Memories of Class 205 units.wmv

Class 205s were cracking little units niknamed Thumpers and justifiably so. I am not sure when the last ones worked on the network but it cant of been long after I filmed these clips.
I hope you enjoy these shots the first is 205032 at Bramley working the 1521 Reading to Salisbury service on 24th October 1992. Next is a clip of 205029 repainted in original livery to commemarate their demise from service, it is seen departing Baisingstoke with the 1812 service to Reading on a misty September 25th 1992. Finally its back to Bramley on the Reading to Basingstoke line and we see 205033 Thumping its way out of the station with the 1532 Basingstoke to Reading. I love the whining of the traction motors. Again this shot was filmed on 24th October 1992.

[@thegreatgreenarkleseizure]

I can remember standing on Fareham station as a child waiting for the train to go to Portsmouth, Watching as one of these approached. They always looked like they were smiling and happy, And it made me smile, And they still do.

[@derekanimations]

Like the 365

[@43177VP185]

Absolutely lovely. I used to live in Basingstoke and watched trains at Worting Junction. I waited for 'Thumpers' and for Class 50s. If the wind was right, you could here a 50 leaving Basingstoke station. But 'Thumpers' gave you plenty of notice they were approaching too. Thanks for this vdeo.

[@Lee67001]

Cracking video SR, lovely units.

[@craig1102003]

excellent vid. always loved thumpers!

[@rorymacve]

The final units, nos. 205001/009/033 were withdrawn in mid-December 2004. Cracking little units the Thumpers, I never rode on one myself but my dad always talked about how he saw them at Salisbury and all these other places

[@fishbert17]

Used to love the sound these made!

[@romanbellic1721]

ahhh I always rode those thing to work in the 80s

[@MrStapletonRoad]

Lachlan Tansey thanks for taking a look

[@quattrohead]

Went past Bexhill at 5 to the hour, set your watch by them !!!

[@SiVlog1989]

The last 205's were withdrawn from service on Network Rail in December 2004, these being units 205001, 205009 & 205033

[@edsutton115]

Great stuff, brings back many happy memories!

[@trainmanbob]

They used to run on the Reading to Tonbridge via Redhill line for many years. Cheers, Bob

[@jeremyslaney5644]

Weren't those DMUs, rather than Thumpers?

[@jeremyslaney5644]

Thumpers ran on the Oxted to Uckfield line and also the Ashford to Hastings line, but they never ran on Tonbridge to Reading line via Redhill

[@martincronin6250]

Yes they did…I remember very well working with them over to reading from tonbridge via redhill & Guildford good units a whole lot better than the plastic rubbish we now have to endure travelling on.at least British Rail was a more professional railway & performed miracles both professionally & Financial & Privatisation was a complete & utter failure & disaster & criminal & a few dodgy suspects made an absolute fortune of the backs of the many & yet nobody has been held to account for this mess just sums up this once great nation 😞…….

[@stevegarnham4632]

I live in wokingham the reading to Tonbridge trains were the tadpole units ( 1201- 1206 ) with the extra wide mail carriage 👍.

[@12crepello]

​@@stevegarnham4632 It was Indeed the tadpoles that worked this service. The coach you refer to was not "extra wide", it was normal loading guage compared to the narrow Hastings guage bodies of the driving and centre trailer cars. Hence the "tadpole" nickname.

[@MrStapletonRoad]

@43177VP185 You are very welcome, I am glad you liked the clips and that they refreshed some memories for you.

[@frglee]

Bearing in mind this was a 1950's design,they did well to survive into the 2000's.largely through brilliant work by engineers to keep them going.. I have some happy memories of the engine noise as they gurgled their way through the Sussex countryside. But by 2000 they were getting very 'distressed' inside with grubby fabrics,damaged and worn fittings with a general feel of delapidation. People who got off the Eurostar at Ashford for the Hastings line got a shock getting into these units.

[@thumpergriddle123]

its a shame 205029 was smashed up in the cowden crash but good vid odd to think these unit were running on the oxed to uckfield branch until 2004

[@EM-yk1dw]

Ah the good old days.

[@Vortigan07]

2:40 That level crossing is a video time capsule all by itself!

[@peterd788]

Bramley station on the Basingstoke to Reading line. I took these trains for years from there when I was a child.

[@macstar2010]

actually a new '018' was made from the remains not an 029. It lasted until the end and thus got painted into connex livery at some point too. According to wikipedia its preserved at the pontypool railway minus the centre trailer. ;-)

[@vorlonb3]

truly love this,though never seen a thumper, one day, one day.

[@Martindyna]

There are quite a few still around on heritage railways. Watercress line have one (Alton, Hampshire) & so do the Spa Valley Line (Tunbridge Wells West railway station ).

[@MrStapletonRoad]

@EORtv1 Many thanks

[@macstar2010]

yes indeed it was.

[@thumpergriddle123]

i think 205029 was in the cowden accident

[@Penfold37250]

They lasted about 10 years after you filmed this.

[@nyshortline]

Are these dual mode diesel/third rail or just straight diesel?

[@nyshortline]

Thanks. :)

[@Martindyna]

They are just diesel electric; it was considered an over complication to make them also able to run off the 3rd rail when available and also problematic to find the room for the motor control resistances etc. under the body (since there was of course a Diesel tank there). Shame though; I always think it's crazy to see Diesels running on lines equipped with a `juice rail' (wearing out the Diesel engines un-necessarily).

[@MrStapletonRoad]

@quattroheadusa Nice...

[@wabsnazsm]

What did the black triangle on the front signify?

[@philforder7958]

wabsnazsm The Guards end.

[@MrStapletonRoad]

@Penfold37250 Cheers Penfold

[@dc25ify]

Shame what became of 029.

[@handyboy5332]

"You can go anywhere on white blanks" might be true, but it's lazy: doesn't take much more effort to wind round to the head code. Wabsnazsm - if you're still about: the black triangle denoted Brake Van this end.

[@dodgydruid]

The EPB's on the Bromley North shuttle service invariably had the white and red headcode indicators I seem to remember