British Rail Class 201
| British Rail Class 201 | |
|---|---|
English-Electric EE507 traction motors, 4 per set | |
| Power output | 1,000 hp (750 kW) |
| Bogies | BR Standard. ExEMU coaches Commonwealth or B5 |
| Braking system(s) | Air/EP |
| Coupling system | Drop-head buck-eye[1] |
| Multiple working | with Classes 201 to 207 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 201 (or
The Southern Region Class 201-207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the noise they made while in motion, owing to the four cylinder engines.[2][3]
These units were built for the
Technical details
Power car (two per six-car set)
- Introduced: 1957
- Weight: 55 long tons (56 t; 62 short tons)
- Engine: kW) at 850 rpm
- Transmission: Electric, two English Electric type EE507 traction motors rated at 186 kW (249 hp) each. (Equivalent to 1,000 bhp or 750 kW per 6-car set)
- Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lbf (56 kN) per car; 25,000 lbf (110 kN) per unit
- Driving wheel diameter: 40 in (1,016 mm) Driving Bogie; 42 in (1,067 mm) Trailer Bogie
- Coupling code: 'Buck-Eye' Type allowing coupling to any BR(S) 20x,4xx Units
- Train heating: Electric
Fleet details
| Key: | Preserved | Departmental Use | Scrapped |
|---|
Original 6S Units
| Unit No. | DMBSO | TSOL | TSOL | TFK | TSOL | DMBSO | Withdrawn[4] | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Old | ||||||||
| 201001 | 1001 | 60000 | 60500 | 60501 | 60700 | 60502 | 60001 | 5/1986 | Preserved |
| - | 1002 | 60002 | 60503 | 60504 | 60701 | 60505 | 60003 | 5/1986 | Sandite unit 1066
|
| - | 1003 | 60004 | 60506 | 60507 | 60702 | 60508 | 60005 | 11/1964 | Disbanded, vehicles later scrapped |
| - | 1004 | 60006 | 60509 | 60510 | 60703 | 60511 | 60007 | 4/1986 | Scrapped |
| - | 1005 | 60008 | 60512 | 60513 | 60704 | 60514 | 60009 | 4/1986 | Scrapped |
| - | 1006 | 60010 | 60515 | 60516 | 60705 | 60517 | 60011 | 4/1986 | Scrapped |
| - | 1007 | 60012 | 60518 | 60519 | 60706 | 60520 | 60013 | 4/1986 | Scrapped |
Departmental Units
| Unit No. | DM | T | DM | Withdrawn | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Old | |||||
1066
|
1002 | 977376 (ex-60002) | 977379 (ex-60504) | 977377 (ex-60003) | 1994 | Scrapped (1994) |
Reformations
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.[5]
Preservation
Most units were withdrawn and scrapped following electrification of the route in 1986. However, two complete units, no. 1001 and 1013, were preserved by Hastings Diesels Ltd., which is based at
Additionally, the unit has been used in some unusual non-passenger workings. In July 2015, a crash-damaged
Hastings Diesels Limited owns thirteen vehicles which are in various states of readiness. Two of these are part restored trailer 60527 and unrestored motor coach 60001, which formed the motive power for the original unit 1001. They have said that there will be no serious work done to 60001 until work to motor coach 60019 (60119) is completed, as this one apparently needs less work done to it, which is cheaper, and returning 60000 Hastings to front line service is also finished. [7]
One other vehicle survives, the former buffet car 60750, the only survivor of the Hither Green crash. It was taken into BR's Research division as RDB 975386 and heavily modified to test the tilt and suspension systems for the APT-P. Previously under restoration at the
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-7110-3494-5.
- ^ "Preserved Thumpers". www.preservedthumpers.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
- ^ "Multiple Units". www.eorailway.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-86093-612-1
- ^ M. Welch, SOUTHERN DEMUs, Capital Transport 2004
- ^ a b "Hastings Diesels Limited – DEMU Diary".
- ISBN 978-0-7110-3494-5.
- ^ "Lab 4 leaves HDL for a new home". Hastings Diesels Limited. 8 June 2003.
Further reading
- Marsden, Colin J. (1982). DMUs. Motive Power Recognition. Vol. 3. Ian Allan. pp. 94–6. OCLC 16599282.
- Vehicle Diagram Book No. 230 for Diesel Electric Multiple Unit Trains (including H.S.T.) (PDF). British Railways Board. September 1987. DB201, DH201, DH303 – via Barrowmore MRG.
External links
