Class 404 4-COR Profile and Models

Class 404 4-COR

3142 at Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway in February 2010. ©Duncan Bourne

The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designations 4-COR, 4-RES, 4-BUF and 4-GRI to the different types of electric multiple unit built to work the route between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour. The 4-COR type units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 404. The SR electrified the London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour via Woking line in the mid-1930s, and full electric services commenced over the route from April 1937. For this service, 29 4-COR units (4-car Corridor units, numbered 3101–3129) and 19 4-RES units (4-car Restaurant units, numbered 3054–3072) were built. The SR then electrified the line from Three Bridges to Portsmouth via Horsham and the coastal route from West Worthing to Havant, with services over this route commencing in July 1938. For services from London Victoria to Portsmouth via Dorking over these lines, another 26 4-COR units (numbered 3130–3155) were built, together with 13 4-BUF units (4-car Buffet units, numbered 3073–3085).

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

3rd-Rail Electric Multiple Unit

Builder

SR Lancing & Eastleigh Works

Build Dates

1937 to 1938

Total Built

87 sets

Coaches Per Unit

4-car

Power Output

900hp

Top Speed

75mph

Operated By

Southern Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Semi-Fast Regional passenger

In Service Until

1972

Surviving Examples

 1 complete set & 3 individual cars