Designed for the 1939 London to Maidstone and Gillingham electrification scheme, Unit 2611 was one of the first 2-HAL units to be built at Eastleigh, entering service in February 1939. Unit 2611 was damaged by enemy action while at London Victoria Station on 9 October, 1940, but was repaired and sent back to service. Involved in a collision with a 2-BIL in late 1959, the undamaged vehicles from each set were paired as a '2-HIL' until March 1961, when 2611 reverted to being a 2-HAL unit.