The British Rail Class 202 (or 6L)

diesel-electric multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are als ...

s were built from 1957-58 at

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and Ashford Works. These units were built to work the London Charing Cross to

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

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) BR Mk1 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 The last six-car units were withdrawn in 1986, when the Hastings line was electrified.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

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, allowing standard

loading gauge A loading gauge is a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in railway vehicles and their loads. Their purpose is to ensure that rail vehicles can pass safely through tunnels and under bridges, and ke ...

Class 411

electrical multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number ...

s 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 Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) is a computer system for managing railway locomotives and rolling stock, known for many years of use in the United Kingdom. TOPS was originally developed between the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP), S ...

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. * Introduced: 1957-58

Fleet details

Original 6L Units Reformed 4L Units Departmental Units

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) –

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References

External links

Hastings Diesels
{{British Rail DMU 202 Diesel electric multiple units Train-related introductions in 1957

Fleet details

Preservation

See also

References

Further reading

External links