Preserved yellow ‘313’ moves to new home

A home has been found for the officially preserved three-car Class 313 suburban electric multiple unit – over 400 miles from where it began its career in October 1976. 

The Fife Heritage Railway in Leven – avery long way from the EMU’s old stamping ground of Great Northern services between King’s Cross and Hitchin – has taken delivery of Network Rail’s 313121, which was last used as the test bed for European Train Control System digital signalling. 

The Rail Heritage Designation Advisory Board selected this unit because it contains most of its original seating, as well as dual-voltage running gear. It dropped much-modified pioneer unit 313201 (313001), which is the subject of a private rescue appeal following its withdrawal from service on Southern’s South Coast route in May. 

Unit 313121 was moved by road from Asfordby in August. It will be kept in Kirkland yard, on parallel but unconnected track to the new Levenmouth link, which is due for completion next spring. It will retain its NR yellow livery.