Nostalgic Scenes At Waterloo - 4VEP 3417 'Gordon Pettitt' Returns To The Mainline - 27/1/24

Turning the clock back nearly 20 years as for the first time since 2005, a MK1 EMU once again graced the platforms of London Waterloo.
Owned by the Bluebell Railway and under the custodianship of the Southern Electric Traction Group, 1967 built 4VEP which has spent many years under restoration at Strawberry Hill depot, was finally set free for a trip to Waterloo on a cold January day.
The occasion was to celebrate the 88th birthday of Gordon Pettitt, the well respected former Southern region manager, which 3417 is named after.
In this short video we see the action and enjoy the sounds of a past Waterloo, as 3417 is brought into platform 19 for an hour.
Unfortunately the unit is not currently fitted with On Train Monitoring Recording or GSM Raidio, which meant that two class 73's would haul the unit top & tailed.
Fittingly 73109 'Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary' one of the former South West Thunderbird locos, would haul the consist to Waterloo and 73119 'Paul Taylor' would then take the set back to Strawberry Hill.
A very enjoyable morning and brought back memories of riding these units in their final years and certainly look forward to its future outings.
I do apologise for the shaky video, owing to not being a good idea to bring the tripod out on this occasion. So everything is hand held and very cold