The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 2-HAL to the electric multiple-unit passenger trains built during the late 1930s to work long-distance semi-fast services on the newly electrified lines from London Victoria to Maidstone and Gillingham (Kent). This type of unit survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPSClass 402.
Construction
A development of the earlier 2-BIL units, the 2-HAL units (2-car Half Lavatory stock) were so-called because only one car in each unit had a lavatory. They were built in three batches:
Units
Built
Intended Use
2601–2677
1938
London Victoria to Maidstone and Gillingham
2677–2692
1939
London Waterloo to Aldershot and Reading
2693–2699
1948
Post-World War II additional units
2700
1955
Accident replacement unit
The handful of post-war units were of completely different appearance, of all-steel construction, and looked very like the standard 4-SUB units being built at the same time, with flat ends, whereas the main 2-HAL units had the domed end appearance of the first 10 prototype "Queen Mary" 4-SUB units.
In the early 1960s the Eastern Division was fully changed over to EP-braked electric stock, and the 2-HAL units operating from Victoria to Maidstone/Gillingham etc. were removed to the Central and Western Divisions, being replaced by the large new build of 2-HAP units. The units then remained in service on these divisions until replaced at the end of their life by new 4-VEP units.
Formations
The original formations of these units are set out in the table below:
In 1967, three units were converted for de-icing the 3rd rail and were renumbered 001 - 003. These units operated from depots at Eastleigh and Bournemouth.[1][2]
Stores units
In 1970, two units were converted for use transporting stores between depots. Renumbered 022 and 023 these units linked Eastleigh Works and other depots on the Southern Region and followed a set route on a weekly schedule. Unit 022 was allocated to Slade Green and served Stewarts Lane, Hither Green, Ashford, Ramsgate and Slade Green while Unit 023 was allocated to Brighton and served Wimbledon, Selhurst, New Cross Gate, Brighton and Fratton.[3][4][1]
2-PAN
In 1971, six units were converted for use conveying parcels and newspaper traffic. They were renumbered 061-066 and designated 2-PAN (2-car Parcels and Newspapers stock), reusing the PAN code originally allocated to 6-PAN (Pantry) stock. Their life was not extended by long; within two years, all had been withdrawn.
Withdrawal
After withdrawal in 1971, various 2-HAL units in company with 2-BIL units were noted at Stratford in east London destined for scrapping by Kings of Norwich, or being hauled west for scrapping in the Newport area.[5]
References
Citations
^ abBritish Rail 1979 Locoshed book. London: Ian Allan. 1979. p. 76. ISBN0-7110-0931-7.
^Motive Power Combined Volume. London: Ian Allan. 1981. pp. 157–158. ISBN0-7110-1127-3.
^Motive Power Combined Volume. London: Ian Allan. 1981. p. 158. ISBN0-7110-1127-3.
British British people British Empire British Nigerians British Israelism British protectorate British nationalism British nationality law British Airways British passport British idealism British Raj British Academy British Invasion British blues British Waterways British Emperor Royal British Legion British Asians British comics White British British Rail British Museum British Americans British Guiana British occupation of Manila British Somaliland British Peruvians British Columbia British subject British Naturism British North America Acts British rule in Burma British Uruguayans Terminol…
ogy of the British Isles Gaumont-British British national identity British Isles British Cycling The British Museum Friends British school British space programme British Aluminium British Gas British Spanish British Championship British prince British Shipbuilders British Library British Columbia Hussars British Honduras British cuisine British Antarctic Territory British languages British Lion Films British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association British Midland International British colonization of the Americas British Cyprus British Jews British Overseas Territories citizen British Shorthair British Ceylon British Caledonian Colony of British Columbia (1866–1871) Order of the British Empire British Overseas Territories British Tamils British Sign Language British Weihaiwei British soul British West Indies British Bulldog British Iraqis British Pashtuns British sitcom British Land British Overseas citizen British America British English British Kaffraria British Pakistanis British Army British Indians British diaspora British Iron Company Names of the British Isles British Sugar British Latin American British West Africa Great British Nuclear British Lions British rhyth