandomTFLupdates-PEPS_FOR_LIFE

[@TransportForLuka]

​​@@ZackMurray12 it's the comment with the most likes, congrats for being it on Geoff's vid, that's great, I got the recommendation for your video too, I will watch it now

[@EILEENZ0122]

Oh that’s amazing😮 Train will be faster and has more scenery on the way🥹 and with discount the price will be affordable as well😂

[@norbitonflyer5625]

These were just coming in when I started commuting into Waterloo in 1983. I never thought I would retire before they did, but as it turns out my last journey home from work was indeed on a 455

[@rikufryderyk]

How kind of SWR to arrange a cab ride for you and tell you about where this specific train was- will be really sad to see your childhood trains leave in a couple years' time. Hope you enjoyed the day :)

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

The absolute JOY on your face as the 455 pulled in was magic! 😍

[@Nyx._]

Going to miss the 455's once they're gone. Spent a lot of my childhood on them

[@spenny690]

What a classy touch. Took me back to my youth in the 80s. Also love the golden spanners, recognising usually unsung tradespeople

[@andrewhotston983]

Classy is the word.

[@Desiro360]

Excellent video. Nice of SWR to pay tribute to the 455's. Also nice that you got to relive a childhood memory. 😀

[@Puckoon2002]

Geoff, strictly speaking the second platform at Chessington South has never been used. The line was meant continue beyond Chessington, hence the second platform unused platform, the train service has never warranted more than one platform, so the second one has just been left to become what you saw.

[@michaelmiller641]

It's nice to still be able to hear that reciprocating sound of the compressor! For me ,the nostalgia would be for 1925 and 1940-4-sub units! I'm that old!

[@caramelldansen2204]

likewise it making me nostalgic for the 3-PEP units

[@soulman3590]

Subs were awesome. They didn't have a speedometer. I use to spot them as a kid but they were withdrawn then so didn't see many. I believe there's just 1 surviving unit. Never seen it though.

[@grahamhutton3129]

Fantastic livery. Need one in the ultra classic NSE toothpaste livery as well.

[@MRTransportVideos]

Which version of NSE - Angular or Curved?

[@grahamhutton3129]

@@MRTransportVideos I reckon angular

[@AaronThompson]

With the door requirements it would look quite strange - probably why it hasn't been done

[@MrTudwud]

The 317/318/455 types have given fantastic service, comparable to the old "slammers". Can't see their replacements lasting half the time. Bring back BREL!!!!!

[@generalfilms9947]

Class 455's have been my childhood trains I'll miss them

[@Pesmog]

I love retro liveries and that one looks great 👍 I also loved it in 2019 when British airways repainted one of its 747's in the Classic BOAC colour scheme. I even like it when the local bus company or Road haulage company repaints a modern vehicle in their original livery to celebrate a major anniversary. To some it may be nostalgic tosh, but I enjoy it.

[@musicevangelist]

Love heritage liveries, whether they are on planes or trains. Looks amazing and is a great burst of nostalgia for those who remember them.

[@xander1052]

I can see so happy Geoff was, literally a big kid getting to relive a good time.

[@thelundygruffalo]

Merseyrail have painted a Class 507 in similar, before their total replacement by the Class 777.

[@rypieuwu]

unit 001 to be specific

[@Fedderz]

313 also done same colour scheme

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I do like that colour scheme, real smart.

[@caramelldansen2204]

Trains used to be smart.

[@97SEMTEX]

Respect to the workers who did the livery it looks great! Also serious well done to the people who have kept the fleet of 455's running as reliably as you have!

[@CornishGardenTeam]

I really hope one of these units is preserved. I also really hope, one day, we have a heritage railway that can run overhead and third rail stock given that we have lost so much of our electric locomotive and EMU heritage, which is ironic given that electric everything seems to be the future.

[@vinceturner3863]

Lovely video. Glad SWR have done something nostalgic!

