British Rail Class 423/9 4VOP 3905 – Genuine Connex Railway Metal Railtag

Own a piece of Southern Region slam-door railway history

This genuine Rail Tags British Rail Class 423/9 4VOP 3905 collector's tag is made from recovered bodywork from a real Southern Region electric multiple unit. Finished with an engraved image of the original train and presented on its Rail Tags card, it offers a tangible connection to the last generation of Southern slam-door trains.

The story of 4VOP 3905

Originally built as Class 423 4VEP unit 3463 in 1968, the train was converted for Connex South Central in 1999 into 4VOP 3905. The conversion removed compartments to create an open-plan interior. It operated suburban and South Coast services, making its final passenger journey on 18 April 2005 before moving to Ashford Chart Leacon, where it was used to shunt other trains.

After serving as a donor for preservation, parts of the unit were held at the East Kent Railway. In 2024, metal was recovered from driving trailer 76398 before that carriage was scrapped. Rail Tags worked with the 400 Series Preservation Group to transform the metal into individually engraved railway keepsakes.

Real carriage metal, not a replica

The metal's surface colour, age-related marks and patina are genuine features of its railway past. The illustrated tag shown here is in Connex yellow, with its original numbered presentation card and keyring fitting. The photographs show our actual stock, rather than generic catalogue imagery.

Limited original edition: once our remaining four have sold, we do not expect to obtain more. An unusual gift for British Rail, Network SouthEast, Connex and Southern Electric enthusiasts.

Price: £34.40. Free UK standard delivery. International delivery calculated at checkout.

Further reading: Rail Tags' history of the Class 423 and 3905.