Oooops, me again. 5176 had been at Kineton. The preservationists successfully bought the unit from which date rent of £70.00 per week was payable and removal of their Treasure was required within 28 days. The trials & tribulations they faced were many and some people who could have helped were slow to react, but by mid-February the were rewarded with success!
I remember riding on many Class 415/1 Southern Region Bulleid designed 4-EPB electric multiple unit trains in the solid blue livery with full yellow ends to start with but this progressively changed to blue and grey in the early 1980s as a number of them were refurbished and from 1986 the units changed colour again as the Network South East livery was applied.
Note the train was extended from Dartford to Strood but not calling at Gravesend. In practice the train had to wait at Gravesend to fit into the platform working at Strood (where it crossed over to go back towards London) but both platforms at Gravesend were booked to be occupied at that time so it could not call at the station but had to stand on the Down Through Line, This caused some consternation to those who had imbibed at Victoria and had hoped to use the toilets at Gravesend during this recess!
It was bought for preservation and the Mid Norfolk Railway kindly gave it a home, which was brilliant. It did carry passengers there, I believe, but the Management were miffed to find it wasn't corridored throughout (money might not find its way into their till). Somewhat inevitably they gave it Notice to Quit.
