British Rail Class 205

British Rail Class 205 (3H)
205029 in BR green livery at Reading in 1992
In serviceSeptember 1957 –
December 2004
ManufacturerBR Eastleigh
Number built34 trainsets
Formation2/3 cars per trainset
Capacity114 2nd class, 13 1st class[1]
Operators
Specifications
Car length
  • 19.51 m (64 ft 0.1 in)
  • 19.34 m (63 ft 5.4 in)
  • 19.51 m (64 ft 0.1 in)
Width2.8 m (9 ft 2.24 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • 56 t (55.1 long tons; 61.7 short tons)
  • 30 t (29.5 long tons; 33.1 short tons)
  • 32 t (31.5 long tons; 35.3 short tons)
Prime mover(s)English Electric 4SRKT Mark II (4-cylinder diesel)
Power output600 shp (450 kW) at 850 rpm
Coupling systemDrophead buckeye[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Class 205, no. 205032 at London Bridge on 15 August 2003, with a service to Uckfield. This unit is now preserved on the Caledonian Railway.

The British Rail Class 205 (3H) diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957 to 1962, and in service for 47 years from BR Southern Region to Connex South Central and finally to the Southern franchise. They were eventually replaced by Class 171 Turbostar units.

  1. ^ Railway Magazine December 1957 p. 878
  2. ^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.