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Hampshire & Berkshire DEMUs 2H/3H/3T (Class 205/204)

photograph by Keith Harwood

Class 3H unit N°1113 at Barcombe Mills on a winter service.

To replace steam hauled stock in the Hampshire area in 1957 eighteen two coach Diesel Electric Multiple Units to a BR standard design were built. The first batch of units, numbered 1101-1118, was built in 1957 as two-car units and classified as 2H. In 1958 and 1969 all eighteen units were strengthened to three cars, with the addition of a centre trailer, and therefore were reclassified as 3H units. All these units were subsequently denoted as Class 205 under TOPS.

Unlike most diesel multiple units (which have mechanical drives) the power cars on DEMUs are effectively mini diesel-electric locomotives with final drive by electric traction motors. This was the Southern's preferred form of multiple unit away from the third rail juice, governed by commonality with the EMU fleet of many components for maintenance purposes. Designated 2H (for Hampshire) they consisted of a motor brake second saloon (MBSO) and a driving trailer composite (DTC) - the DEMU equivalent of a 2 Hap.

A further four units were built in 1958 for use in East Sussex and Kent. Between 1958 and 1959 the original eighteen units were augmented to 3 car by addition of a trailer second semi-saloon (TSO) and four more 3 car units were built. The new designation became 3H. A final batch of seven units was built for service between Salisbury and Reading. These were different in that they had larger guards vans and were designated Berkshire units, although still 3H/class 205. As some branches in Hampshire closed surplus units were drafted for use on the Oxted line. Rebuilding of most of the non Berkshire units to create a luggage compartment in the DTC occurred between 1963 and 1964 however this work was reversed in 1975/76 on most of the units used on the Oxted line. In 1979 driving trailers from disbanded 3R Tadpole units were used to augment the remaining 2 car units to 3 car. These units were re-designated 3T (class 204). In 1979 one unit underwent an experimental refurbishment much modernising the passenger accommodation and becoming class 3H(M). This rebuilding remained an experiment and it was not repeated on the rest of the class.

With the electrification of lines in the Fareham area further reducing their original service requirement, and prior to the introduction of Sprinter DMUs, the scope of operation of these units increased to regional services working between places such as Portsmouth and Bristol. Withdrawal and reformation of units has happened during the class's later life, although until replacements arrive in 2004 the survivors were still in service working for South Central alongside the remaining class 207 units down to Uckfield or across the Kent marsh.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 1114
    Isfield
    3H unit N°1114 seen running into Isfield. Note the unusual black triangle (when ends were still all-green this was a 'V') painted on the front of the brake end driving cab. As the unit ran into a station this indicated to the staff that the luggage van was at this end of the unit.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 1106
    Quidhampton
    Now sporting full yellow ends, 3H unit N°1106 at Quidhampton, near Salisbury, on 19th May 1973.
    Photograph by Dave Mant.
  • 1105 nr
    Hampden Park
    With the non-brake end at the front, 3H unit N°1105 near Hampden Park during February 1986.
    Photograph by Mark Westcott.
  • Three 3H
    Units
    3H unit N°1119 approaches Willingdon junction at the head of the 9:41am East Croydon - Eastbourne in February 1986. The main purpose of this working was to move DEMUs for the Uckfield and East Grinstead services between Selhurst and the depot at St Leonards. This working ceased in September 1987.
    Photograph by Mark Westcott.
  • 205031
    Clapham Jn 1
    Motor car 60149 of 3H unit N°205031 at Clapham Junction in June 1993. It was being used on the Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia service and, still with just the NSE logo sticker, is believed to have been the last 205 unit in the blue/grey livery. This unit was originally numbered 1131 in pre-TOPs days
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • 205031
    Clapham Jn 2
    Intermediate trailer second 60676 of 3H unit N°205031.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • 205031
    Clapham Jn 3
    The composite driving trailer 60830 of 3H unit N°205031.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • 205027
    London Br
    Unit N°205027 ran with a standard class compartment at the end nearest to the camera which did not have access to the side corridor to the first class compartments and was indicated by a red line above the compartment windows. Pictured in NSE livery at London Bridge, 25th January 1994.
    Photograph by John Lewis.
  • 205012
    Eastbourne
    Now back as 2H? Unit N°205012 was stored in the former steam locomotive run round line at Eastbourne on the morning of Sunday, 25th September 2000. It was running as a two car unit with Driving Motor Brake Second Open 60111 and Driving Trailer Composite Semi-Open 60811.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 205012
    Oxted
    Engine room detail on the DMBS of Unit N°205012 at Oxted on 22nd April 2002.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 205205
    Rye
    Unit N°205205, also running as a two car unit, formed the rear of the 1:15 p.m. departure to Hastings from Rye, 16th May 2002. N°205205 is the former 3H(R) aka 1111 - the Hampshire unit experimentally refurbished in 1980 as class 205/1 and in 1990 further refurbished as class 205/2.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Changing
    the Blinds
    Caught in the act, as the headcode blinds are changed.
    Photograph by Paul Clare.
  • 205012
    Roof detail
    Roof detail on unit N°205012.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 205205
    205025 Roofs
    Roof detail on two Hampshire units, the refurbished N°205205 (left) and original condition N°205025 (right). Pictured at Rye on 16th May 2002.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 1st Class
    compartment
    A First Class compartment in unit N°205025. Although the extra "luxury" over Standard/Second/Third Class is not what it once was, each seat still has the traditional antimacassar, albeit thin paper rather than laundered linen!.
    Photograph by James Kent.
  • 1st Class
    corridor
    The First Class corridor and door to the toilet in unit N°205012.
    Photograph by James Kent.
  • Std Class
    compartment
    The Standard Class compartment in the Driving Trailer car of unit N°205018. This was originally a First Class compartment but has been downgraded to provide increased Standard Class accommodation. This is the only one, all the remaining Standard Class accommodation being in open saloons.
    Photograph by James Kent.
  • Std Class
    saloon
    The Standard Class seating and luggage racks as fitted to the units when new (though subsequently re-upholstered) as seen in unit N°205012. The ceiling strip lights were a much welcomed improvement over the dingy light bulbs originally installed.
    Photograph by James Kent.
  • 205205 Std
    compartment
    The further modernised Standard Class interior of unit N°205205. Note the air of spaciousness when the luggage racks are moved from above the seats to the coach wall and the plastic laminate in place of the original wood veneer. Available luggage space is, however, a little less, though probably more useable!
    Photograph by James Kent.
  • DMBSO 60111
    Bogie

     
    Trailing (inside) Bogie of DMBSO 60111.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • DMBSO 60111
    Bogie

     
    Leading (cab end) Bogie of DMBSO unit 60111.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • DTCsoL 60811
    Bogie

     
    Trailing (inside) bogie of DTCsoL unit 60111 showing the step used to refill the toilet tank.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • DTCsoL 60811
    Bogie

     
    Leading (cab end) Bogie of DTCsoL unit 60111.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.

This page was last updated 28 December 2008

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