British Rail Class 401
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| British Rail Class 401 | |
|---|---|
| In service | 1935-1969 |
| Manufacturer | SR Eastleigh, frames from Lancing |
| Formation | power car + driving trailer |
| Operator | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 75mph 121km/h |
| Weight | Total - 74 tons 15cwt |
| Engine | 2 x 275 hp traction motors total 550 hp (410 kW) |
| Braking system | Air |
The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 2Bil to the DC third rail electric multiple units built during the 1930s to work long-distance semi-fast services on the newly electrified lines from London to Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Reading. This type of unit survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 401.
Contents |
[edit] Construction
The 2Bil units (2-car Bi-Lavatory stock) were so-called because each set had two lavatories, one in each car. They were built in four batches, each for service on newly-electrified lines:
| Units | Built | Intended Use |
|---|---|---|
| 2001-2010 | 1935 | London to Eastbourne |
| 2011-2048 | 1936 | London Waterloo to Alton and Portsmouth slow services |
| 2049-2116 | 1937 | Portsmouth to Bognor Regis |
| 2117-2152 | 1938 | London Waterloo to Reading |
The different batches were broadly similar, though in the first one, the driving motor brake car had a smaller brake compartment and seven full compartments, rather than six-and-a-half in the later batches.
[edit] Formations
The first two batches of 2Bil stock were subject to the EMU renumbering scheme implemented during January and February 1937. The renumbering of these units, and the original formations of all 2Bil units, are set out in the table below (*Unit 1890 was renumbered 1900 in January 1936):
| Units (pre-1937) | Units (post-1937) | DMBT | DTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 / 1900* | 2010 | 10567 | 12101 |
| 1891-1899 | 2001-2009 | 10568 to 10576 | 12102 to 12110 |
| 1911-1920 | 2011-2020 | 10577 to 10586 | 12034 to 12043 |
| 1954-1971 | 2021-2048 | 10587 to 10614 | 12044 to 12071 |
| - | 2049-2077 | 10615 to 10643 | 12072 to 12100 |
| - | 2078-2152 | 10644 to 10718 | 12111 to 12185 |
[edit] 7TC
In 1963, a 7-coach trailer set was formed by placing five former 4Sub trailer cars between the two driving cars from unit 2006. The set was intended for use on the Oxted line, where it was hauled by diesel locomotives.
The motors from former DMBS car number 10573 were removed, and the whole set was re-wired to enable the hauling diesel locomotive to provide the electric train heating. Six (out of nine) compartments of one of the 4Sub Trailer Second cars (number 11485) were refitted as first class compartments, thereby making it a Trailer Composite.
The set was originally numbered 900 in the old hauled carriage set number series, but this was amended in February 1966 to 701 in the new series for trailer control units. Despite this, and its designation as 7TC (7-car Trailer Control stock), it was not a real trailer control unit in that a locomotive could not be operated remotely from the unit's driving cars.
The unit was stored from December 1967 and then withdrawn in April 1969. However, while the two driving cars were scrapped the following year, all five trailers were reused in other units. Four returned to 4Sub formations, but 11485 underwent a further conversion, this time to a 4EPB Trailer Second, and was renumbered 15084. Full details of the 7TC formation, the origin of the individual cars and their subsequent disposal are set out in the table below:
| Carriage Number | Carriage Type | Former Unit | Re-use/Disposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10573 | TBS (ex-DMBS) | 2Bil 2006 | Scrapped (1970) |
| 10351 | TS | 4Sub 4328 | 4Sub 4132 |
| 10353 | TS | 4Sub 4352 | 4Sub 4364 |
| 11485 | TC (ex-TS) | 4Sub 4115 | 4EPB 5115 (as TS 15084) |
| 10349 | TS | 4Sub 4346 | 4Sub 4132 |
| 10346 | TS | 4Sub 4329 | 4Sub 4131 |
| 12107 | TC (ex-DTC) | 2Bil 2006 | Scrapped (1970) |
[edit] Preservation
Only one 2Bil unit has survived into preservation, namely number 2090, formed of carriages 10656 and 12123, which is in the care of the National Railway Museum, York.
