Class 484 for Island Line meets Class 70 and other units for first and last time!

I’d seen that the new Island Line units were being used on driver training duties from Eastleigh to Fareham so hopped on a (still practically empty) 444 for a day out.

Right on time the shiny 484 arrived and to be honest I was very impressed! I always liked the D78 stock with their original red dash panels and the SWR really suits them….the new headlights improve the front end ‘face’ too.

There’s a very quick look inside and the units retain the longitudinal seating which was such a feature of those dearly departed ‘38 trains (if you are still missing these there is a bonus at the end of the video).

Best of all the 484 also retains that great traction motor whine on departure- should be fun when the Island Line reopens.

The rarest shots in the future will be of 484s and other mainline trains- so I hope you enjoy seeing the two together in this video. Class 70s certainly have some character- the loco sounding almost like a tube train itself when slowing for the Eastleigh crew change! I also like the cab air conditioning!

Enjoy and see you on Ryde Pier on reopening day!