British Rail Class 203
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 203, initially classified 6B, was a type of diesel electric train. Seven units, numbered 1031-1037, were constructed in 1958 for use on the Southern Region
. They were similar to the earlier Class 202
units, differing only in the substitution of a trailer buffet car for one of the three trailer second opens.
–Tonbridge
–London /Cannon Street
line.
In 1963, the number of buffet cars was reduced to five to reflect falling demand, with units 1031 and 1032 losing the carriages; 1031 was converted to standard 6L (202)
formation while 1032 lost another car to replace a damaged car in another unit and ran with two TFKs, downgraded to TSK, from Class 201
; the rest of these units were used in the formation of 3R(206)
"Tadpole" units 1201-1206. The TSKs were later transferred to a 6S(201)
unit and replaced with two standard 6L(202)
TSOs and 1032 became another standard Class 202
unit. The two buffet cars removed from the units were stored and later converted for departmental use.
Between 1972 and 1977 two units worked a ––– service and return on Saturdays only. Class 203s were also used occasionally in place of Class 205
or Class 207
units on the Oxted Line
and Class 206
units between and .
At least one Class 203 unit was repainted in all-over Rail Blue with the carriage numbers repositioned higher, before all five remaining buffet units became blue and grey. Yellow squares and later yellow ends were added during repainting. In the 1980s the remaining five buffet cars were withdrawn and scrapped. The remaining five Class 203s became five-car units, with one shortened to four cars to run the – shuttle when the Tunbridge Wells- service was withdrawn as part of the Tonbridge–Bopeep Junction electrification scheme.
Upon the completion of this scheme almost all Class 201, 202 and 203 units were withdrawn, although a motor brake second open and trailer composite corridor (TCK) were used briefly to reinstate Class 206
unit 1206. Class 202 "6L" Unit 1011, however, continued in service as a 4-car unit. For unclear reasons it was renumbered into the Class 203 sequence when the TOPS
system was introduced, becoming 203001. It was used on the Marshlink Line
until 1990, when it was converted for departmental use and renumbered 1067. It was again renumbered, to 1067, and repainted into Network SouthEast
livery. It was withdrawn in 1994.
. This vehicle was fitted with a centre executive section, a urinal, and a classroom at one end which also had windows fitted for use when the vehicle was propelled at the Old Dalby
test track, and was later used for airflow tests before being rescued first by Hastings Diesels Ltd at St. Leonards Depot and subsequently by the Hastings 60750 Group and is being restored by the Lowhall Steam and Transport Museum, retaining features from all stages of its life, at Walthamstow Pump House Museum
.
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 203, initially classified 6B, was a type of diesel electric train. Seven units, numbered 1031-1037, were constructed in 1958 for use on the Southern Region
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
. They were similar to the earlier Class 202
British Rail Class 202
The British Rail Class 202 diesel-electric multiple units were built from 1957-58 at Eastleigh and Ashford Works. These units were built to work the London Charing Cross to Hastings services...
units, differing only in the substitution of a trailer buffet car for one of the three trailer second opens.
Operations
The units were delivered in 1958 in then-standard British Railways green livery. They worked initially on the HastingsHastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
–Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
–London /Cannon Street
Cannon Street station
Cannon Street station, also known as London Cannon Street, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. It is built on the site of the medieval Steelyard, the trading base in England of the Hanseatic League...
line.
In 1963, the number of buffet cars was reduced to five to reflect falling demand, with units 1031 and 1032 losing the carriages; 1031 was converted to standard 6L (202)
British Rail Class 202
The British Rail Class 202 diesel-electric multiple units were built from 1957-58 at Eastleigh and Ashford Works. These units were built to work the London Charing Cross to Hastings services...
formation while 1032 lost another car to replace a damaged car in another unit and ran with two TFKs, downgraded to TSK, from Class 201
British Rail Class 201
The British Rail Class 201 six-car diesel-electric multiple units were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and Ashford. They were built for use on the London-Hastings line...
