British Rail Class 205 Explained

British Rail Class 205 (3H)
Manufacturer:BR Eastleigh
Formation:2/3 cars per trainset
Numberbuilt:34 trainsets
Service:September 1957 –
December 2004
Weight:
  • 56t
  • 30t
  • 32t
Carlength:
  • 19.511NaN1
  • 19.341NaN1
  • 19.511NaN1
Width:2.82NaN2
Capacity:114 2nd class, 13 1st class[1]
Maxspeed:75mph
Poweroutput:600shp at 850 rpm
Engine:English Electric 4SRKT Mark II (4-cylinder diesel)
Coupling:Drophead buckeye[2]

The British Rail Class 205 (3H) diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957 to 1962, and in service for 47 years from BR Southern Region to Connex South Central and finally to the Southern franchise. They were eventually replaced by Class 171 Turbostar units.

Description

This class of unit was built in four different batches for use on different lines.

The Southern Region class 201 to 207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' owing to the noise they made while in motion.[3] [4]

The first batch of units, numbered 1101–1118, was built in 1957 as two-car units and classified as 2H. They were built for services in Hampshire on the non-electrified routes between, and and between, and . The first units entered service in September 1957. However, owing to increasing passenger numbers, all eighteen units were strengthened to three cars in 1958 and 1969, with the addition of a centre trailer, and therefore were reclassified as 3H units. Upon the introduction of TOPS they were reclassified as Class 205. Some of these were later converted back to 2 car sets, but they retained their Class 205 designation.[5]

The second batch of 2H units, numbered 1119–1122, was built as 2-car units in 1958. These units were built for services on the Marshlink Line from to Ashford, and associated branch lines. These units remained as two-car sets until 1979, and were reclassified as Class 204 upon the introduction of TOPS. In May 1979, following the disbandment of the four Class 206 units, they were strengthened to three cars and redesignated as Class 205s.

The third batch of units was built as three-car sets in 1959, and numbered 1123–1126. These units were built to supplement the first batch on services in Hampshire. Collectively, the first and third batches are often called Hampshire sets. The final batch of units, numbered 1127–1133, was built in 1962 as three car sets. These units have some detail differences from the earlier batches, such as a different internal layout, and smaller route indicators (compare the two photos). They were built for services from to Salisbury, and other services in Berkshire. The final batch of units is sometimes referred to as Berkshire sets.

Technical details

Power car (one per set)

Number 1129 was experimentally fitted with a Dorman 12QTCW V-12 diesel engine of 725shp

Operations

The first examples of the class entered service in September 1957 after a month of testing. They were initially used on services linking Portsmouth and Southampton to Salisbury, as well as those between Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour and from Southampton to Alton/Andover. Journey times were around two-thirds of those required by the steam locomotives which the units replaced. The new services proved so popular that the class was temporarily taken off the route to Alton and Andover to provide extra capacity on the other lines prior to the fitting of a third carriage to the first 18 units.

The delivery of the second batch of four units saw the class introduced to the Marshlink Line between Ashford and Hastings. These units also ran on the Bexhill West Branch Line and the short line to, and a Sunday-only service on the Fawley Branch Line. All of these routes except for the Marshlink Line had been closed by 1967, by which time the route between Reading and Salisbury was also operated by the class. The units also operated on the to route from 1966 until its closure in 1972. Other routes served included the Steyning Line between and, which closed in 1967; the Cuckoo Line, which closed in 1968; the Lymington Branch Line, which was served by the units for two months in 1967 prior to its electrification; and some journeys on the Oxted Line, which was also served by the newer units. In 1973 some services from Portsmouth to and were converted to Class 205 operation.

Soon after introduction, an orange "V" shape was painted on the motor-coach in order to provide an early visual indication to station staff that there was no brake van at the other end of the unit. With the introduction of yellow warning panels the orange V was replaced by an inverted black triangle; this being extended at this time to all Southern Region 2 & 3-car multiple units.

The electrification of the line to in 1987 saw the majority of the class withdrawn. Those which survived largely operated on services from Ashford to Hastings and from London to Uckfield. The privatisation of British Rail in 1995/6 saw the surviving Class 205s, most of which now carried Network SouthEast livery, pass to the new Connex South Central franchise.

In 1966, unit number 1102 was used in the film "The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery".

