The Clacton Express Preservation Group was formed back in September 2021 in order to secure one of the last complete examples of a First Generation EMU that was at risk of scrapping, A British Rail Class 309 No. 309 624.

624 Was saved in March 2022 with the help of a generous benefactor but no long term home was able to be secured at the time. After two years of negotiations among various heritage sites, it has now been announced that the East Anglian Railway Museum has accepted the donation of two vehicles from the set, BDTC 75965 and MBS 61928. DTS 75972 will be heading off to more secure storage pending a further announcement on it's future.

Unfortunately, Whilst in storage over the last two years, Both the BDTC and MBS have suffered multiple vandal attacks, targeting many of the windows. The most recent and serious attack occurred on the 9th May, just 4 days before the unit was set to move to its new home. This was the last thing the group needed to deal with at this time.

In order for us to have the best possible start, we need to urgently raise some funds to get the unit watertight once more, ordering and fitting all of the replacement glass. We also have to work on water ingress repairs caused by this vandalism, including new local sections of flooring, Linoleum and wall panels around the smashed windows which are now warped and water damaged as a direct result of the vandal attacks.

The BDTC now in total has 4 droplights, 6 large windows and one cab window to replace. The MBS has one droplight which also needs replacing.

Please consider donating what you can, every £1 you give will help towards the repairs.

Lets give this unit, which has been at risk for over 3 years now, the proper fresh start that it deserves.