Class 205 DEMU Thumper No1125 Departs Alton On Saturday 20th February 2016

[@stephenpowell5912]

The sound of these remind me of my youth born in 1973 growing up in the Early 1980s Going from East Grinstead in Sussex to London Bridge, Beautiful sounding classic locos Especially at Full Throttle ,Love that powerful Clag sound ❤️

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Stephen, thanks for watching the video and for your comments. Yes they certainly do bring back memories to a lot of people. I worked at Waterloo/Croydon during the 1990's diagramming the class 205 units on the London Bridge to Uckfield service. Best Regards Pete

[@jameskingsford7794]

I like the fact how they lasted all the way to 2004 in service a long time for a 1950s design

[@ghostontheline]

Hi James, thanks for watching and commenting on the video. I was working for Connex South Central formed on the privatisation of BR during the mid 1990's. Class 205/207 units were based at Selhurst Depot, they covered services from Brighton to Ashford and London Victoria to Uckfield. One had to be very careful when diagramming as the DEMU's only had a max range of 550 miles. Best Regards Pete

[@OlafProt]

I grew up with the Reading-Tonbridge North Downs line running behind my house, in Dorking. And in the 70s we had the 3R 3-car Tadpole units. I loved the sound of these, especially when we used to get the train from Visiting my grandparents at Gomshall, and had been running a distance from Chilworth, and as they pulled up at the station their idli g sounds was very distinctive. Wonderful machines.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Nick, sorry for the very slow reply. It's amazing how some things bring back fond memories. Such a simple thing in our mixed up modern world. Best Regards Pete

[@1966jamesM]

The sound of my childhood! Vivid memories of travelling the Ashford to Hastings line on summer holidays during the 1970's.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi James, same here but Basingstoke to Reading, Salisbury and Southampton. Happy days. Pete

[@robtyman4281]

Thumpers were still a common sight after 1980, and many plied routes out of Victoria, and also Charing Cross right through the 80's and well into the 90:s. Indeed the last Thumpers operating on the main rail network were still running as late as 1997. I think that year they were finally taken out of service by the then TOC (first one post BR) - Connex South Eastern. CSE had taken over when BR was broken up in 1996. They would probably have still had the old Network South East livery, rather than the yellow on white of Connex.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Rob, thanks for watching and for your comments. I worked for Connex South Central as a Short Term Rolling Stock Clerk, the Thumpers were still hanging on then, Really miss the sound so distinctive. Cheers Pete

[@richardprice7763]

A locomotive disguised as a carriage....always intriguing!

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Richard, thanks for watching the video, if you have never travelled in one you don’t know what you are missing. Happy New Year Oete

[@Martindyna]

Northern Ireland had their own, more modern versions of these DEMUs (80 Class & 450 Class), search in KZbin `Irish Thumpers' if interested.

[@geoffbarry9540]

Ah, the lure of history. I watch this and recall that I never rode a Hampshire. But, conversely, I probably rode the earliest of the Oxteds up from East Croydon to Victoria with my Gran to visit the Newsreel theatre next to then platform 17 before 1960. And, in 2004, I filmed two thumpers at Rye, part of my favourite day out when we were living in Hastings...

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Geoff, thanks for watching the video and for your thoughts about the thumpers. They have been a part of my life from school holidays to my working career with BR. Cheers Pete

[@TrainsOhio]

Nice shots!

[@ghostontheline]

Hi, a big thanks from Somerset. Best Regards Pete

[@riverhuntingdon6659]

Lovely, heard the preheat drop out as the driver took power, waiting for a couple of secs for the engine to slow before opening it up. Happy days. Spent many shifts working these from Hastings to Ashford, and of course the old six-cars on the CX/CS run.

[@Martindyna]

Hi, can you enlarge on what you mean by `heard the preheat drop out as the driver took power' please. Sadly I think River has passed away. RIP Sir.

[@OlafProt]

That’s a great sound! I used to use the Tadpole units on the. North Downs line from Deepdene to Gomshall or Guildford as a kid

[@stevecooksley]

That sounded good with the subwoofer up a few levels.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Steve, better late than never, thanks for watching. Cheers Pete

[@DavidJohnston58]

Reminder of days years ago travelling on NIR on the slam door Thumpers. The Caf three and six car sets they use now on all but Enterprise are modern, comfortable and get you into town ok but they don't make the hair stand up on your neck like a Thumper 👍

[@ghostontheline]

Hi David, sorry about the late reply! Anyway thanks for watching the video and I do agree with your comments about the Thumpers. I grew up with them, travelled for leisure, college and work.....Cheers Pete

[@Martindyna]

Yes, something about the Medium Speed Diesel engine (max speed 850 RPM), the exact opposite of an aggressive sounding 2 stroke engine. If sitting in the power car at the back the traction motor whine could sometimes be heard on lower number power notches. On higher notches the Diesel noise became predominant.

[@williamradford9631]

Nice video, been there. One off visit to the watercress. Its like stepping back in time, platform 2-3

[@ghostontheline]

Hi William, thanks for the comments, I just love the sound, takes me back.......

