Spa Valley Railway

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email: enquiriesatspavalleyrailway.co.uk
(Please replace 'at' with the @ symbol)

The Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group has been formed to provide the following:

Financial assistance with the Unit's preservation costs (the Oxted Unit 1317 Fund)

Provision of labour to assist existing Spa Valley Railway departments' expertise

Provision of publicity material for the support of the unit

Fund raising through the sale of original DEMU merchandise

The Oxted Units

The three-car Oxted units (Class 3D) were built by the Southern Region (SR) of British Railways at the Eastleigh Carriage Works in 1962. A total of 19 sets were produced to run on the Oxted routes between London , Tonbridge (via Tunbridge Wells), Three Bridges , East Grinstead , Brighton and Eastbourne . Due to the restictions imposed by tunnels in the Tunbridge Wells area the units were given a narrowed body width of 8 feet 6 inches. The Oxted units differed in appearance from other Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs) of that period by the rounded steel-reinforced fibreglass cab ends. The distinctive sounding English Electric engine given to all SR DEMUs resulted in the affectionate name of "Thumpers".

The Oxted units were given numbers in the series 1301 to 1319. In 1986 the TOPS numbering system changed the series to 207001 to 207019. During the 1990's unit formation changes lead to sub-class numbering of 2070XX (two-car set), 2071XX (two-car set with a refurbished interior and gangways) and 2072XX (as 2071XX sets but with a centre CEP electric unit coach).

Photos: Top Left: 1317 (207017) at Oxted.

Bottom Left: 1317 (207017) enters Eridge.

Both photos © Oxted 1317 Support Group

Oxted Unit 1317

Having worked the Oxted routes, and others besides, for over forty years unit 1317 was retired from the National Rail Network in 2004. Following a power unit replacement it was delivered to the Spa Valley Railway, at Tunbridge Wells.

The unit spent much of its working life running over the Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge line. Indeed, paired with unit 1311 it provided the shuttle service over the line on the last day of passenger services, on 6th July 1985 .

Support Oxted Unit 1317

The Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group has set up the "Oxted Unit 1317 Fund" to support the preservation of the unit so that future generations can enjoy the sights and sounds of an Oxted Unit along the Spa Valley Railway.

To contribute to the fund please send your donation to the Spa Valley Railway, stating that it is intended for the Oxted Unit 1317 Fund. Cheques should be made payable to "TWERPS". Consider setting up a Standing Order to the Fund and utilising the Gift Aid Scheme to increase the value of all donations. Further details and a Gift Aid form are available from the address below.

To offer assistance to the support group or find out more about its activities contact (enclosing a SAE if a reply is required):

Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group,
Spa Valley Railway,
Tunbridge Wells West Station,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent,
TN2 5QY,

Or email: oxted1317atspavalleyrailway.co.uk (replace 'at' with @symbol)