British Rail Class 201

British Rail Class 201
Set 1004 prepares to leave Cannon Street station on 14 May 1984
In service	1957–1986
Manufacturer	Eastleigh and Ashford Works
Number built	42 vehicles (7 units)
Formation	DMBSO-TSOL-TSOL-TFK-TSOL-DMBSO
Operator	Southern Region of British Railways
Specifications
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	55 long tons (56 t)
Engine(s)	English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II
Power output	600 shaft horsepower at 850 rpm per engine.

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.

Technical details

Power car (two per six-car set)

• Introduced: 1957
• Weight: 55 long tons (56 t)
• Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 600 shaft horsepower at 850 rpm (Equivalent to 1000 bhp or 750 kW per 6-car set)
• Transmission: Electric, two English Electric type EE507 traction motors rated at 186Kw (250 hp)each.
• Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lbf (56 kN) per car; 25,000 lbf (110 kN) per unit
• Driving wheel diameter: 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m) Driving Bogie; 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) Trailer Bogie
• Coupling code: 'Buck-Eye' Type allowing coupling to any BR(S) 20x,4xx Units
• Train heating: Electric

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Unit No.		DMBSO	TSOL	TSOL	TFK	TSOL	DMBSO	Withdrawn	Status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Unit No.		DM	T	DM	Withdrawn	Status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)

Preservation

1001 at Minehead while working a railtour from Hastings

Most units were withdrawn and scrapped following electrification of the route in 1986.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. Vehicle no. 60000 has been named Hastings after the town which it previously worked to.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Hasting Diesels