THE RETURN OF AN ICON

The 4-SUB unit is an icon of suburban rail travel in South London from the post war era. It was responsible for millions of passenger journeys, most of which were to take people from home to their place of work and then safely back home the same evening. In addition there were the trips out to the shops, football matches, visits to friends, family and sightseeing along with countless journeys to and from school; all of which were made in the interior of the humble SUB units with their horse hair cushions, tungsten lighting and lively suspension.

Commuting by rail was worth a lot of money to the UK economy, if people weren't at work then business didn't get done, shops didn't open and industry wasn't staffed. Then there is the social side of rail travel; how many friendships, memories and future plans were forged inside these trains.

Now it is time to create a fitting tribute to this icon. One unit survived the mass scrapping of all its classmates, but only just. For decades it has sat in outside storage awaiting a plan for its restoration and eventual display. That plan now exists. The One:One Collection at Margate will display coaches from the 4-SUB at their new museum in the former Hornby building at Margate where it can be both celebrated and secured for the future. But first we have to spend money to reverse the decay of the last 30 years. A total of £52000 is needed to bring the bodywork and running gear of the first driving motor brake coach up to display standard. The unit's owners, The Heritage Electric Trains Trust has raised £27000 of this so far from donations and sales but need help from the wider public, people like you to close that gap and make this project a reality.

The restoration and display of the 4-SUB unit 4732 is long overdue. With 2025 being the year the whole UK rail industry and heritage movement celebrates the 200th anniversary of the opening of the very first public railway line there is no better time to have an iconic electric commuter train, a backbone of the economy and an every day workhorse of the network on prominent display to tell its story and that of those millions of journeys that were made in it.

Donations to this fundraiser will enable this to happen. The Heritage Electric Trains Trust is a UK charity so if you are a UK tax payer you can 'gift aid' your donation so HETT can claim an extra 20% on your donation.

Thank you for your support.