British Rail Class 207

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 their engine units make.^[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to Tonbridge Line, and were known to deputise for 3R units on the North Downs Line to Reading.^[3] Most units were withdrawn in 1987 following the electrification of the Oxted Line's East Grinstead branch.^[4] Four of the seven surviving units were used on the Reading to Basingstoke Line between 1988 and 1993; once this had finished three were withdrawn and the fourth sent to join the other three survivors on the Marshlink Line;^[3] between 1995 and 1998 this included through services from Ashford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 The final three units were withdrawn in August 2004.^[5]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)

• Introduced: 1962
• Weight: 56 long tons (57 t; 63 short tons)
• Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 600 bhp (450 kW) at 850 rpm
• Transmission: Electric, two English Electric type EE507 traction motors rated at 250 hp (190 kW) each.
• Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lbf (56,000 N)
• Driving wheel diameter: 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
• Coupling code: Standard 'Buck eye' compatible with contemporary Class 20x and 4xx units.
• Train heating: Electric

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:

• 207017 - Spa Valley Railway (3-car unit)
• 207202 - East Lancashire Railway (3-car unit)
• 207203 - Swindon and Cricklade Railway (2-car unit) - DMBSO 60127 damaged by fire on 20 May 2016.^[6] Class 205 DTCsoL 60822 will be added to replace DTSO destroyed by fire. This vehicle had been stored at Pershore (ex unit 1123) and arrived at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on 17th June 2016. TS 60669 (ex unit 1124) also stored at Pershore arrived at the same time and will be stripped of usable spares to restore 60822.^[7]

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

• 207013 - DMBSO 60138 (Cab Only) - Reduced to just a cab in May 2016 and remaining section at the South Wales Cab Preservation Group.^[8]

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

• 207203 - TSOL 70547 - Private site, Hungerford

The DTSO from 60901 was preserved until it was destroyed in an arson attack on the 20 May 2016.^{[9] [10]}

Fleet details

Unrefurbished Class 207/0

Refurbished Class 207/1

Refurbished Class 207/2

Departmental Units

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 207.