British Rail Class 122
British Rail Class 122 | |
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Class 122, no. 55006, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit is painted in original BR Green livery, and is preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. | |
In service | 1958–1995 |
Manufacturer | Gloucester RC&W |
Number built | 20 motor, 9 trailer |
Number preserved | DMBS: 8 |
Formation | Single car |
Diagram |
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Fleet numbers |
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Capacity |
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Operator(s) | British Rail |
Specifications | |
Car length | 64 ft 0 1⁄2 in (19.52 m) |
Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
Height | 12 ft 8 1⁄8 in (3.86 m) |
Maximum speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
Weight |
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Prime mover(s) | Two BUT (AEC) then BUT (Leyland) of 150 hp (110 kW) (both types) |
Power output | 300 hp (220 kW) |
Transmission | Standard mechanical |
Safety system(s) | AWS |
Multiple working | ■ Blue Square |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car, double-ended driving motor vehicles, nicknamed "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019. These were supplemented by nine single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 56291–56299[1] (some of which were later renumbered into the 54291–54299 block).
Initial use
The Class 122s were built mainly for use on the London Midland Region of British Rail, although some were also used in Scotland. They were used on a variety of lightly used lines, many of which were closed during the Beeching Axe in the 1960s. Routes served included the Stourbridge Town and St Albans Abbey branch lines, as well as local services between Dundee and Arbroath. (The similar Pressed Steel Company built Class 121 single units were used on the Western Region).
Lot No. | Type | Diagram | Qty | Fleet numbers | Notes |
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30419 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 539 | 20 | 55000–55019 | |
30420 | Driving Trailer Second (DTS) | 538 | 9 | 56291–56299 | |
Parcels use
Three Scottish Region cars (55013–55015) were converted to carry parcels traffic and were reclassified Class 131, though the vehicles themselves were not renumbered.
Usage after passenger service
Upon privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 122 fleet has been withdrawn from normal service. However several units were operated by EWS and Network Rail (previously Railtrack) in departmental service, reclassified as Class 960.
number | former number | use | disposal/current use | cut up date |
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TDB 975023 | 55001 | Route learning car | Preserved | |
TDB 975042 | 55019 | Route learning car / Sandite | Stored on the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr railway in Cynheidre, Carmarthenshire, set 960 015 / 55019 has now entered Preservation | |
TDB 975227 | 55017 | Route learning car | Vic Berry | 2/89 |
975309 | 55008 | Route learning car | Mayer Newman | 11/84 |
TDB 975310 | 55010 | Route learning car | Mayer Newman | 6/84 |
TDB 975540 | 55016 | Route learning car | MC Metals | 7/93 |
TDB 975994 | 55014 | Test & stores car | Vic Berry | 10/88 |
975998 | 55013 | unknown | Mayer Newman | 3/82 |
TDB 977177 | 55015 | Route learning car | MC Metals | 7/90 |
TDB 977223 | 55007 | Route learning car | MC Metals | 6/91 |
977941 | 55012 | Route learner | Loadhaul then EWS. Stored non-operational at Thornaby TMD from 1998. Purchased privately for preservation in 2009 |
Preservation
"Bubble Cars" have proved popular for preservation on heritage railways.
Vehicle no. | Unit no. | Vehicle type | Location | Livery | Comments | |
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Original no. | Departmental no. | |||||
55000 | - | 122100 | DMBS | South Devon Railway | BR Green | - |
55001 | 975023 | L101 | DMBS | East Lancashire Railway | BR Blue | - |
55003 | - | P103 | DMBS | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway used to be Mid Hants Railway. | BR Green | First preserved DMMU to gain main line certification. |
55005 | - | P105 | DMBS | Battlefield Railway | BR Blue/Grey | - |
55006 | - | P106 | DMBS | Ecclesbourne Valley Railway | BR Green | |
55009 | - | P109 | DMBS | Mid Norfolk Railway | BR Green | - |
55012 | 977941 | DMBS | Weardale Railway | BR Green | Joined the fleet on a permanent basis in December 2013 after visiting for contract repairs Took part in Railcar 50 in 2004. Required a modification back to single car unit after this D.M.B.S collided into the Stourbridge Town station buffer due to the driver's fault while working on the Stourbridge Branch Line so the one end is not the end which was surviving from the beginning. The real end was scrapped. | |
55019 | 975042 | 960015 | DMBS | Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway | Network Rail Yellow | Formerly owned by Network Rail, W55019. It will also be the 8th and last Class 122 brought into preservation. |
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 122. |
- Entry at the Railcar Association for class 122