British Rail Class 402

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 TOPS Class 402.

Southern Railway 2-HAL British Rail Class 402
Southern Railway publicity photograph 1938
In service	1939–1971
Manufacturer	Eastleigh Works, frames from Lancing
Replaced	Steam locomotives and carriages
Constructed	1938–1939, 1948, 1955
Number built	100
Number scrapped	All
Formation	DMBT-DTC
Capacity	32 first class (later 24), 102 third class
Operators	Southern Railway and British Railways
Specifications
Train length	129 ft 6 in (39.47 m)
Car length	62 ft 6 in (19.05 m)
Width	9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	76 long tons (77 t; 85 short tons)
Traction motors	Two
Power output	2 x 275 hp (205 kW) total = 550 hp (410 kW)
Electric system(s)	750 V DC Third rail
Current collector(s)	Contact shoe
UIC classification	Bo′2′+2′2′
Braking system(s)	Electro-pneumatic Air
Coupling system	Screw-link
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

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:

Unit Numbers	DMBT	DTC
2601–2646	10719 to 10764	12186 to 12231
2647–2699	10765 to 10817	12801 to 12853
2700	12664 (ex 4-SUB 4590)	12855 (new build)

Departmental service

De-icing units

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.

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.

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.

References

Sources

• Rayner, B W; Hogie, J D (1981). Southern Region unusual train services 1981-82. Purley: Southern Electric Group.
• Marsden, Colin J. (1983). Southern Electric Multiple-Units 1898–1948. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 59–61. ISBN 0-7110-1253-9.