British Rail propelling control vehicle
NAA 94335 at Plymouth on 29 August 2003. This vehicle is in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes.
In service1994–2004
ManufacturerHunslet-Barclay (conversion)
Constructed1994–1996 (conversion from class 307)
Number built42
Number in serviceNone
Number preserved2
Number scrapped24
Fleet numbers94302–94327, 94331–94345, 95300–95301
OperatorsRail Express Systems,
EWS
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length63 ft 11+12 in (19.495 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.824 m)
Height13 ft 0+12 in (3.975 m)
Braking system(s)Air brake
Safety system(s)AWS
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
NAA 94308 on a train being propelled into Plymouth station on 29 August 2003. This vehicle is in unbranded Rail Express Systems livery.

A propelling control vehicle (PCV) is a type of British railway carriage for carrying mail. They were converted from Class 307 driving trailers and have a cab at one end which allows slow-speed movement control. PCVs are unpowered but the controls allow mail trains to be reversed at low speed, using the power of the locomotive at the other end of the train. Similar BR Class 91 driving van trailer (DVT) used on the ECML differ by being fully equipped for high-speed train control.

Forty-two PCVs were converted by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock from 1994 to 1996. The rebuilding work including removal of the windows and slam-doors, the fitting of roller shutter doors, and modernisation of the cab. The vehicles were given the TOPS code NAA and numbered 94300–94327 and 94331–94345. The first two vehicles converted were prototypes, and were extensively tested to iron out any problems. The subsequent 40 vehicles incorporated modifications as a result of this testing. At the same time these vehicles were converted, the Class 47/7 locomotives that hauled mail trains were modified to be able to work in push-pull mode with the PCVs.

When first converted the vehicles were used by the Rail Express Systems parcels sector of British Rail. They were painted in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes. PCVs were marshalled at either end of mail trains that worked into London termini, which removed the need for the locomotive to run round the train at its destination. Trains were propelled only at low speed, not for long distances.

In 1996 Rail Express Systems was sold to EWS, who continued to operate mail trains on behalf of Royal Mail. PCVs were used on trains between London and Norwich, Plymouth, Bristol, Swansea, Newcastle and Glasgow. PCVs were also used on travelling post office trains from London to Plymouth, Newcastle, Norwich, Carlisle and Glasgow.

The two prototype PCVs, nos. 94300/1, were non-standard. Consequently, they were used as standard mail coaches on a new high-speed mail train from Walsall to Inverness, painted in EWS maroon/gold livery and renumbered 95300/1.

In early 2004, EWS lost the contract to transport mail. As a result, all PCVs except initially 95300/1 were withdrawn from service, pending new traffic, sale or scrapping. After a limited amount of residual traffic, and trials for possible use for the movement of secure goods, 95300 and 95301 were also withdrawn. 94320 was preserved by the Mid-Norfolk Railway in April 2009, with 95301 being preserved at the Andrew Briddon Locomotives site at Darley Dale in September 2016.

Fleet details

The table below shows details of the fleet, including numbering and disposition.

Key: Stored Preserved Renumbered Scrapped
PCV no. Former no. Former vehicle type Status
9430075114DTCOLPush-pull equipment removed. Renumbered to 95300
9430175102DTCOLPush-pull equipment removed. Renumbered to 95301
9430275124DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (seen May 2015)
9430375131DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (seen May 2015)
9430475107DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Millerhill
9430575104DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9430675112DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (seen May 2015)
9430775127DTCOLScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham
9430875125DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Carnforth (Seen February 2016)
9430975130DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9431075119DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Willesden (Seen August 2016)
9431175105DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Willesden (Seen August 2016)
9431275126DTCOLScrapped
9431375129DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Willesden (Seen August 2016)
9431475109DTCOLScrapped
9431575132DTCOLScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham (08/2006)
9431675108DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Toton (Seen April 2021)
9431775117DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Toton (Seen April 2021)
9431875115DTCOLWithdrawn, Location Unknown
9431975128DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9432075120DTCOLPreserved on Mid-Norfolk Railway
9432175122DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9432275111DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored at Carnforth (Seen February 2016)
9432375110DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (Seen May 2015)
9432475103DTCOLScrapped
9432575113DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9432675123DTCOLWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (Seen May 2015)
9432775116DTCOLScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9433175022DTBSOScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham
9433275011DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored at Carnforth (Seen February 2016)
9433375016DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored near Hellifield station (Seen May 2015)
9433475017DTBSOScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham
9433575032DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored Burton-on-Trent (Seen April 2015)
9433675031DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored Burton-on-Trent (Seen April 2015)
9433775029DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored at Willesden (Seen August 2016)
9433875008DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored at Willesden (Seen August 2016)
9433975024DTBSOScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham
9434075012DTBSOScrapped by C F Booth, Rotherham
9434175007DTBSOScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9434275005DTBSOScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9434375027DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored at Mossend
9434475014DTBSOWithdrawn, Stored at Toton (Seen April 2021)
9434575004DTBSOScrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton
9530094300Prototype PCVWithdrawn, Stored at Mossend
9530194301Prototype PCVPreserved, Andrew Briddon Locomotives, Darley Dale

See also

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