British Rail Class 107

{{Short description|Diesel Multiple Unit used in Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{More footnotes|date=May 2009}}

{{Infobox train

| background = #0033cc;color:white

| name = British Rail Class 107
(Derby short heavyweight)

| image = File:107444 at Prestwick.jpg

| imagealt = Diesel train in station

| imagesize =

| caption = 107444 in Strathclyde livery at Prestwick

| interiorimage =

| interiorimagealt =

| interiorcaption =

| service = 1960–1991

| manufacturer = BR Derby Works

| factory = Derby Works

| family = First generation

| replaced = Steam locomotives and carriages

| yearconstruction = 1960

| yearservice =

| refurbishment =

| yearscrapped =

| numberconstruction=

| numberbuilt = 26 sets (78 cars)

| numberservice =

| numberpreserved =

| numberscrapped =

| formation = 3-car sets: {{abbr|DMBS|Driving Motor Brake Second}}-{{abbr|TSL|Trailer Second with lavatory}}-{{abbr|DMCL|Driving Motor Composite with lavatory}}

| fleetnumbers =

| capacity = DMBS: 52 second-class
TSL:71 second-class
DMCL: 12 first-class, 53 second-class

| operator = British Rail

| depots =

| lines =

| carbody =

| trainlength =

| carlength = {{convert|58|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|9|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|12|ft|4|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| floorheight =

| platformheight =

| entrylevelorstep =

| art-sections =

| doors =

| maxspeed = {{convert|70|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = DMBS: {{convert|35.0|t}}
TCL: {{convert|28.5|t}}
DMCL: {{convert|35.5|t}}

| acceleration =

| deceleration =

| traction =

| engine = Two BUT 6-cylinder diesels per power car

| poweroutput = {{convert|600|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} per set,
{{convert|300|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} per power car,
{{convert|150|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} per engine

| transmission = Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox

| aux =

| powersupply =

| hvac =

| uicclass =

| bogies =

| brakes =

| safety = AWS

| coupling = Screw-link, British Standard gangways

| multipleworking = Blue Square

| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg}}

}}

The British Rail Class 107 diesel multiple units were built by the Derby Works of British Railways and were introduced in 1960. The class looked similar to the later Class 108 units, but were heavier, being built from steel.

Usage

The Class 107s were initially built for suburban workings on the south side of Glasgow and the Class remained in BR's Scottish Region for its service life.{{cite web |url= https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-107/summary |title= Class 107 Derby 3-car DMUs |publisher= Railcar.co.uk |accessdate= 21 June 2021}} When new, a number were used on Dundee/Arbroath services. In later years, they were used almost exclusively on services radiating from Glasgow Central to such destinations as Barrhead, East Kilbride, and Kilmacolm, and - prior to electrification - on Glasgow/Ayrshire services (especially Largs). Most were withdrawn from service by 1991.

Many of the units went into departmental use after being withdrawn from passenger use.{{cite web |url= https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-107/non-passenger-use |title= Non-passenger use |publisher= Railcar.co.uk |accessdate= 21 June 2021}} The class suffered from a structural problem, however, which could result in the bodies separating from the chassis under heavy braking.

Orders

class=wikitable

! Lot No. !! Car Type !! Qty !! Fleet number !! Notes

30611Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)2651985–52010
30612Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL)2652011–52036
30613Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL)2659782–59807

Originally, there were no fixed set formations, but eventually, sets were numbered as 107425-449 in DMBS order (the DMCLs & TSLs were formed into the sets at random). Renumbered to 107725-749 in 1988 to avoid confusion of set numbers with new 156 units which also had 4xx numbers. Renumbered again to 107025-049 about 1990 to avoid similar confusion with new class 158s numbered in 7xx series.

Other technical details

  • Coupling Code: Blue Square
  • Transmission: Standard mechanical

For coupling codes see British United Traction

Preservation

Several examples of the class have entered preservation.

class="wikitable"

!rowspan=2|Set number

!colspan=3|Vehicle numbers

!rowspan=2 align=left|Livery

!rowspan=2 align=left|Location

!rowspan=2 align=left|Notes

DMBS

!TSL

!DMCL

align=center
align=center|51990

|align=center

align=center
Strathclyde

|Strathspey Railway

Donor of spare parts
align=center
align=center|51993

|align=center

align=center|52012

|BR Green

|Tanat Valley Light Railway

Under Restoration
align=center
align=center|52005

|align=center

align=center|52031

|BR Green

|Tanat Valley Light Railway

Operational
align=center
align=center|52006

|align=center

align=center|52025

|BR Green

|Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust

Operational
align=center
align=center|52008

|align=center

align=center|52030

|BR Green

|Strathspey Railway

Under Restoration
align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center|52029

|Strathclyde

|Fife Heritage Railway

Purchased from GWR in 2023 and now undergoing restoration.{{Cite web |date=16 October 1924 |title=Fleet List Fife Heritage Railway |url=https://www.fifeheritagerailway.co.uk/fleet |website=fifeheritagerailway.co.uk}}
align=center
align=center
align=center|59791

|align=center

BR Green

|Tanat Valley Light Railway

Static Display

References

=Notes=

{{reflist}}

=Sources=

  • Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs. Colin J. Marsden
  • British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs. Kevin Robertson
  • British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape
  • A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units. Brian Golding