[@SprattyHeath]

Really sad I never ever got to ride on one of these, I'm hoping to one day visit Alton and take a ride on one

[@ghostontheline]

You must do that there's nothing like a ride in a thumper especially over the alps.Cheers Pete

[@UKWMO]

If you live closer to East Sussex, I know they have two units at the Lavender Line at Isfield. Here’s one of my videos of these units: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pITJl3qNaqiiars

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Just love them!!😎🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Chris, same here, I grew up with them. Having lived in Fareham and Salisbury during 60/70’s it was hard to miss them. Cheers Pete

[@Martindyna]

Atmospheric video with the all important great sound.

[@ghostontheline]

Thanks for watching and commenting, yes an iconic DEMU, the sound is so unmistakable!

[@Martindyna]

@@ghostontheline Apparently exhaust silencers were only fitted later after complaints from residents near the line. Would love to have heard what they sounded like before silencers were fitted !

[@ghostontheline]

Hi David, thanks for watching, yes I do know what you mean regarding travelling in a thumper. I do remember that when travelling in the motor coach on departure the overhead luggage racks would vibrate in time to the revving diesel. Travelling from Basingstoke to Salisbury past Porton was always a great experience on a thumper running flat out! Cheers Pete

[@petercdowney]

The Thumpers actually seem quieter than the 171s that replaced them

[@ghostontheline]

Yes but what a sound!

[@riverhuntingdon6659]

Nasty plastic things those 171s ! No character.

[@TheRailwayChannel]

Excellent video :)

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Luke, thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated.....Pete

[@goldenarrow71]

Lovely video. Just one question that's been on my mind for a while, why is there a black triangle on one end, but not the other? Thank you.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi, thanks for watching the video. Easy to answer your question, the black triangle denotes the power car and guards compartment end of the DEMU. Best regards Pete.

[@goldenarrow71]

@@ghostontheline thanks for the response. I hope you have a nice evening.

[@philforder7958]

My Dad drove this one many times ... He was based at Fratton.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Phil, thanks for watching, your Dad was a lucky man. Cheers Pete

[@philforder7958]

@@ghostontheline Cheers Pete . He also drove the Last Hayling Billy passenger service. Loved the Cromptons too.

[@neilbolger2679]

Every time I visit Mid Hants I hope this or the 33 is running. If i get on this little beast I try and get on the engine carriage . Sounds great . Did you see the Hastings unit recently as I saw it in Portsmouth back in January. Brought back memories for me ? That's why i get on the mid hants thumper

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Neil, sorry about the slow repose to your message. I live a bit to far from the Mid Hants now but agree about the thumper and class 33 both are my favourites. I have had one journey aboard the Hastings unit this was from Guildford to Salisbury via Havant and Fareham. Cheers Pete.

[@neilbolger2679]

@@ghostontheline that's OK . No worries as not expected a reply straight away. I like 33s and thumpers so I'm glad people like yaself post stuff of old school. Thanks for sharing your good work

[@davidhaxell4161]

3:11 even the signal lights start flashing from the vibration lol

[@ghostontheline]

Hi David, well spotted, the Class 205 certainly makes the ground move. Many thanks for watching.....Cheers Pete

[@davidhaxell4161]

@@ghostontheline lovely video btw, Pete. I know that car park and the bus stop very well as I have driven the 65's for nearly two years now. It's a shame the footbridge has gone now.

[@blissy1]

WHAT, is powering that thing, sounds like the worlds first Diesel engine, definitely not turbo charged

[@ghostontheline]

Hi, I hope I can answer your questions, please read on. The Class 205 DEMU ( affectionately known as Thumpers) first appeared on the Southern Region of BR in 1957. They remained in service for 47 years, a good number can still be found running on Heritage lines. The "Thumper" was powered by a English Electric 4SRKT Mark 2 4 cylinder diesel developing 600hp. This powered two English Electric EE507 traction motors rated at 250hp. I hope this helps......Cheers Pete

[@stevebrowne1572]

It is turbocharged. 4SRKT means 4 cylinder K series engine, R means modified for rail use (it was designed as a submarine engine), and T is turbocharged. I can't remember what the S meant.

[@kierancurtis8545]

@@stevebrowne1572 Supercharged

[@rosiehawtrey]

@@ghostontheline So the power loss between engine and motors was 100hp? Isn't that a little excessive? Odd to use a 4 cylinder too but I suppose it was what they could beg, steal or purloin..

[@matthewpepper1548]

Alright I suppose. But the NIR 80 class and 450 class were better than this.

[@ghostontheline]

Hi Mathew, thanks for watching the video and for your comment. I guess it's down to what one remembers growing up with. I used to travel on the class 205's to get to college and then to work back in the eighties. With the wind blowing in the right direction you could hear a thumper miles away. They were very reliable I can only remember being on one that failed. Returning back from Reading to Basingstoke a Class 73 hauled the oil soaked unit only just, running with its 600hp onboard diesel!! Cheers Pete

[@stevebrowne1572]

The 80 class were newer, but the 450s used engines from the 70 (River) class, so maybe a little newer than SR Thumpers. I hope to travel on an 80 or 450 in Downpatrick later this year.

[@danielsellers8707]

@@ghostontheline Same engine as 73.

[@ghostontheline]

That is true and I have travelled on a 3H from Reading to Basingstoke hauled by a class 73. The thumper had suffered a major failure, the power car was covered in oil….

[@danielsellers8707]

@@ghostontheline With hindsight maybe the Thumpers could have been bi-mode as they're basically a 2HAP with a half a class 20 engine...