British Rail Class 207

British Rail Class 207

207202 in operation with Southern at Hurst Green in April 2002.
In service 1962-2004
Manufacturer BR Eastleigh
Number built 19 trainsets
Formation 3 cars per trainset
Operator(s) Southern
Specifications
Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight 56 long tons (56.9 t; 62.7 short tons)
Prime mover(s) English Electric 4SRKT Mark II (4-cylinder diesel)
Power output 600 shp (450 kW) at 850 rpm

The British Rail Class 207 (or 3D) diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh in 1962. The fleet had a lifespan of 42 years. The Southern Region class 201 to 207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the noise they made while in motion.[1][2]

Operational history

207203 arriving at London Bridge on a service from Uckfield. The black triangle was an indication to station staff that the guard's compartment was located at this end of the unit.

When new the class were used on the Oxted Line, and were mostly concentrated on services between London Victoria and Uckfield and Eridge to Tonbridge via Tunbridge Wells .[3] Other routes that the units operated included occasional workings on the Marshlink Line, the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line and the Cuckoo Line.[3] Following the closure of the last two of these routes the unit gained workings on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line, and were known to deputise for 3R units on the North Downs Line to Reading.[3] Most units were withdrawn in 1987 following the electrification of the Oxted Line's East Grinstead branch.[4] Four of the seven surviving units were used on the Reading to Basingstoke Line between 1988 and 1993; once this had finished three were withdrawn and the fourth sent to join the other three survivors on the Marshlink Line;[3] between 1995 and 1998 this included through services from Ashford International to Brighton. After this the class operated on the Marshlink Line between Ashford and Hastings and the Oxted Line between London Victoria and Uckfield for privatised companies Connex South Central and Southern. The final three units were withdrawn in August 2004.[5]

Technical details

Power car (one per set)

Preservation

Class 207 1305 (207202 with a former Class 411 centre coach in place of the original) preserved at the East Lancashire Railway, Bury.

Three complete units have been preserved:

In addition, driving motor vehicle from unit 207013 has also been preserved:

The centre trailer from unit 207203 has been at a private location:

Fleet details

Key: Preserved Rebuilt Departmental Use Scrapped


Unrefurbished Class 207/0

Unit No. Name Final livery DMBSO TCsoL DTSO Withdrawn[7] Status
New Old
207001 1301 - NSE 60126 60600 60900 04/1994 Scrapped
207002 1302 - NSE 60127 60601 60901 1992 Converted to 207103
207003 1303 - Blue/Grey 60128 60602 60902 09/1987 Scrapped
207004 1304 - NSE 60129 60603 60903 07/1991 Converted to 207101
207005 1305 - NSE 60130 60604 60904 07/1991 Converted to 207102
207006 1306 - Blue/Grey 60131 60605 60905 09/1987 Scrapped
207007 1307 - Blue/Grey 60132 60606 60906 09/1987 Scrapped
207008 1308 - Blue/Grey 60133 60607 60907 05/1988 Scrapped
207009 1309 - Blue/Grey 60134 60608 60908 09/1987 Scrapped
207010 1310 - NSE 60135 60609 60909 09/1993 Tractor unit 951070
207011 1311 - NSE 60136 60610 60910 05/1990 Sandite unit 1068
207012 1312 - Blue/Grey 60137 60611 60911 09/1987 Scrapped
207013 1313 - NSE 60138 60612 60912 03/1994 Tractor unit 951070
207014 1314 - NSE 60139 60613 60913 05/1990 Sandite unit 1068
207015 1315 - Blue/Grey 60140 60614 60914 9/1987 Scrapped
207016 1316 - Blue/Grey 60141 60615 60915 10/1987 Scrapped
207017 1317 - Connex 60142 60616 60916 03/2004 Preserved
207018 1318 - Blue/Grey 60143 60617 60917 09/1987 Scrapped
207019 1319 - Blue/Grey 60144 60618 60918 05/1988 Scrapped


Refurbished Class 207/1

Unit No. Name Final livery DMBSO DTSO Withdrawn Status
207101 207004 Ashford Fayre NSE 60129 60903 1995 Converted to 207201
207102 207005 Brighton Royal Pavilion NSE 60130 60904 1995 Converted to 207202
207103 207002 - NSE 60127 60901 1995 Converted to 207203


Refurbished Class 207/2

Unit No. Name Final livery DMBSO TSOL DTSO Withdrawn Status
207201 207101 Ashford Fayre Connex 60129 70286 60903 2003 Scrapped
207202 207102 Brighton Royal Pavilion Connex 60130 70549 60904 08/2004 Preserved
207203 207103 - Connex 60127 70547 60901 08/2004 Preserved


Departmental Units

Unit No. Final livery DMB T DMB (DT*) Withdrawn Status
- 1068 NSE 977700 (ex-60139) 977696 (ex-60522) 977701* (ex-60910) 1992 Scrapped
951070 1070 NSE 977906 (ex-60135) - 977907 (ex-60138) 1998 Preserved

References

  1. ↑ http://www.preservedthumpers.com/
  2. ↑ http://eorailway.co.uk/departments/rolling-stock/demus/
  3. 1 2 3 4 Welch, Michael (October 2004). Southern DEMUs. Capital Transport. pp. 19–22. ISBN 1-85414-287-9.
  4. ↑ Hampshire & Sussex Units Preservation Society: Sussex Units History
  5. ↑ Class 207 Overview daveh.org.uk
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/thumper1317/posts/1176578762354791
  7. ↑ Withdrawal dates from H. Longworth, British Railways First Generation DMUs, Oxford Publishing Company 2011
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