British Rail Class 204
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 204 designation has been used twice for two similar types of diesel-electric multiple units.
The original units, numbered in the range 1119-1122, were two-car versions of the Class 205 '3H'
units, and were classified as 2H under the old system.
In 1979, BR decided to augment the two-car units to three-car formation. Three of the four units were reformed with the addition of centre trailers taken from 3H (Class 205
) units, and thus were themselves reclassified as Class 205.
The fourth 2H unit, and the three former 3H units which had given up their trailers, were augmented by reusing the ex-2EPB
driving trailers from redundant Class 206
units. The Class 204 designation was re-applied to these four newly formed units (which were also given the classification 3T under the old system). They were renumbered into the range 1401-1404. In 1986, the units were renumbered to 204001-004 to conform with the TOPS
numbering system.
Original Class 204 (2H) Units
Reformed Class 204 (3T) Units
* ex-Class 205
None of the reformed 3T units are preserved.
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Class 204 designation has been used twice for two similar types of diesel-electric multiple units.
The original units, numbered in the range 1119-1122, were two-car versions of the Class 205 '3H'
British Rail Class 205
The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines....
units, and were classified as 2H under the old system.
In 1979, BR decided to augment the two-car units to three-car formation. Three of the four units were reformed with the addition of centre trailers taken from 3H (Class 205
British Rail Class 205
The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines....
) units, and thus were themselves reclassified as Class 205.
The fourth 2H unit, and the three former 3H units which had given up their trailers, were augmented by reusing the ex-2EPB
British Rail Class 416
British Rail Class 416 electric multiple units were built between 1953 and 1956. They were intended for inner suburban passenger services on London's Southern Electric network...
driving trailers from redundant Class 206
British Rail Class 206
The British Rail Class 206 or 3R was a type of Diesel electric multiple unit first created in 1964. They were not 'built' as such but rather re-formed from Class 201 and EPB vehicles for use on -- services...
units. The Class 204 designation was re-applied to these four newly formed units (which were also given the classification 3T under the old system). They were renumbered into the range 1401-1404. In 1986, the units were renumbered to 204001-004 to conform with the TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
numbering system.
Technical details
Power car (one per set)- Introduced: 1957
- Weight: 56 tons
- Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 600 bhp at 850 rpm
- Transmission: Electric, two English Electric type EE507 traction motors rated at 186 kW (250 hp) each.
- Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lbs (55,602 N)
- Driving wheel diameter: 3 in 6 in (1.07 m)
- Coupling code: Standard 'Buckeye' compatible with contemporary class 20x and 4xx units.
- Train heating: Electric
Fleet details
| Key: | Reclassified | Reformed | Scrapped |
|---|
Original Class 204 (2H) Units
| Unit Number | DMBSO | DTCsoL | Disbanded | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1119 | 60118 | 60818 | 1979 | Reclassified as 3H British Rail Class 205 The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines.... (unit 1119) with addition of TSO 60653 |
| 1120 | 60119 | 60819 | 1979 | Reclassified as 3H British Rail Class 205 The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines.... (unit 1120) with addition of TSO 60652 |
| 1121 | 60120 | 60820 | 1979 | Reclassified as 3H British Rail Class 205 The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines.... (unit 1108) with addition of TSO 60657 |
| 1122 | 60121 | 60821 | 1979 | Converted to 3T unit 1402 with addition of DTSso 77508 |
Reformed Class 204 (3T) Units
| Unit Number | DMBSO | DTSso | DTCsoL | Withdrawn | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Old | Original | |||||
| 204001 | 1401 | 1108 * | 60107 | 77500 | 60807 | 1987 | Scrapped |
| 204002 | 1402 | 1122 | 60121 | 77508 | 60821 | 1987 | Scrapped |
| 204003 | 1403 | 1103 * | 60102 | 77507 | 60802 | 1987 | Scrapped |
| 204004 | 1404 | 1104 * | 60103 | 77503 | 60803 | 1987 | Scrapped |
British Rail Class 205
The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines....
Preservation
Of the original 2H units, a single driving trailer has been preserved.- 205008 (ex-1121) - DTCsoL 60820 - Hastings Diesels at St Leonards-on-SeaSt Leonards-on-SeaSt Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
None of the reformed 3T units are preserved.