CLASS 401 (2-BIL)
| To
provide for semi-fast services on the London to Eastbourne electri fication,
10 two-coach units emerged early in 1935. Each set was formed of a driving
motor brake third and a driving trailer composite, giving a seating capacity
for 24 first and 88 third class passengers. In common with unit building of that period, the construction of power cars was awarded to the Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage, Wagon a Finance Company, and Birmingham Railway Carriage a Wagon Com pany, with the trailer vehicles being built by the Southern Railway at Eastleigh Works. Vehicle construction was based on a steel frame with hardwood side supports plated in steel. Internal layout of the BIL units followed previous Southern styling, with a guard's and luggage compartment behind the driving cab in the power car. Seven third class compartments were connected by a side corridor, and at the inner end of the coach was a toilet. Driving trailer cars were set out in four first and four third class compartments, again fed by a side corridor with a toilet at the inner end.The initial 10 units were numbered in the 1891-1900 series when constructed, but this was iater amended to 2001-2010. A subsequent fleet of units of the same design was built at Eastleigh Works in 1936 for semifast services on the Waterloo to Portsmouth/Alton lines, and these were numbered 2011 2048. Further batches taking the numbering to 2116 emerged in 1937 for the Central Section's Portsmouth to Bognor Regis route, and the final batch, Nos 2117-2152, entered traffic in 1938 for the Waterloo to Reading line. Some of the later builds had slightly revised seating in the motor coach, where six first class compartments were laid out, together with a coupe. Other minor alterations on later builds were to power equipment and window frame design. When introduced, all units were painted in green livery, the majority remaining in this colour until their withdrawal in the early 1970s. Some sets that passed through works for classified overhauls during the late 1960s, emerged in rail blue livery with full yellow warning ends. |
| Go to Recognition Pages |
| Number range: | 2001-2152 |
| Former number range: | 1891-1900 |
| Alpha code: | 2-BIL |
| Introduced: | 1935-1938 |
| Built by: | SR Eastleigh, frames from Lancing+ |
| Formation: | MBSL+DTCL |
| Vehicle numbers: | MBSL - 10567-10718 |
| DTCL - 12034-12110 | |
| Set length: | |
| Vehicle length: | 62ft 6in |
| Height: | |
| Width: | 9ft 3in |
| Seating: | Total: 24F/84S* |
| MBSL - 52S* | |
| DTCL - 24F/32S | |
| Internal layout: | 2+3. comparment |
| Gangway: | No |
| Toilets: | MBSL, DTCL - 1 |
| Weight: | Total - 74 tons 15cwt |
| MBSL - 43 tons 10cwt | |
| DTCL - 31 tons 5cwt | |
| Brake type: | Air |
| Bogie type: | |
| Power collection: | 660-750v dc third rail |
| Traction motor type: | 2 x EE |
| Horsepower: | 550hp |
| Max speed: | 75mph |
| Coupling type: | Screw |
| Multiple restriction: | SR types up to 1936 series (Group 1) |
| Door type: | Slam |
| Special features: | 2001-10 fitted with electropneumatic control equipment |
* Second class seating was originally third class
+ MBSL of sets 1891-1900 (2001-2010) built by Metro Cammell/BRCW