[@TheDaf95xf]

WOW Geoff great video of the 455 in classic BR blue & grey 👍🏻 Lovely gesture of letting you recreate an official cab ride lol 😂 Well done SWR 🤩 As a boy train spotting in the 70s I had lots of cab rides and spent many days inside signal boxes 👍🏻

[@iaingardener9268]

Never thought I’d be nostalgic for the old blue and grey but compared to some of today’s liveries it’s positively restrained

[@camotech1314]

Geoff so happy reliving his childhood, makes me smile this video! 😊😊 Shame he couldn't film in the cab, I wonder why this is. 🤔

[@dc1]

He's not reliving it, he hasn't left it yet!!

[@maxmusic2198]

Watched this video late last night and saw it pulling into Clapham junction just now this morning on my commute. Glad i saw this video explaining the livery otherwise I would have been rather confused!

[@chrismoore4423]

Love the 455’s…. Growing up in Teddington I was really excited when 508’s and then 455’s replaced SUBs and EPB’s. The slam door stock was great though…. The sounds, the smells…. Talking of unofficial cab rides, I was incredibly lucky to get a ride in a 47 from Paddington to Oxford and back in the early ‘80s….. such a great time!

[@HSTPaul]

The unit looks fantastic, I'll be going out for it the next free day I have. It makes a change something being painted rather than vinyl. Great job SWR.

[@tajammulrizvi9504]

Nice Initiative by SWR Team.

[@MargaretUK]

I was smiling all the way through this, lovely to see that livery again. So happy for you to have that experience again, nice one Geoff 👍 👏

[@Mystic_Mog]

Those 455s were my world - I used to ride from Chessington North to Clapham to go to school on those trains. Painted Chessy South station for my A Level art piece. Good times ❤

[@grahamtritton7517]

I’m on this train today, been looking out for it since the post. Looks great and is pretty nostalgic!😊

[@StuartClary]

I grew up alongside the Chessington line and went to school next door to the South station. I too remember the novelty of getting automatic door trains back then. Sad to see them go, they were the trains we got on for adventures in London, and now my kids do the same when they're visiting their grandparents

[@euanduthie2333]

Even with SWR staff watching you, it must have been so tempting to have a go on those controls. The signal was clear as well.

[@AndyGabrielPowell]

My old stomping ground! I lived in Motspur Park during my childhood years. The island station retained it's original 1925 SR canopy and buildings until re-modelling in 2023, alas. The level crossing used to be opened and closed by a wheel that would be turned by hand by the signalman in the old signalbox (alas also demolished.) No 455's back then - all 4-SUB (405)!

[@martinbeaumont1135]

The last time I rode one of these (late 80's/early 90's) on the network that livery would have been standard cross the fleet. Oh the joy, Waterloo or Victoria - which line will get me into town the quickest.

[@Bve542]

So cool the old 455 is in its home livery

[@randomtrainfan6501]

I've spent the last 2 days riding and recording that unit. Looks fantastic

[@ashbridgeindustries380]

I'm a big fan of these revised classic liveries. LNER's recent modified Intercity 225 livery is another great example. They do a great job of capturing the essence of the original despite the restrictions of modern safety guidelines.

[@richcolour]

Nice video! My office overlooks Waterloo, I'll tell everyone to look out the window when it first makes an appearance! They will be able to contain their excitement.

[@TonyandHorse]

Seen it yestaday while working one of our racehorses on the gallops near Effingham junction. I thought some how I travelled back in time🤣

[@Sparky-Tim]

Well done Geoff, what an amazing thing for SWR to do. Love the livery, it's a shame more company's don't do the same & replace some of the gaudy colour schemes that they have. The "old" blue & grey brings back so many memories of past rail journeys. Almost brought a tear to my eyes 😢, (of nostalgia). Keep up the great work on these brilliant videos. 🙂👍

[@paulrb894]

Good video, the original swr small seats where blue , the green ones where on southern trains, also the 455 have many parts from the 4sub units they replaced, the compressors and traction motors* as well as trailer cars from 508s in the 455-7 units. * They didn't even rewire the motors etc, just slung them in as is , cheers

[@williamlong7188]

Geoff this is personally my favourite train livery and I wish it was brought back all over the UK blue white and yellow with the BR Logo.

[@simonroyle2806]

I'm thinking of retirement, these things were in service when I started working!

