The British Rail Class 202 (or 6L) 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. Several tunnels along the route had restricted clearance, meaning that these units were built with a narrow body profile. Similar to the Class 201 (or 6S) they were built to the longer (63ft 5in) British Rail Mark 1 standard and therefore had 288 seats (240 second class plus 48 first class) compared to the 242 (200+42) of the 6S units.
The last six-car units were withdrawn in 1986, when the Hastings line was electrified. The line through the tunnels was reduced to single track, allowing standard loading gauge 4CEP, 4CIG, and 4VEP electrical multiple units to replace the diesel units on passenger services. One unit was subsequently reinstated to provide emergency cover, and was renumbered as 202001 to conform with the TOPS numbering system.
After the mass withdrawals of 1986, several units were reformed as four-car units, and subsequently renumbered into the Class 203 series. In addition, several vehicles saw further use as departmental vehicles.
Fleet details
Key:PreservedReformedDepartmental UseScrapped
Original 6L Units Unit No.DMBSOTSOLTSOLTFKTSOLDMBSOWithdrawnStatusNewOld-10116001460521605226070760523600151987Reformed to 203001-10126001660524605256070860526600171986Preserved20200110136001860527605286070960529600191987Reformed as 203101-1014600206053060531607106053260021?Scrapped-1015600226053360534607116053560023?Scrapped-1016600246053660537607126053860025?Scrapped-1017600266053960540607136054160027?Scrapped-1018600286054260543607146054460029?Scrapped-1019600306054560546607156054760031?Scrapped
Reformed 4L Units Unit No.DMBSOTSOLTSOL DMBSOWithdrawnStatusNewOld203001101160152 (ex-60014)605226052360153 (ex-60015)1990Sandite unit 1067203101202001600186052860709600191988Preserved
Departmental Units Unit No.DMTDM (DT*)WithdrawnStatusNewOld1067203001977698 (ex-60152)977697 (ex-60523)977699 (ex-60153)1996Scrapped (1996)1068207014/203001977700 (ex-60139)977696 (ex-60522)977701* (ex-60910)1992Scrapped (2005)
Preservation
One complete unit has been preserved. 1013 – by Hastings Diesels Two vehicles from unit 1012 have also been preserved. 1012 – DMBSO 60016 and TFK 60708 - by Hastings Diesels
Several of the vehicles from 1012 and 1013 now operate in preserved mainline registered unit 201001. To avoid conflict with Class 60 locomotives, motor vehicles 60016 and 60018 have been renumbered to 60116 and 60118 respectively. These two vehicles have also been named after towns along the routes which they previously worked. 60116 (ex-60016) – Mountfield 60118 (ex-60018) – Tunbridge Wells
See also British Rail Classes 201, 202 and 203
References
Further reading
External links Hastings Diesels