| Information | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 304 (152 2-car sets) |
| Built: | 1935-38 |
| Builder: | (First batch) Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, Metro-Cammell (Later batches) SR Eastleigh, Lancing Works |
| Engine: | 2 MV/EE339 traction motors, some later replaced by EE507C (660-750v DC Third Rail) |
| Power: | 550 hp (410 kW) (EE339) / 500hp (279kW) (EE507C) |
| Formation: | Driving Motor Brake Third class Lavatory (DMBTL)+ Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) |
The 2-BILs were designed for long-distance semi-fast services on the newly electrified lines to Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Reading [1], later also being used on the Waterloo-Portsmouth route.
They had full-width bodies with a corridor and the aforementioned toilets [2] which were needed in both cars as there were no gangways between them [3]. The earliest were built with Metropolitan-Vickers power equipment with the rest built with English Electric.
The 2-BIL was a successful type and remained in service until 1971 with a number of sets receiving BR Blue livery [4]. A couple were also used as hauled coaching stock in surplus 4-SUB trailers as the 7-TC though it was not a true push-pull set [5]. One 2-BIL set has been preserved by the National Railway Museum.
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| Preserved 2090 at NRM Shildon |
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| 2067 at Farnham (K Davies Collection) |
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| Another view of 2090 |
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| 2034 in BR Blue, location unknown (K Davies Collection) |
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| Cab side view of 2090 |
[1] Colin J Marden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 300
[2] David Brown, Southern Electric Vol 2 (Capital Transport, 2010) p. 104
[3] Alan Williams, Southern Electric Album (Ian Allan, 1977) p. 24
[4] Bruce Oliver, British Railway Southern Region Electrics in Colour (Ian Allan, 2008) p. 19
[5] Brown p. 112