thumb|right|Class 205, no. 205032 at [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge on 15 August 2003, with a service to Uckfield. This unit is now preserved on the Caledonian Railway.]]
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.
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.
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.
- At 08:27 on 15 October 1994, the Cowden rail crash occurred, involving a head-on collision between two trains in heavy fog. The branch line is from Hurst Green junction near Oxted, south to Uckfield and at this point is single track. The northbound train failed to wait at the Ashurst loop and entered the single line section at Blackham junction against the red signal at OD58. The southbound train driver, unaware of the train coming towards him on the same track, pulled away from and the two units collided around south of the station. Units involved were 205029 with 205032 and 205018 with 205001.
Fleet details
{| class="wikitable"
!Key:
|In service
|bgcolor=#FFC0CB|Withdrawn
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff|Preserved
|bgcolor=#98FB98|Rebuilt
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4|Reformed
|bgcolor=#fef6e7|Departmental use
|bgcolor=#CECECE|Scrapped
|-
|}
<br>
Unrefurbished Class 205/0
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Unit No.
!rowspan=2|Batch
!rowspan=2 width=70|Year built
!width=100 rowspan=2 align=left|Final livery
!width=50 rowspan=2|DMBSO
!width=50 rowspan=2|TSO
!width=50 rowspan=2|DTCsoL
!rowspan=2|Withdrawn
!width=200 rowspan=2 align=left|Status
|-
!width=50|New
!width=50|Old
|-
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|205001
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1101
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1957
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff|BR Blue
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|60154
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|-
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|60800
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|12/2004
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=left|Preserved, at The East Kent Railway
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205002
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1102
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60155
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60651
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60801
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1991
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1103
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60102
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60652
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60802
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1979
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=left|Converted to Class 204 no. 1403
|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1104
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60103
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60653
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60803
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1979
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=left|Converted to Class 204 no. 1404
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205005
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1105
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60104
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60654
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60804
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|08/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205006
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1106
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60105
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60655
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60805
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|09/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205007
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1107
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60106
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60656
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60806
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|09/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1108
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60107
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60657
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60807
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1979
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=left|Converted to Class 204 no. 1401
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205009
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1109
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|Chocolate & Cream
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60108
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60658
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60808
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|12/2004
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205010
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1110
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60198
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60659
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60809
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|09/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|1111
|bgcolor=#98fb98 align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#98fb98 align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#98FB98"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|60110
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|60660
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|60810
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=center|1980
|style="background-color:#98FB98" align=left|Rebuilt to become 205101
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205012
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1112
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Connex
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|60111
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60661
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60811
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|02/2004
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped 2005
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1113
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60112
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60662
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60812
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|04/1986
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205014
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1114
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60113
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60663
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60813
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|10/1989
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205015
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1115
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60114
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60664
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60814
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|10/1993
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205016
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1116
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60115
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60665
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60815
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|08/1994
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205017
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1117
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60116
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60666
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60816
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|09/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205018
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1118
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 1
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1957
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|BR Blue
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60117
|style="background-color:#cecece" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60828
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|08/2004
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Preserved at Lavender Line.
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205019
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1119
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 2
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1958
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60118
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60653
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60818
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|08/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205020
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1120
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 2
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1958
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60119
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60652
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60819
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|09/1987
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205008
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1121
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 2
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1958
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60120
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60657
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60820
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|10/1993
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Preserved at Lavender Line
|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|1122
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|Batch 2
|bgcolor=#d5fdf4 align=center|1958
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60121
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|60821
|colspan=2 style="background-color:#d5fdf4" align=center|See Class 204 (never officially classified as a 205)
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205023
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1123
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 3
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1959
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|BR Green
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60122
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60669
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60822
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|01/1999
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Preserved, unit split up. 60822 under restoration.
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205024
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1124
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 3
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1959
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60123
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60668
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60823
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|07/2000
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped.
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205025
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1125
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 3
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1959
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|BR Green
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60124
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60824
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|05/2004
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Preserved at the Watercress Line.
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205026
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1126
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 3
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1959
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60125
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60671
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60825
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|11/1990
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|205027
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|1127
|bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#fef6e7"|-
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|60145
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|08/1994
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=left|Sandite unit 930301. 60145 at St Leonards.
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205028
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1128
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|Faded Connex
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60146
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60673
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60827
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|11/2004
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Formerly preserved at Dartmoor Railway, sold to the Caledonian Railway in 2021.
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205029
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1129
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|BR Green
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60147
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60667
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60817
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1994
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped after Cowden rail crash
|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|205030
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|1130
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#cecece align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#CECECE"|NSE
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60148
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60675
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|60829
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|11/1992
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=left|Scrapped
|-
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|205031
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|1131
|bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#fef6e7 align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#fef6e7"|Blue/Grey
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|60149
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#CECECE" align=center|-
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=center|07/1993
|style="background-color:#fef6e7" align=left|Sandite unit 930301. 60149 at St Leonards.
|-
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|205032
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|1132
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|Batch 4
|bgcolor=#eaf3ff align=center|1962
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff"|BR Green
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60150
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60677
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|60831
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=center|10/2004
|style="background-color:#eaf3ff" align=left|Formerly preserved at Dartmoor Railway, sold to the Caledonian Railway in 2021.
- 205009 - Eden Valley Railway (3-car unit)
- 205018 - (DTCsoL 60828 from 205029) Lavender Line (2-car unit)
- 205023 - (DTCsoL 60822) and TSO 60669 (from 205024) at Swindon and Cricklade Railway. TSO 60669 was to be stripped for spares to restore DTCsoL 60822 and then scrapped; in the event both were beyond repair and stripped. DMBS 60122 at Lavender Line)
- 205025 - Mid-Hants Railway (2-car unit)
- 205027 - (DMBSO 60145) Stored at St Leonards Depot with DMBSO 60149
- 205028 - Dartmoor Railway, later Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
- 205032 - Dartmoor Railway, later Caledonian Railway (Brechin) Manufacture was switched to Bachmann in March 2010 and the model was released in February 2013. The model was produced in BR green and Connex white/yellow liveries.
References
Further reading
External links
- East Kent Railway — Home of 205001
- Hampshire & Sussex Unit Preservation Society (HSUPS) — owners of preserved unit 205023.
- Hastings Diesels — owners of preserved DTCsoL 60820 from unit 205008.
- Eden Valley Railway — home of preserved unit 205009.
- Kernow Model Rail Centre
- DC Kits
<!-- rm spam (if anyone sees an irrelevant link to the preserved carriage database, can you zap it) -->