Class 207 DEMU
Unlike previous classes of DEMU they benefited from design advice from the BTC Design Panel. The design included a rounded front end made of steel reinforced fibreglass with recesses to house all the jumper cables and air pipes. They were narrow bodied because of the restricted tunnel widths between Tunbridge Wells and Tunbridge Wells West Stations.
Internally, they had 2+2 seating because of the narrow body width, and the centre-trailer was designed to provide the first class accommodation in compartments, with a side corridor and a toilet, in the middle of the coach. At each end of the coach, open saloons were provided for second-class passengers. Despite these modifications they still kept to the old 19' SR style of multiple unit, the bogies giving a rather lively ride!
Originally they worked in East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent, including the now-closed lines from Uckfield to Lewes (part of which is the Lavender Line) and Tunbridge Wells to Eridge (part of which is the Spa Valley Railway)
There are now only four units left, converted in 1995 into two-car formations for the Ashford to Hastings line. Those numbered 207201-203 have been gangwayed within the set, whilst 207017 is still non-gangwayed and in original internal unrefurbished condition.
In the summer months these 'Oxted' units, except 207017, are augmented into three car sets by the addition of a CEP trailer from redundant Class 411 EMUs, which gives then distinctly unusual appearance.
The Hampshire and Sussex Units Preservation Society own the only surviving centre trailer, 60616, which was originally part of set 207017 illustrated here.
