British Rail Class 122

The Class 122s were built mainly for use on the London Midland Region of British Railways, although some were also used in Scotland. They were used on a variety of lightly used lines, many of which were closed during the Beeching Axe in the 1960s including the ex-LSWR lines in West Devon and North Cornwall.{{sfn|Mitchell|1994|p=33}} Routes served included the Stourbridge Town and St Albans Abbey branch lines, as well as local services between Dundee and Arbroath. (The similar Pressed Steel Company built Class 121 single units were also used on the Western Region).

During the 1990s, refurbished Class 122 units were used on the Cornish branches between Liskeard and Looe and St Erth and St Ives.{{sfn|Mitchell|1994|p=25}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1994|p=136}}

In 1968, three cars (55013–55015) were converted for use on the Scottish Region to carry parcels traffic{{cite magazine| title = Motive power miscellany| magazine = Railway World| location = Shepperton| publisher = Ian Allan| publication-date = September 1971| volume = 32| issue = 376| page = 418}} and were reclassified Class 131, though the vehicles themselves were not renumbered. The converted vehicles were given the TOPS classification DXV.{{cite book |last1= Bowles |first1= LJ |last2= Mallaband |first2= P |title= Coaching stock of British Railways |publisher= RCTS |year= 1978 |page= 50 |isbn= 0-901115-44-4}}

Upon privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 122 fleet has been withdrawn from normal service. However several units were operated by EWS and Network Rail (previously Railtrack) in departmental service, reclassified as Class 960.

"Bubble Cars" have proved popular for preservation on heritage railways.

Dapol has released models of the Class 122 railcar in both O gauge and OO gauge in a variety of liveries.{{cite web |url=http://www.hornbymagazine.com/2016/12/02/blog-warley-highlights/dsc_7589_lr/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228032856/http://www.hornbymagazine.com/2016/12/02/blog-warley-highlights/dsc_7589_lr/ |archive-date=28 December 2016 |title=Dapol Class 122 {{!}} Hornby Magazine}} In 2012, Dapol introduced a British N gauge model of the Class 122 in both BR blue and BR blue and grey liveries.{{cite magazine|title=Gloucester Class 122 for 'N' gauge|first=Nigel|last=Burkin|magazine=Hornby Magazine|pages=80–81|issue=66|date=December 2012|location=Hersham|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn=1753-2469|oclc=226087101}}

{{reflist}}

• {{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 = Mitchell |first = David |title = Cornwall |publisher = Past & Present Publishing |series = British Railways Past and Present |volume = 17 |year = 1994 |isbn = 1-85895-060-0}}

• {{cite magazine|title=Bubble Car 55009 makes preservation debut after 20 years out of action|magazine=Rail|page=35|issue=710|date=28 November – 11 December 2012|location=Peterborough|publisher=Bauer|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine|title=The Gloucester Class 122|first=Evan|last=Green-Hughes|magazine=Hornby Magazine|pages=82–83|issue=66|date=December 2012|location=Hersham|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn=1753-2469|oclc=226087101}}

{{Commons category|British Rail Class 122}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218043425/http://www.railcar.co.uk/type/122/122.html Entry] at the Railcar Association for class 122

{{British Rail DMU}}

122

Category:Gloucester multiple units

Category:Train-related introductions in 1958