British Rail Class 204 Explained

Background:darkgreen
British Rail Class 204
Service:1957–1987
Replaced:Steam locomotives and carriages
Yearscrapped:1987
Numberbuilt:8 units (3 rebuilt from Class 205)
Numberpreserved:1 driving trailer
Numberscrapped:7 complete units
Fleetnumbers:1401-1404
204001-004
Operator:British Railways
Lines:Southern Region
Engine:English Electric 4SRKT Mark II
Poweroutput:600abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 850 rpm

The British Rail Class 204 designation has been used twice for two similar types of diesel-electric multiple units.

History

The original units, numbered in the range 1119-1122, were two-car versions of the Class 205 '3H' units, and were classified as 2H under the old system.

In 1979, BR decided to augment the two-car units to three-car formation. Three of the four units were reformed with the addition of centre trailers taken from 3H (Class 205) units, and thus were themselves reclassified as Class 205.

The fourth 2H unit, and the three former 3H units which had given up their trailers, were augmented by reusing the ex-2EPB driving trailers from redundant Class 206 units. The Class 204 designation was re-applied to these four newly formed units (which were also given the classification 3T under the old system). They were renumbered into the range 1401-1404. In 1986, the units were renumbered to 204001-004 to conform with the TOPS numbering system.

Technical details

Power car (one per set)

Fleet details

Original Class 204 (2H) Units

Unit Numberwidth=55DMBSOwidth=55DTCsoLDisbanded[1] Status
111960118608183/1980Reclassified as 3H (unit 1119) with addition of TSO 60653
112060119608193/1980Reclassified as 3H (unit 1120) with addition of TSO 60652
112160120608205/1974Reclassified as 3H (unit 1108) with addition of TSO 60657
112260121608212/1980Converted to 3T unit 1402 with addition of DTSso 77508

Reformed Class 204 (3T) Units

Unit NumberDMBSODTSsoDTCsoLWithdrawnStatus
width=55Newwidth=55Oldwidth=55Original
20400114011108 *6010777500608078/1987Scrapped
20400214021122   60121775086082111/1987Scrapped
20400314031103 *6010277507608029/1987Scrapped
20400414041104 *6010377503608038/1987Scrapped
* ex-Class 205

Preservation

Of the original 2H units, a single driving trailer has been preserved.

None of the reformed 3T units are preserved.

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Longworth, Hugh. British Railways First Generation DMUs. Oxford Publishing Company. 2011. 978-0-86093-612-1.