When Govia won the South Central franchise in 2001, a franchise commitment was to replace all Mark 1 rolling stock by 2005, as it did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Southern ordered Turbostar trains of and (later converted to Class 171) from 2003 onwards to replace the Class 205s. The final units, nos. 205001/009/033 were withdrawn in mid-December 2004.

Accidents and incidents

Fleet details


Unrefurbished Class 205/0[8]
Unit No.BatchYear Builtwidth=100 rowspan=2 align=leftFinal Liverywidth=50 rowspan=2DMBSOwidth=50 rowspan=2TSOwidth=50 rowspan=2DTCsoLWithdrawnwidth=200 rowspan=2 align=leftStatus
width=50Newwidth=50Old
bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center205001bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1101bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1957BR Bluebgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center60154bgcolor=#cecece align=center-bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center60800bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center12/2004bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=leftPreserved, at The East Kent Railway
2050021102bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957NSE6015560651608011991Scrapped
style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center-1103bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center1957Blue/Grey6010260652608021979Converted to Class 204 no. 1403
style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center-1104bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center1957Blue/Grey6010360653608031979Converted to Class 204 no. 1404
2050051105bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60104606546080408/1987Scrapped
2050061106bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60105606556080509/1987Scrapped
2050071107bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60106606566080609/1987Scrapped
style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center-1108bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center1957Blue/Grey6010760657608071979Converted to Class 204 no. 1401
2050091109bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1957Chocolate & Cream60108606586080812/2004Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway
2050101110bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60198606596080909/1987Scrapped
style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center-1111bgcolor=#98fb98 align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#98fb98 align=center1957Blue/Grey6011060660608101980Rebuilt to become 205101
2050121112bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Connexbgcolor=#cecece align=center60111606616081102/2004Scrapped 2005
style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-1113bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60112606626081204/1986Scrapped
2050141114bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60113606636081310/1989Scrapped
2050151115bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957NSE60114606646081410/1993Scrapped
2050161116bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957NSE60115606656081508/1994Scrapped
2050171117bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#cecece align=center1957Blue/Grey60116606666081609/1987Scrapped
2050181118bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 1bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1957BR Blue60117style="background-color:#cecece" align=center-6082808/2004Preserved at Lavender Line.
2050191119bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 2bgcolor=#cecece align=center1958Blue/Grey60118606536081808/1987Scrapped
2050201120bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 2bgcolor=#cecece align=center1958Blue/Grey60119606526081909/1987Scrapped
2050081121bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 2bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1958NSE60120606576082010/1993Preserved at Lavender Line
style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center-1122bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=centerBatch 2bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center1958Blue/Grey60121style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center-60821See Class 204 (never officially classified as a 205)
2050231123bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 3bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1959BR Green 60122606696082201/1999Preserved, unit split up. 60822 under restoration.[9]
2050241124bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 3bgcolor=#cecece align=center1959NSE60123606686082307/2000Scrapped.
2050251125bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 3bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1959BR Green60124style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-6082405/2004Preserved at Mid-Hants Railway.
2050261126bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 3bgcolor=#cecece align=center1959Blue/Grey60125606716082511/1990Scrapped
2050271127bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center1962style="background-color:#fef6e7"-60145style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-08/1994Sandite unit 930301. 60145 at St Leonards.
2050281128bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1962Faded Connex60146606736082711/2004Formerly preserved at Dartmoor Railway, sold to the Caledonian Railway in 2021.[10]
2050291129bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#cecece align=center1962BR Green6014760667608171994Scrapped after Cowden rail crash
2050301130bgcolor=#cecece align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#cecece align=center1962NSE60148606756082911/1992Scrapped
2050311131bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center1962Blue/Grey60149style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-07/1993Sandite unit 930301. 60149 at St Leonards.
2050321132bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1962BR Green60150606776083110/2004Formerly preserved at Dartmoor Railway, sold to the Caledonian Railway in 2021. Operational
bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center205033bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1133bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=centerBatch 4bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center1962BR Greenbgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center60151bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center-bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center60832bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center12/2004bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=left

Refurbished Class 205/1
Unit No.Batchwidth=70Year
Converted		width=100 align=leftFinal Liverywidth=50DMBSOwidth=50TSOwidth=50DTSOLWithdrawnwidth=200 align=leftStatus
width=50 style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center205101width=50 style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center1111Batch 11980NSE6011060660608101995Converted to 205205