[@timbennett3348]

Looks smart. It would be good if they could do another in NSE livery. I also still remember having a cab ride in the 1980s from Reading to Guilford.

[@boriss.861]

Stunning Job Guys & Girls on all the effort that went on preparing those coaches for the final livery. I can only imagine that many hoops were jumped through!

[@alexselby349]

Loved this more than NSE livery back in the day ❤

[@WandaDT]

Watching these videos has become the one thing that brings peace to my brain for a while, and puts a smile on my face. Thanks for being so enthusiastic, Geoff, it's catching!

[@fuzzynutter8344]

Stunning work by SWR. I do like seeing retro liveries making an appearance on multiple units, especially on ones which carried them years ago. Not far from where I live, a Class 323 has been repainted into Regional Railways Centro livery and it looks fabulous.

[@soundssensational4568]

Brilliant. Nice to see you back on trains again!!

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

What a beautiful train, what an amazing experience!

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

I had a cab ride back in the 80's as a teenager , Romford to Upminster 👍

[@tonys1636]

That looked so good it should become the standard livery, that or the old British Railways SR green with the yellow square with the black triangle on the front.

[@kippen64]

So happy for you. This really awesome. What a truly great invitation.

[@andrewhotston983]

I love the compressor noise - reminds me of the old slam-door units on the line from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street.

[@eannamcnamara9338]

1:39 I had a similar experience once. When I was about 7 I was returning home in Paris from a rugby match, and my dad and I were cramed into the front of the tram, but I loved it because I could see Into the cab. The driver noticed me staring and let me in. He even let me open the doors!

[@karimkekhia4369]

i absolutely love this..i saw this leaving clapham junc yesterday and was well chuffed. i pointed it out to the staff at epsom today as it was doing a guildford..really really so happy to see this..we need more units like this

[@egg2063]

I actually saw this train being repainted at the Bournemouth depot, I wondered what was going on with it! The livery looks great!

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Amazing...! That's how they looked when I was first working on them...

[@koputai]

Wow, that’s beautiful. Well done SWR.

[@mohatchett8001]

I remember catching the no18 from Wimbledon to Chessington south to go to the Zoo or to see family that lived in Almshouse Lane.

[@daroldcarold3443]

Was 18 the route number of the train during british rail?

[@thesalopgardener]

There's a lot to be said for classic livery on 'modern' rolling stock. We should see more of it. Bravo SWR.

[@BrecklandSpotting]

You do realise that is an old train and the livery would've been used for the train

[@thesalopgardener]

@@BrecklandSpotting many thanks for you condescending remark. Hence why I said 'modern'.

[@JoolsBurke]

Spotted it on Friday when I was on the way to Portsmouth Harbour - glad you showed what the golden spanners are as I couldn't make them out across the platform from my train

[@matthewcole7587]

Fantastic! Thank You Geoff!! Love the old BR color.

[@paulking9734]

I remember these coming into service as I was commuting from Worcester Park at the time. Went into Waterloo on a 4 sub and came home on a new 455..quite an eye opener at the time and yes the seats were low back so not madly comfortable, but the ride was so smooth!.

[@samwat88]

Wow that livery looks amazing. Well done to SWR. 👏

[@TonyAbbeyFETraining]

What a lovely experience for all involved!

[@timwingham8952]

Beautifully finished. Paint! Not vinyl! Well done SWR.

[@michellebell5092]

They look so good . I do hope I find it and go on it. Nice one SWR .

[@BB_thetransportdude137]

I'm glad they kept the 455s and SWRs originallivery which really suits the 455s. Great video Geoff! Also I thought that the 455s were retired!

[@norbitonflyer5625]

All gone from Southern, but still soldiering on on SWR until the Arterios are ready (now running nearly five years late)

[@SaturnCanuck]

Lovely. Brings back memories

[@MikeGMcDermott]

Growing up in Wimbledon in the 1980s I remember when the class 455 EMUs were new into service on the then BR Southern Region suburban services out of London Waterloo in this BR blue & grey livery so whenever I see and photograph unit 5868, I too am reliving the days when I was a mere 8 years old back in 1983. Bravo sir!!!

