Cornwall  Railway  Society
  • December Home Page
  • INDOOR & OUTDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME
  • CORNWALL RAILWAY SOCIETY GENERAL INFORMATION CONTACTS & WEBMASTERS MEMBERSHIP FORM ETC.
  • LATEST INPUT , NEWS & OLD PICTURES ETC.
  • FEATURES, MAIN INDEX & OUTDOOR EVENTS REPORTS.
  • CORNWALL GALLERIES
  • DEVON GALLERIES
  • North & East of TAUNTON & HONITON
  • Military and Industrial Tramways & Light Railways
  • Pleasure Tramways & Light Railways
  • RAILTOURS, AERIAL VIEWS ,MISCELLANEOUS
  • CORNISH RAILWAYS WAR DIARY
  • LOCAL YOUTUBE
  • Historical Outdoor Events INDEX
  • ARCHITECTURE
  • INDEX TO ARTICLES WRITTEN BY COLIN BURGES
  • ARTICLES SECTION.
  • ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY
  • News reports Jan to Aug 2012
  • Links
  • MAPS, PHOTOS, AERIAL VIEWS
  • Official Documents available to the General Public
  • Public notices and posters collection
  • Bristol Parkway to Wooton Basset Jct.

Remembering the Past! Riding the Thumper Unit at Okehampton, a report by Roger Salter and photographs by the two Rogers

19/8/2015

 
DEMU 1118 was one of the first batch 0f eighteen units to be built at Eastleigh, the underframes were built at Ashford Works.  It entered service on 16th September 1957 and was designed for use on the Portsmouth/Southampton and Alton services, further units were also built for the Hastings and Berkshire services.

English Electric produced the engines, 4 cylinder supercharged, RK engines designed for traction as opposed to marine use.
The two car units consisted of a Driving Motor Brake, standard open carriage which carried the engine, a driving cab and a guards compartment. The second carriage was a Driver Trailer composite, a driving cab and first and second class compartments. The combined length was 133 feet 3.5 inches weighing 88 tons seating 13 first and 114 second class passengers. In August 1959 because of the volume of traffic a centre coach was introduced into these sets.. By 1986 with the introduction of the TOPS system these units became class 205 and she became 205018.

The DMBSO unit 1118 in preservation has been coupled with the DTC unit 1129, both units were in the fatal Cowden rail crash of 15th October, 1994. Their respected front units were so badly damaged that they were cut up and the remaining units joined together. They were withdrawn from service in August 2004. 

Picture
1118 Thumper Unit undergoing a full refurbishment at Williton on the West Somerset Railway in 2014. Copyright Roger Salter
Picture
150815v Thumper Unit 1118 Enters Okehampton on the 10.47 service to Bow. Copyright Roger Salter.
Picture
150815w The engine compartment showing the English Electric 600 b.h.p. 4 cyl engine. By courtesy of Rachael Wilson, Guard. Copyright Roger Salter
Picture
150815zb Passing the station buildings at North Tawton. The track passing through this station was raised many years ago after the cessation of regular passenger trains when a new bridge was installed. Copyright Roger Winnen
Picture
150815zc A welcome greeted us at Bow Station. The owners of the station were handing out complimentary drinks and biscuits. Copyright Roger Winnen
Picture
150815zd A very low platform exist at Bow Station, passengers are advised not to alight. However by kind permission of the train staff I was helped up and down by Rachael of the Dartmoor Railway. Many Thanks Rachael. Copyright Roger Winnen
More photographs in Features Pages July to December 2015

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011