British Rail Class 124
Trans-Pennine
A British Rail Class 124 at Hull Paragon station in 1983.
In service1960–1984
ManufacturerBritish Rail
Order no.
  • 30603 (DMC)
  • 30604 (MBSK)
  • 30605 (TSL)
  • 30606 (TFLRB)[1][2]
Built atSwindon Works
Family nameFirst generation
Trans-Pennine
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1960[2]
Entered service1960–61
Scrapped1984
Number builtEight 6-car sets, plus 3 spare cars
Number scrappedAll
FormationDMC+MBSL+TSL+TFLRB+MBSL+DMC
Diagram
  • BR562 (TFB)
  • DP316 or BR577 (DMC)
  • DR201 or BR579 (MBS)
  • DT212 or BR573 (TS)
  • DU205 (TBS, converted from MBS)[1][3]
Fleet numbers
  • 51951-51967 (DMC)
  • 51968-51984 (MBSK/TBS)
  • 59765-59773 (TSL)
  • 59774-59781 (TFLRB)[1][4]
OperatorsBritish Rail
DepotsHull Botanic Gardens
Leeds Neville Hill
Lines servedTrans-Pennine
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[4]
Car length
  • 64 ft 9 in (19.74 m) (DMC, over body)
  • 64 ft 6+1⁄8 in (19.663 m) (over body, others)[3][5]
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (over handles)[3]
Height12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.899 m) (overall)[3]
DoorsSlam[4]
Wheelbase
  • 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (bogies)[3][5]
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)[6]
Weight228 long tons (232 t; 255 short tons)
Prime mover(s)2 × 230-horsepower (170 kW) Leyland Albion per power car
Engine typeDiesel
TransmissionMechanical[4]
HVACOil burning air heater[3]
Bogies
  • DT4 mk1 and mk2 (one of each, TSL)
  • DD3 (others)[3]
Braking system(s)Vacuum[3]
Safety system(s)AWS[3]
Coupling system
Multiple working■ Blue Square[3]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 124 diesel multiple units were built by BR Swindon Works in 1960.

Operational history

The Class 124 was a class of initially six-car diesel multiple units used and built specifically for the trans-Pennine route. In the late 1970s, the class was merged with their Class 123 cousins that had been relocated from Reading services on the Western Region and, towards the end of their days, ran as 4-car hybrid sets. They were all withdrawn in 1984 when their duties were taken over by Class 31/4 diesel-electric locomotive-hauled rakes of four coaches.

Nine 2-car sets composed of a class 123 DMBSL and class 124 DMC were formed at Hull in 1984 in case introduction of the class 141 'Pacer' units was delayed, but they were never used in service.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway had the idea of preserving at least one driving unit, due to the cab windows allowing panoramic views, but the plan was scrapped when it was found that the cost of removing the asbestos from the vehicle was prohibitive.

The class was not unique; the Class 124 DMUs shared mechanical components with their sister class 123, on the Western Region, and the Class 126.

'Wrap-around' windscreens were a feature that was also seen on the 'Glasgow Blue Train' Class 303 and 311 electric units; they were also seen on the GEML's Class 309s and the WCML's Class 310s, although these were later modified to cut replacement costs.

Numbering

Table of orders and numbers
Lot No.TypeDiagramQtyFleet numbersNotes
30603Driving Motor Open Composite (DMC)5771751951–5196721 first, 36 second seats;
30604Motor Brake Corridor Second (MBSL)5791751968–519846 compartments (48 seats); 2 lavatories
30605Trailer Open Second (TSL)573959765–5977364 seats, 2 lavatories
30606Trailer First Buffet (TFLRB)562859774–597813 first compartments (18 seats); 8 seats in buffet, 2 lavatories (1 passenger, 1 staff)

In later years when operating as 4-car units, the MBSL had their engines removed to reduce maintenance, as it was deemed two Motor Vehicles were adequate. To show this change the remaining MBSL were renumbered on removal of the engines.

OldNew
5196959834
5197359841
5197459835
5197559839
5197659838
5197859836
5198059842
5198159833
5198359840
5198459837

Liveries

They were initially introduced in a green livery, but they never carried the common 'Whiskers' that many DMUs of the time carried. A small yellow panel was added at a later date to the cab front.

They ended their days in then standard BR blue/grey livery.

Technical details

  • Builder: BR Swindon Works
  • Introduced: 1960
  • Coupling Code: Blue Square
  • Body: 64 ft 6 in x 9 ft 3 in
  • Engines: Leyland Albion 230 hp, 2 per power car
  • Transmission: Standard mechanical

For coupling codes see British United Traction

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Class 124 Swindon Trans-Pennine 6-car DMUs: Numbering". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 Longworth 2015, p. 366
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP316, DR201, DT212, DU205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Class 124, 180, 181". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. 1 2 "BR562". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Marsden 1982, p. 78

Sources

  • Longworth, Hugh (2015). British Railways Electric Multiple Units to 1975. Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860936688. OCLC 923205678.
  • Marsden, Colin J. (1982). DMUs. Motive power recognition. Vol. 3. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711012011. OCLC 16599282.

Further reading

  • British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape
  • Brown, Murray (July 1984). "Trans Pennine farewell". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 10–12. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
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