THREE-CAR Class 503 (AM3), a 1938 LMS EMU for Mersey/Wirral lines, is currently stored in the One:One Collection building at Margate – a temporary arrangement following closure of the Electric Railway Museum.
Owned by Heritage Electric Trains Trust (HETT), along with Southern 4-SUB set No. 4732, it is moving to Hope Farm, Sellindge, along with‘spare’ 4-EPB TSO No. S15354 from set No. 5176. This is a donor vehicle for the 4-SUB set. These four cars join several other historic EMUs in Kent and will be sheeted over. Before the move can happen, an extra track and a point needs to be laid at Sellindge, for which earthworks are underway.
Because a restoration and finance plan is in place, the Class 405, 4-SUB will remain at Margate having been accepted into the One:One Collection (RM Dec. p74). HETT is supported by the 4-SUB Association which raises funds for the EMU plus HETT’s 750 Supply Project.
This offers three packages for payments of at least £50, £25 or £10 per month. The 503 has no such support at present, hence it will have to wait its turn for restoration, possibly around 2025, following completion of No. 4732.