[@davidsomers79]

I remember the first time I took a 455 when I was a nipper. It was at Clapham Junction and was such a change from the slam doors. The sound of that compressor brings back memories.

[@Alan-ci8yu]

How nice to have windows that open for fresh air to keep us healthy. The latest trains have dry recirculated air with I suspect no fresh air entering. During a breakdown or non stop service this shouldn't be allowed. We need to have at least one window that can be opened for lots of reasons.

[@ianbartlett4083]

Oh MAN!! That is absolutely superb!!

[@jonathanwadman3699]

Seen it! It's just gone past my kitchen window, and it looks splendid.

[@MRTransportVideos]

I can go another generation back - a visit to Chessington Zoo in 1980 involved taking a Class 405 (4-SUB) unit there... and, waiting for the journey back, a brand new Class 508 unit! Kudos to SWR for bringing back such a wonderful livery - each company should have at least one 'heritage' unit (West Midlands Railway have a Class 323 in Centro colours!)

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

It's great to see this heritage colour scheme - it takes me right back to the 1980s, travelling between Coventry and Birmingham New Street!

[@aoxb]

I saw this unit go through Leatherhead last week and wondered what the reason was for the retro livery. Like Geoff, I was also a child when these trains were being introduced to gradually replace slam-door stock, but I don't remember them ever looking this clean and shiny back then! Very smart job by SWR.

[@andymerrett]

Ahh, one of my old commute stations when I lived in RBK. Could usually guarantee a seat on the London inbound journey as it was the terminus.

[@kentonfisher3190]

The classic look looks brilliant. Should go back to it

[@roderickmain9697]

THAT.....looks really cool.

[@MercenaryPen]

Part of me wishes they had painted a second unit in the old Network Southeast livery (or a variant of it to fit modern requirements)- much as I respect the old BR blue and grey, I'm young enough that my main memories of the 455s were in NSE colours

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great to see a Class 455 in BR Blue and grey again! The story you told reminded me of a trip up to London with my Grandparents when I was a child. We were stood at Denham Station when a brand new Class 165 pulled in on the other side. I remember my Granny saying "Oh look, there's one of those new trains. We might be going on one today". Then a First Generation DMU pulled in. But we did travel back on a Class 165. I'd love to see a Class 165 be put into Network South East inspired livery.

[@CarolineFord1]

Love the livery. I also love the architecture of the Chessington branch! I was actually at Tolworth on Friday going to Vauxhall on a 455. Sadly it wasn't that one.

[@MPsNewswatch]

Wonderful, like Geoff I had my first experience of a 455 after using EPB slam door services on a service from West Croydon to Forest Hill in the 80s and it really did feel like BR had finally had a unit that was futuristic.

[@MrGriser]

455 868 also carried Golden Jubilee livery back in 2002.

[@ianpage2765]

Lovely smooth ride ! Awesome units Bro love beteeen them

[@dianesullivan3034]

Thanks for this. Love it !!!

[@marthaanderson2656]

Oh my , that blue is a lovely shade. Hard to put it to words, has a bit of pearly green tint to it.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Manged to see 455868 at Clapham Junction on Friday during a quick detour while on my way to Farnborough, really is a smart livery and really do love a good heritage livery. Really enjoyed seeing this video Geoff and hope you enjoyed the cab ride.

[@ElijahsTransportZone]

Looks so good!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

This is actually the second - at least to my knowledge - heritage liveried unit on the BR network: already back in Nov/Dec 2023, Merseyrail revealed their Class 507 001 unit in heritage livery, as it would have appeared when entering service back in 1978.

[@elainemulberryrat5300]

Nice video. That was a really nice gesture to re create your childhood cab ride. You just couldn't hide your excitement. Lovely.

[@williamwildcat]

I’m relieved these aren’t far from retirement

[@derekemberton3813]

I managed to see it at platform 6(?) yesterday at around 5pm. Looks far better than the newer, regular SWR livery. Interestingly it was the first 4 carriages of a 'down' train, so opposite to Geoff's video. Not sure where it's next destination was though.

[@seantownsend8190]

If GBR are looking for a paint scheme for its trains then damn.. this has to be it surely. Classy and timeless !