; the rest of these units were used in the formation of 3R(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...
"Tadpole" units 1201-1206. The TSKs were later transferred to a 6S(201)
British Rail Class 201
The British Rail Class 201 six-car diesel-electric multiple units were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and Ashford. They were built for use on the London-Hastings line...
unit and replaced with two standard 6L(202)
British Rail Class 202
The British Rail Class 202 diesel-electric multiple units were built from 1957-58 at Eastleigh and Ashford Works. These units were built to work the London Charing Cross to Hastings services...
TSOs and 1032 became another standard Class 202
British Rail Class 202
The British Rail Class 202 diesel-electric multiple units were built from 1957-58 at Eastleigh and Ashford Works. These units were built to work the London Charing Cross to Hastings services...
unit. The two buffet cars removed from the units were stored and later converted for departmental use.
Between 1972 and 1977 two units worked a ––– service and return on Saturdays only. Class 203s were also used occasionally in place of 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....
or Class 207
British Rail Class 207
The British Rail Class 207 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh in 1962.-Technical details:Power car * Introduced: 1962* Weight: 56 tons...
units on the Oxted Line
Oxted Line
The Oxted Line is a railway line in southern England. It was originally operated jointly by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the South Eastern Railway. It is now part of the Southern franchise....
and 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 between and .
At least one Class 203 unit was repainted in all-over Rail Blue with the carriage numbers repositioned higher, before all five remaining buffet units became blue and grey. Yellow squares and later yellow ends were added during repainting. In the 1980s the remaining five buffet cars were withdrawn and scrapped. The remaining five Class 203s became five-car units, with one shortened to four cars to run the – shuttle when the Tunbridge Wells- service was withdrawn as part of the Tonbridge–Bopeep Junction electrification scheme.
Upon the completion of this scheme almost all Class 201, 202 and 203 units were withdrawn, although a motor brake second open and trailer composite corridor (TCK) were used briefly to reinstate 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...
unit 1206. Class 202 "6L" Unit 1011, however, continued in service as a 4-car unit. For unclear reasons it was renumbered into the Class 203 sequence when 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...
system was introduced, becoming 203001. It was used on the Marshlink Line
Marshlink Line
The Marshlink Line is the name given to services on the railway line linking Ashford with Hastings in the South East of England. The line was part of an original proposal by a company named the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway to extend its coast route to Hastings...
until 1990, when it was converted for departmental use and renumbered 1067. It was again renumbered, to 1067, and repainted into Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
livery. It was withdrawn in 1994.
Technical details
Power car (two per six-car set)- Introduced: 1958
- Weight: 55 tons
- Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 500 bhp at 850 rpm
- Transmission: Electric, two English Electric traction motors
- Maximum tractive effort: Not known
- Driving wheel diameter: Not known
- Coupling code: Not known
- Train heating: Electric
Preservation
Two vehicles survive: DB975025 and S60750. S60750, the buffet removed car from unit 1031 in 1963, had been used for tilt tests in the 1980s for the Advanced Passenger TrainAdvanced Passenger Train
The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....
. This vehicle was fitted with a centre executive section, a urinal, and a classroom at one end which also had windows fitted for use when the vehicle was propelled at the Old Dalby
Old Dalby
Old Dalby is a village in the English county of Leicestershire. It is located to the north-west of Melton Mowbray. It was originally known as "Wold Dalby" or "Dalby on the Wolds".-Village:...
test track, and was later used for airflow tests before being rescued first by Hastings Diesels Ltd at St. Leonards Depot and subsequently by the Hastings 60750 Group and is being restored by the Lowhall Steam and Transport Museum, retaining features from all stages of its life, at Walthamstow Pump House Museum
Walthamstow Pump House Museum
The Pump House Steam and Transport Museum is a museum in Walthamstow focusing on the pioneering achievements in road, rail, air and sea transport in the River Lea valley from the early 19th century...
.