British Rail Class 207


The British Rail Class 207 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh in 1962. The fleet had a lifespan of 42 years. The Southern Region class 201 to 207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the noise their engine units make.

Operational history

When new the class were used on the Oxted Line, and were mostly concentrated on services between and Uckfield and Eridge to Tonbridge via . Other routes that the units operated included occasional workings on the Marshlink Line, the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line and the Cuckoo Line. Following the closure of the last two of these routes the unit gained workings on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line, and were known to deputise for 3R units on the North Downs Line to. Most units were withdrawn in 1987 following the electrification of the Oxted Line's branch. Four of the seven surviving units were used on the Reading to Basingstoke Line between 1988 and 1993; once this had finished three were withdrawn and the fourth sent to join the other three survivors on the Marshlink Line; between 1995 and 1998 this included through services from to. After this the class operated on the Marshlink Line between Ashford and and the Oxted Line between London Victoria and for privatised companies Connex South Central and Southern. The final three units were withdrawn in August 2004.

Technical details

;Power car :
Three complete units have been preserved:
In addition, driving motor vehicle from unit 207013 has also been preserved:
The centre trailer from unit 207203 has been at a private location:
DTSO 60901 from 207203 was preserved until it was destroyed in an arson attack on 20 May 2016.

Fleet details

Unrefurbished Class 207/0
Refurbished Class 207/1
Refurbished Class 207/2
Departmental Units