We need your help!

4-CIG 1753 is a unique piece of railway heritage.

It was preserved by the Network Railway SouthEast Railway Society in 2005, as one of the last examples of a 4-CIG. Only two survive now, 1753 being the only complete and original unit. The sole surviving Phase One unit, the most comfortable of all to travel on!

During its life it has moved millions of commuters, families on days out, teenagers finding freedom, people from every walk of life. Think of the stories this train could tell!

For forty years it plied its trade, running betwixt Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and the capital city of our country, London. Quietly getting on with the job it was built to do, becoming an icon of our transport network in the process.

The Network SouthEast Society are a group of likeminded people who are drawn from all corners of the country, united as one to remember the remarkable era of Network SouthEast, and the innovations that it brought. We boast a unique archive of material from the Network SouthEast era, and also own a portable museum that can help tell the Network SouthEast story.

Since the acquisition of 1753 the aim has always been to restore it to running condition. Initially being able to visit heritage railways and in the longer term to return to the rails of the Southern Region under its own power.

To see our unit thundering up the Brighton Mainline again, its English Electric motors screaming away, the Westinghouse compressors chuntering, would be a dream come true. Not just for us a group, but for the many thousands of people who hold these trains dear to their hearts.

This Crowdfunding effort has a simple goal; to help return 1753 to a state whereby it is mainline haulable again and be repainted into Network SouthEast colours.

Following on from the closure of the Finmere Station site in preparation for HS2, we are presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity – one that we simply can’t miss. Through the generosity of HS2 1753 has been road hauled to Nemesis Rail, Burton-on-Trent to allow these works to take place.

The cost isn’t cheap though, and that’s where we need your help!

As things stand, we need to raise a whopping £100,000 to enable the first phase of works to be completed. This includes work below solebar, bodywork, painting and the mainline registration of 1753 as a five-car train, a hybrid 5-BIG through the inclusion of former 4-BIG buffet car 69339.

In the future we hope to work closely with the Southern Electric Traction Group to enable both of our former Southern Regions units, 1753 and 3417, enjoy a bright future together on the mainline.

Please dig deep and help us on our way to achieving this goal!

Stay in touch with us by visiting our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/NSERS/

We’re also on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/NSE_RailSociety

And on the world wide web!

https://www.nsers.org/