Refurbished Class 205/2
Unit No.Batchwidth=70Year
Converted		width=100 align=leftFinal Liverywidth=50DMBSOwidth=50TSOLwidth=50DTSOLWithdrawnwidth=200 align=leftStatus
width=50 style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center205205width=50 style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center205101Batch 11995NSE(Connex before preservation)60110style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center-6081007/2004Preserved at Epping Ongar Railway

Departmental Units
Unit No.Batchwidth=70Year
Converted		width=100 align=leftFinal Liverywidth=50DMBwidth=50Twidth=50DMBWithdrawnwidth=200 align=leftStatus
width=50 style="background-color:#FFC0CB" align=center930301width=50 style="background-color:#FFC0CB" align=center951069Batch 4
(*Batch 1)		1993Railtrack Brown977939
(60145)		977870
(60660*)		977940
(60149)		style="background-color:#FFC0CB" align=center-Withdrawn from St Leonards TMD

Preservation

Due to a generous disposal policy by Porterbrook Leasing, nearly all of the final units in service were preserved. The only unit not preserved was no. 205012, which had poor bodywork and donated its engine to the only surviving unrefurbished Class 207 unit.

Models

An OO gauge kit is available from DC Kits. Dapol announced (May 2008) that a limited edition OO RTR model (to be followed by an N gauge version) of the Class 205 would be produced in collaboration with Kernow Model Rail Centre.[17] Manufacture was switched to Bachmann in March 2010[18] and the model was released in February 2013.[19] The model was produced in BR green and Connex white/yellow liveries.[20]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Railway Magazine December 1957 p. 878
  2. Book: System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 . 22 June 2011 . SD001 . Rail Safety and Standards Board . London . 4 . 22 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120401203135/http://www.rssb.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/rv_coupling_system_data/SD001.pdf . 1 April 2012 . dead.
  3. Web site: Preserved Thumpers . 17 February 2015 . 19 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083721/http://www.preservedthumpers.com/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Epping Ongar Railway - Rolling Stock Department - Diesel-Electric Multiple Units . 17 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150217032221/http://eorailway.co.uk/departments/rolling-stock/demus/ . 17 February 2015 . dead .
  5. Book: Welch, Michael. Southern DEMUs. Capital Transport. 2004. 12–19. 1-85414-287-9.
  6. Web site: January 1989 to December 1989 . Network South East Railway Society . John P . McCrickard . 6 October 2016 . 26 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180626223258/https://www.nsers.org/jan-dec-89.html . 26 June 2018 . dead . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: The Cowden Collision. Preserved Thumpers. 2021-06-24.
  8. Withdrawal dates from H. Longworth, British Railways First Generation DMUs, 2011 Oxford Publishing Company
  9. Web site: BR 60822 Class 205 DEMU: Driving Trailer Composite built 1959.
  10. Web site: White. Cameron. 2021-06-22. Caledonian Railway welcome Thumpers 1132 and 1128 from the Dartmoor Railway. live. 2021-06-23. RailAdvent. en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624210426/https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/06/caledonian-railway-welcome-thumpers-1132-and-1128-from-the-dartmoor-railway.html . 24 June 2021 .
  11. Web site: Pres 1121.
  12. Web site: Replacement carriage arrives at Swindon and Cricklade Railway as arson investigation continues.
  13. Web site: Pres 1123.
  14. Web site: BR 60669 Class 205 DEMU: Trailer Standard built 1959.
  15. Web site: Pres 1127.
  16. Web site: Pres 1131.
  17. Web site: Dapol.
  18. Web site: Bachmann Europe Press Releases - BACHMANN TO PRODUCE OO SCALE CLASS 205 FOR KERNOW MODEL RAIL CENTRE . 26 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309220038/http://bachmann.co.uk/pr1.php?id=268 . 9 March 2012 . dead .
  19. Web site: Class 205 Thumper : Welcome to Kernow Model Rail Centre . 2013-02-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414092229/http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/page/61/Class_205_Thumper_Unit . 14 April 2014 . dmy .
  20. Bachmann/KMRC Class 205 DEMU. Chris. Leigh. Model Rail. 12–15. 181. Spring 2013. Peterborough. Bauer. 1369-5118. 173324502.

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