SREmG
 

Please be aware of our copyright notice. If you have a good reaon for using a photo from this site ask permission from first - it is frequently given.

2-Bil

2-Bil animation
 

photograph by Keith Harwood

2-Bil unit N°2008 is at the head of this train as it arrives at Worplesdon
The 2 Bil (bi-lavatory) first appeared as a batch of 10 semi fast main line units to a contemporary design during 1935 for use on the Eastbourne line. Each unit consisted of a motor brake third and a driving trailer composite. In the motor car behind the driver's cab was a full width luggage/guard's van followed by seven third (later, under BR, second) class compartments off a side corridor and at the inner end a toilet compartment. In the driving trailer were four first and four third class compartments connected by a side corridor, a toilet at the inner end and the Guard's/luggage compartment the floor of which was partly raised to accommodate the electo-magnetic control gear. The bodies were steel panelling on a hardwood wooden frame on a steel undeframe.

A further batch of Bils was introduced in 1936 for use on the Waterloo to Portsmouth (slow) and Waterloo to Alton services. The final batch in 1938 was built for use on the Waterloo to Reading line. These two later batches had a different internal layout to the motor car with larger luggage area, six first class compartments and one four seat coupe. These units had flat floors to the Guard's/luggage compartment as they were fitted with under-floor-mounted electro-pneumatic control gear. Following an accident where a steam train had run into the back of a 2 Bil standing at Woking, it was decided to bring the end load strength for future construction up from 90 tons to 120 tons and all new 62ft underframes were fitted, increasing the weight of both the motor brake thirds and the driving trailers by one ton.
Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 2-Bils
    Guildford
    A six car train of three 2-Bils emerges from the tunnel to the south of Guildford station with a Portsmouth & Southsea to Waterloo stopping service on 20th February 1966. The cramped site of Guildford mpd (70C) is evident from this photograph. Although steam passenger trains on the Reading to Redhill service had ceased some 14 months previously, Guildford remained as a steam shed until the end of Southern steam. Clearly visible is the regular shed pilot USA 0-6-0 N°30072, the last engine to leave the shed on 9th July 1967.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 2104
    Reading
    No blinds on me! The driver of unit N°2104 leans out of the front cab window to retrieve the route indicator fret having just arrived in platform 4A at Reading.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • Jumpers
     
    No date, nor location for this photograph which shows the jumpers either being connected or disconnected for a joining or splitting of a train. The tail lamp on the platform had either been removed, or was to be placed on the rear of the front unit, depending on what was happening.
    Looks like a wet day though!
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • S10674S
     
    S10674S was the Motor Coach of 2-Bil unit N°2108 (its Driving Trailer was S12141S). 2108 is coupled to 2 Hal N°2666 at a snowy Ascot station.
    Photograph by Chris Ralls.
  • 2090
    Ardingly
    N°2090 enters Ardingly with a Seaford to Horsted Keynes service. Note the absence of a headcode.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 2090
    Ardingly
    N°2090, now on its return journey, pulls away from Ardingly with a train from Horsted Keynes to Seaford.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 2045
    Guildford
    N°2045 and another, unknown 2 Bil, stops at Guildford on a slow service from Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo. Guildford shed, which was a roundhouse, was beyond and to the right of the footbridge in the distance.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 2098
    Haywards Hth
    N°2098 at Haywards Heath station on a Horsted Keynes-Seaford service.
    Note the SR style totem on the lamp post.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 2112
    Winnersh Halt
    Unit N°2112 is seen at Winnersh Halt on an unknown date, now sporting yellow panels on the cab fronts, .
    Photograph by Chris Ralls, courtesy of Mike Morant.
  • 2053
    Fratton
    A pair of 2-Bils. Unit N°2053 is at the rear, with full yellow cab fronts, as the train is pulling out of Fratton station during 1967.
    Photograph by Terry Bye.
  • 2090
    Seaford
    One 2-Bil unit - N°2090 - has been preserved by the NRM, although currently it is sadly in BR blue. It is seen here in BR green working a shuttle service for the Greenwich 150 celebrations into Cannon Street on 23rd August 1986. It is seen here at Seaford in 1991
    Photograph by Ashley Barton.
  • 2090
    Brighton
    Although not the best framed photograph this illustrates the compartment side of the unit. N°2090 is seen stabled at Brighton. from a passing train on 7th December 1991.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.

This page was last updated 15 May 2010

SR Target