British Rail Class 120
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #0033cc;color:white
| name = British Rail Class 120
Swindon 3-car Cross-country sets
| image = British Rail Class 120.jpg
| imagealt =
| imagesize = 300px
| caption =
| interiorimage =
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption =
| service = 1958–1989
| manufacturer = British Railways
| ordernumber = {{Unbulleted list|30334 (50647-50695)|30335 (50696-50744)|30336 (59255-59301)|30515 (51573-51581)|30516 (51582-51590)|30517 (59579-59588)|30559 (51781-51787)|30560 (51788-51794)|30561 (59679-59685){{cite web|url=http://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-120/numbering|title=Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs: Numbering|work=Railcar.co.uk|access-date=24 February 2016}}}}
| factory = BR Swindon Works
| family = First generation
| replaced = Steam locomotives hauling auto coaches and coaches
| yearservice =
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberbuilt = 194 cars
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved = 1 car (a TSLRB)
| numberscrapped = 193 cars
| formation = 3 car sets: {{abbr|DMSL|Driving Motor Second Lavatory}}-{{abbr|TSL|Trailer Second Lavatory}}[{{abbr|RB|Restaurant Buffet}}]-{{abbr|DMBC|Driving Motor Brake Composite}}
| diagram = {{Unbulleted list|DP204 or BR586|DP205 or BR637|DQ101 or BR587|DQ303 or BR587|DQ304 or BR636|DT210 or BR572|DT217 or BR561{{cite book| title = Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars)| publisher = British Railways Board| location = Derby| date = 1982| at = DP204, DP205, DQ101, DQ303, DQ304, DT210, DT217| via= Barrowmore MRG| url = http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Book220Issue.pdf| access-date = 24 February 2016| archive-date = 21 January 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150121172516/http://barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Book220Issue.pdf| url-status = dead}}}}
| fleetnumbers = {{Unbulleted list|51573-51581, 51781-51787, 53696-53744 (DMBC)|59255-59301, 59579-59588, 59679-59685 (TSLRB)|50647-50695, 51582-51590, 51788-51794 (DMSL)}}
| capacity = {{Unbulleted list|DMC: 18 first class and 16 second class seats|DMSL: 68 second class seats|TSLRB: 60 second class seats|TSL: 68 second class seats}}
| operator = British Rail
| depots = {{Unbulleted list|CA Cambridge|CF Cardiff Canton|CH Chester|DY Derby Etches Park|HA Haymarket|LA Laira|RG Reading{{sfn|Hemming|1978|pp=5-9}}{{harvnb|Fox|1987|pp=10–11, 26, 33}}}}
| lines = {{ubl|Halwill Junc - Wadebridge{{cite book |last = Fairclough |first = Tony |title = The story of Cornwall's railways |publisher = Tor Mark Press |location = Truro |year = 1970 |page = 35 |isbn = }}|Par - Newquay{{sfn|Vaughan|1983|p=56}}|St Erth - St Ives{{sfn|Vaughan|1983|p=106}}|Truro - Falmouth{{sfn|Vaughan|1983|p=87}}|Truro - Newquay{{sfn|Heginbotham|2010|page = 56}} }}
| trainlength =
| carlength = {{Unbulleted list|{{convert|64|ft|7+7/16|in|m|2|abbr=on}} (DP205, DQ304, over body)|{{convert|64|ft|6+1/8|in|m|2|abbr=on}} (others, over body)}}
| width = {{convert|9|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}} (overall)
| height = {{convert|12|ft|9+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} (overall)
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| wheelbase = {{Unbulleted list|{{convert|46|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} (bogie centres)|{{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} (bogies)}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|70|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{Unbulleted list|Dia 586: {{convert|36.50|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}|Dia 587: {{convert|36.35|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}|Dia 561: {{convert|30.60|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}|Dia 636: {{convert|36.95|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}|Dia 637: {{convert|37.05|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}|Dia 572: {{convert|30.15|LT|t ST|abbr=on}}}}
| deceleration =
| traction =
| engine = Two BUT (AEC) of {{convert|150|hp|abbr=on}} per power car
| poweroutput = {{convert|600|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} per 3-car set
| transmission = Standard mechanical
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac = Oil burning air heater
| uicclass =
| aarwheels =
| bogies = {{Unbulleted list|DD1 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)|DD2 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)|DT3 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)}}
| safety = AWS
| coupling = Screw
| multipleworking = ■ Blue Square
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg}}
}}
The British Rail Class 120 was a cross-country DMU in three-car formation, built at the British Rail Swindon Works.
