Photo Class 205032 BR Network South East DEMU Train Basingstoke 1988

Network South East Class 205032 Train Looking Its Age at Basingstoke Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Back to the days of the 35mm film camera for this shot of well-worn UK trains British Rail diesel multiple unit, Class 205032 in Network South East livery, as it stands in Basingstoke station on the 9th September 1988.

The fleet of 34 Class 205 trainsets were built at BR Eastleigh, Hampshire, UK, between 1957 and 1962 and were operated by the Southern Railway, replacing steam traction.

Class 205032 diesel multiple unit passenger train was built and entered service in 1962 and was eventually withdrawn in 2004.  205032 was fortunate in being rescued and now resides at the Dartmoor Railway.

In all, 10 trainsets managed to avoid the fate of the scrapyard, and seven examples are preserved, in various states of repair, at a number of heritage railways, such as those listed here:

205009 - Eden Valley Railway.

205018 - Lavender Line.

205023 - Swindon and Cricklade Railway.

205025 - Mid-Hants Railway.

205028 - Dartmoor Railway.

205032 - Dartmoor Railway.

205205 - Epping Ongar Railway.




Basingstoke railway station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness at Basingstoke, Hampshire, by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo -  should he require it.

Wellington was not a fan of what he described as the 'new fangled railways', and it is not known if he ever used his train.

What would he have made of the example above?

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