The 1305 Thumper Gang has released details of its plans to restore British Rail Class 207 diesel-electric multiple unit No. 1305.
The unit was built at Eastleigh in 1962 and originally used on the Oxted line of the Southern Region. and is one of the last Oxted units left in existence. 1305 is a 2-car DEMU, and like the rest of the class, the class has a nickname of “Thumpers” because of the noise its engine units make.
The plan is to create a gang similar to the very successful Bluebell Railway Goods Division to look after and care for 1305, which will allow the Bluebell Railway’s Carriage and Wagon department to continue with its normal work without an extra workload.
Work done on the unit by its previous owners, Coulsdon Old Vehicle & Engineering Society, means that 1305 is mechanically and electrically in working order. However, although the bodywork is complete, it does need attention.
Among changes made to 1305 since it was built is being converted to fluorescent tube lighting. It is also one of three Oxted units that were converted to operate the Marsh Link services, and was fitted with corridor connections between coaches. An ex-4CEP EMU trailer coach was added as a centre carriage and named Brighton Royal Pavilion. That carriage was sold by a previous owner.
Anyone who would like to be involved in restoring 1305 would be more than welcome and can contact the 1305 Thumper Gang via their Facebook page.
Responses
Excellent news, I was up at East Lancs. In February 2010, when I beleave it ran last in passenger service, would be good to be on its first run on the Bluebell, some 13 years later.
i call them WEETABIX as the front end looks like Weetabix and the cartoon Weetabix used in the ads. Dunno wher Thumpe is from though
That’s great news for Thumper fans. Let’s hope that the Bluebell Railway agrees to accept it, as the 3D’s would have worked over the Bluebell had it not been closed, even though they did serve East Grinstead before electrification. One wonders what is happening to the other rolling stock owned by COVES which are still at Bicester. They are strangely silent on the matter.
Excellent news. Far too many Southern emus and dmus have been exiled from the area where they were used for decades. Although it’s better that they are put into active use wherever that may be, experience shows that exiled locos and stock often lack the long-term commitment given to ‘native’ equipment and suffer deterioration as a result, often just being shoved into an out-of-the-way siding, or sometimes undergoing unsuitable modifications before being sent off to scrap.