British Rail Class 206
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 206 or 3R was a type of Diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) first created in 1964. They were not 'built' as such but rather re-formed from Class 201
and EPB
vehicles for use on -- (North Downs Line
) services. Six three-car sets were created, numbered 1201-1206.
had been converted to diesel and electric operation. However, steam locomotives continued to operate the entire service on the North Downs Line
. New trains for this route could not be justified as passenger numbers were relatively low. Twelve carriages from class 201
diesel-electric units were available for use following service cuts on the Hastings Line
, so a decision was made to combine these vehicles with six redundant driving trailers from 2-EPB
electric multiple units (EMU).
Several changes were made to the vehicles before they entered service. The EPB vehicles were fitted with buckeye couplers to allow them to attach to the DEMU vehicles. A three-bay luggage area was created in the former EMU carriages to cope with the high level of mail traffic on the Reading to Tonbridge route, while the engines in the former DEMU vehicles were uprated by 100hp
.
The new units were given the numbers 1201-1206, and entered service in January 1965. They were commonly referred to as 'tadpoles' due to the difference in body profiles between the 201 and EPB stock. Following the adoption of TOPS
in the late 1960s, the units were given the class number 206.
when other units were unavailable, and on some journeys between and .
They were replaced by Western Region diesel multiple units from February 1979. It was intended that four of the units should be broken up into component carriages from May 1979, with 1205 and 1206 retained for other uses, but delays in the introduction of Western Region units saw 1204 survive until August and 1203 until September. From September 1979, only one unit was required for the North Downs Line, with the other used on the Marshlink Line
between and Ashford
.
Following a derailment at in March 1980, 1205 and 1206 were temporarily disbanded to provide cover for damaged class 201 vehicles. 1205 was disbanded permanently in November 1980. In May 1981 the last surviving unit, 1206, was replaced on the Reading to Tonbridge route by a Western Region unit, and was used between Hastings and Ashford for a further four years before being disbanded.
unit 1113 was involved in a collision at in May 1985, causing two of its three carriages to be damaged and later scrapped. It re-entered service in April 1986 with two vehicles from a withdrawn class 202
unit, and was redesignated as a class 206 two months later, taking the TOPS number 206101. It operated regularly on the Marshlink line until October 1987, when it was withdrawn.
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 206 or 3R was a type of Diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) first created in 1964. They were not 'built' as such but rather re-formed 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...
and EPB
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...
vehicles for use on -- (North Downs Line
North Downs Line
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Gatwick Airport, on the Brighton Main Line...
) services. Six three-car sets were created, numbered 1201-1206.
Creation
By 1964, the majority of services on the Southern Region of British RailwaysSouthern 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...
had been converted to diesel and electric operation. However, steam locomotives continued to operate the entire service on the North Downs Line
North Downs Line
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Gatwick Airport, on the Brighton Main Line...
. New trains for this route could not be justified as passenger numbers were relatively low. Twelve carriages 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...
diesel-electric units were available for use following service cuts on the Hastings Line
Hastings Line
The Hastings Line is a railway line in Kent and East Sussex linking Hastings with the main town of Tunbridge Wells, and from there into London via Sevenoaks.-Openings:The line was opened by the South Eastern Railway in main three stages: – :...
, so a decision was made to combine these vehicles with six redundant driving trailers from 2-EPB
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...
electric multiple units (EMU).
Several changes were made to the vehicles before they entered service. The EPB vehicles were fitted with buckeye couplers to allow them to attach to the DEMU vehicles. A three-bay luggage area was created in the former EMU carriages to cope with the high level of mail traffic on the Reading to Tonbridge route, while the engines in the former DEMU vehicles were uprated by 100hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
.
The new units were given the numbers 1201-1206, and entered service in January 1965. They were commonly referred to as 'tadpoles' due to the difference in body profiles between the 201 and EPB stock. Following the adoption of TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
in the late 1960s, the units were given the class number 206.
Operations
As the class 206 had no first class seating, their use was limited. As well as working on the North Downs line, the units were occasionally used on the Oxted LineOxted 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....
when other units were unavailable, and on some journeys between and .
They were replaced by Western Region diesel multiple units from February 1979. It was intended that four of the units should be broken up into component carriages from May 1979, with 1205 and 1206 retained for other uses, but delays in the introduction of Western Region units saw 1204 survive until August and 1203 until September. From September 1979, only one unit was required for the North Downs Line, with the other 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...
between and Ashford
Ashford International railway station
Ashford International railway station serves Ashford in Kent, England. Services are provided by Southeastern, Southern and Eurostar.International services use platforms 3 & 4, whilst domestic trains use the original platforms 1 & 2, and a new island built when the Channel Tunnel opened...
.
Following a derailment at in March 1980, 1205 and 1206 were temporarily disbanded to provide cover for damaged class 201 vehicles. 1205 was disbanded permanently in November 1980. In May 1981 the last surviving unit, 1206, was replaced on the Reading to Tonbridge route by a Western Region unit, and was used between Hastings and Ashford for a further four years before being disbanded.
Class 206/1
In June 1986, the class 206 number was reused for another hybrid unit. Class 205British 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 1113 was involved in a collision at in May 1985, causing two of its three carriages to be damaged and later scrapped. It re-entered service in April 1986 with two vehicles from a withdrawn 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, and was redesignated as a class 206 two months later, taking the TOPS number 206101. It operated regularly on the Marshlink line until October 1987, when it was withdrawn.
Technical details
Power car (one per three-car set)- Weight: 54 tons 2 cwt
- Transmission: Electric, two English Electric traction motors
- Train heating: Electric