History
Totalling 194 cars, three batches were built:
- 1958 - 49 sets for the Western Region
- 1959 - 7 sets for the Scottish Region
- 1961 - a further 9 sets for the Western Region
British Railways placed the order with British United Traction in summer 1956 for the equipment required for the 98 power cars and 47 trailers of the first batch. The order, along with equipment ordered by Cravens for 66 power cars and the 3 parcels cars, was valued at £830,000. The first batch was ordered for the WR's West Country dieselisation scheme, which it hoped to complete by the end of 1959. The sets were expected to work between Bristol & South Devon. Their general reliability and good braking characteristics made them popular with drivers.
File:Class 120 train to Aberdeen.jpg
In February 1959, the BTC placed an order with BUT for the equipment for the seven ScR sets, along with equipment for Class 108s and 127s being built at Derby. These 120s were to work mainly on the Aberdeen to Inverness line although appearances at Oban were not unknown. Otherwise the cars worked mainly in the Western and Midland Regions.
Some cars had a trial refurbishment but this was found to be too expensive, meaning an early withdrawal for most of the class. Some of the London Midland Region's units were transferred to Scotland in the mid-1980s, mainly finding use on local services from Edinburgh (notably to North Berwick). The final vehicles survived until 1989.
Fleet details
| class=wikitable
|+ ! Lot No. !! Type | Diagram | Qty | Fleet numbers | Notes | |
| 30334 | Driving Motor Second with lavatory (DMSL) | 586 | 49 | 50647–50695 | |
| 30335 | Driving Motor Brake Composite (DMBC) | 587 | 49 | 50696–50744 | |
| 30336 | Trailer Second Buffet (TSLRB) | 561 | 47 | 59255–59301 | |
| 30515 | Driving Motor Brake Composite (DMBC) | 636 | 9 | 51573–51581 | |
| 30516 | Driving Motor Second with lavatory (DMSL) | 637 | 9 | 51582–51590 | |
| 30517 | Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) | 572 | 10 | 59579–59588 | |
| 30559 | Driving Motor Brake Composite (DMBC) | 587 | 7 | 51781–51787 | |
| 30560 | Driving Motor Second with lavatory (DMSL) | 586 | 7 | 51788–51794 | |
| 30561 | Trailer Second Buffet (TSLRB) | 561 | 7 | 59679–59685 |
Operation
From first introduction, units were based at Laira and operated several services in Cornwall including the Truro and Newquay Railway route via Perranporth.{{sfn|Heginbotham|2010|page = 56}}
Accidents and incidents
- On 12 May 1978, the unit containing 51793-59684-51794, struck a lorry at Oyne and the front two cars were derailed. The unit was on the 07:43 Aberdeen to Inverness. Out of the 54 passengers on board, only 5 people suffered minor injuries.Rail Express, May 2018, Page 33.
Other technical details
- Coupling Code: Blue Square
- Transmission: Standard mechanical
Preservation
One trailer car survives at the Great Central Railway: 59276 (TSLRB).
References
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite book|title=Multiple Unit Pocket Book|series=British Railways Pocket Book No.2|edition=Summer/Autumn 1987|year=1987|first=Peter|last=Fox|publisher=Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.|isbn=0906579740|oclc=613347580}}
- {{cite book |last = Heginbotham |first = Stephen |title = Cornwall's Railways Remembered |publisher = Halsgrove |year = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-85704-005-3}}
- {{cite book |last = Hemming |first = R |title = British Rail DMU/EMU Allocation book |publisher = National Railway Enthusiasts Association |date = August 1978 |isbn = }}
- {{cite book |last = Vaughan |first = John |title = Diesels in the Duchy |publisher = Ian Allan |location = Shepperton |year = 1983 |isbn = 0-7110-1326-8}}
External links
{{Commons category| British Rail Class 120}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200917161454/https://railcar.co.uk/type/class-120/ The Railcar Association – History of the Class 120 DMUs]
- [http://sulzer.fotopic.net/p23767019.html Picture of Class120]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{British Rail DMU}}