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British Rail Class 124 Trans-Pennine
A British Rail Class 124 at Hull Paragon station in 1983.
In service	1960–1984
Manufacturer	British Rail
Order no.	30603 ( DMC) 30604 ( MBSK) 30605 ( TSL) 30606 ( TFLRB) [1] [2]
Built at	Swindon Works
Family name	First generation Trans-Pennine
Replaced	Steam locomotives and carriages
Constructed	1960 [2]
Entered service	1960–61
Scrapped	1984
Number built	Eight 6-car sets, plus 3 spare cars
Number scrapped	All
Formation	DMC+ 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]
Operators	British Rail
Depots	Hull Botanic Gardens Leeds Neville Hill
Lines served	Trans-Pennine
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel [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]
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (over handles) [3]
Height	12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.899 m) (overall) [3]
Doors	Slam [4]
Wheelbase	46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres) 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (bogies) [3] [5]
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h) [6]
Weight	228 long tons (232 t; 255 short tons)
Prime mover(s)	2 × 230-horsepower (170 kW) Leyland Albion per power car
Engine type	Diesel
Transmission	Mechanical [4]
HVAC	Oil 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	Buckeye [3] Screw [4]
Multiple working	■ Blue Square [3]
Track gauge	1,435 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

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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 They were all withdrawn in 1984 when their duties were taken over by Class 31/4 diesel-electric locomotive-hauled rakes of four coaches.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

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.

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

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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 124.

• History of the Class 124s