British Rail Class 201
| British Rail Class 201 | |
|---|---|
Set 1004 prepares to leave Cannon Street station on 14 May 1984
|
|
| In service | 1957–1986 |
| Manufacturer | Eastleigh and Ashford Works |
| Number built | 42 vehicles (7 units) |
| Number preserved | 1 unit |
| Formation | DMBSO-TSOL-TSOL-TFK-TSOL-DMBSO |
| Operator(s) | Southern Region of British Railways |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 17.67 m (58 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in) |
| Height | 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Doors | Hinged slam (now centrally locked) |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight | 55 long tons (56 t; 62 short tons) |
| Traction system | DEMU |
| Prime mover(s) | English Electric 4SRKT Mark II |
| Power output | 1,200 hp (890 kW) |
| Transmission | Electric |
| Bogies | Commonwealth or B4 |
| Braking system(s) | Air/EP |
| Coupling system | Drop-head buck-eye |
| Multiple working | with Classes 201 to 207 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The British Rail Class 201 (or 6S) six-car diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs) were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and underframes were built at Ashford.
The Southern Region Class 201-207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the noise they made while in motion.
These units were built with a narrow body profile to accommodate the restricted tunnels on the London-Hastings line, for which they were built.
Power car (two per six-car set)
Original 6S Units
Departmental Units
Some units were disbanded during the mid 1960s to provide stock for the Class 206 'Tadpole' Units and to reform other 'Hastings Sets' after the Hither Green rail crash. Set 1002 was later reformed to its original formation in 1979, but set 1004 was reformed with only its original power cars and some trailers from sister Class 202 and 203 Hastings Sets. Set 1003 was reformed only for the last few months of Hastings DEMU service after its power cars were used for spares, again with none of its original trailers. Set 1007 also suffered a reformation in 1969 but it remained as a full six coach set until withdrawal in 1986.
Most units were withdrawn and scrapped following electrification of the route in 1986. However, one complete unit, no. 1001, was preserved by Hastings Diesels Ltd., which is based at St Leonards-on-Sea. Vehicle no. 60000 has been named Hastings after the town which it previously worked to. This was mainline operational from the unit's revival in 1996 to 2006, but this motor coach was not prioritised when it needed fitting with Central Door Locking (CDL) & On-Train Monitoring Recorders (OTMR). 60000 also needed an overhaul to its bodywork and because of the costs involved, both financial and manpower, this work has not been carried out yet, which means it is currently in storage at St Leonards Depot. The two mainline certified motor coaches that are currently in use on the Hastings Diesel and are fitted with CDL and OTMR are 60116 Mountfield (certified in 2003) and 60118 Tunbridge Wells (certified in 1996). The unit operates several mainline railtours a year, starting from Hastings and going to various destinations across the South of England.
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