British Rail Class 201
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The British Rail Class 201 (or 6S) six-car diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs) were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and Ashford. They were built for use on the London-Hastings line. Several tunnels along the route had restricted clearance, meaning that these units were built with a narrow body profile.
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[edit] Technical details
Power car (two per six-car set)
- Introduced: 1957
- Weight: 55 tons
- Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 500 bhp at 850 rpm
- Transmission: Electric, two English Electric EE507 traction motors delivering 250 bhp each
- Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lb per car; 25,000 lb per unit
- Driving wheel diameter: 3'4" Driving Bogie; 3'6" Trailer Bogie
- Coupling code: 'Buck-Eye' Type allowing coupling to any BR(S) 20x,4xx Units
- Train heating: Electric
[edit] Fleet Details
| Key: | Preserved | Departmental Use | Scrapped |
|---|
Original 6S Units
| Unit No. | DMBSO | TSOL | TSOL | TFK | TSOL | DMBSO | Withdrawn | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Old | ||||||||
| 201001 | 1001 | 60000 | 60500 | 60501 | 60700 | 60502 | 60001 | 1986 | Preserved |
| - | 1002 | 60002 | 60503 | 60504 | 60701 | 60505 | 60003 | 1986 | Sandite unit 1066 |
| - | 1003 | 60004 | 60506 | 60507 | 60702 | 60508 | 60005 | ? | Scrapped |
| - | 1004 | 60006 | 60509 | 60510 | 60703 | 60511 | 60007 | ? | Scrapped |
| - | 1005 | 60008 | 60512 | 60513 | 60704 | 60514 | 60009 | ? | Scrapped |
| - | 1006 | 60010 | 60515 | 60516 | 60705 | 60517 | 60011 | ? | Scrapped |
| - | 1007 | 60012 | 60518 | 60519 | 60706 | 60520 | 60013 | ? | 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| Unit No. | DM | T | DM | Withdrawn | Status | |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) |
[edit] Preservation
Most units were withdrawn and scrapped following electrification of the route in 1986. However, one complete unit, no. 1001, was preserved by Hastings Diesels Ltd., which is based at St Leonards-on-Sea. One vehicle, no. 60000 has also been named Hastings, after town which they previously worked to.
Several of the vehicles now operate in preserved mainline registered unit 201001. Currently, it is used as cover for the Southern Class 171 Turbostar fleet on the Marshlink Line. Its latest diagrammed working was on August 24, 2005 on Diagram 975. It is expected that it will be used for driver-training duty soon.
