British Rail Class 122

British Rail Class 122
Class 122, no. 55006, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit is painted in original BR Green livery, and is preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
In service	1958–1995
Manufacturer	Gloucester RC&W
Number built	20 motor, 9 trailer
Formation	Single car
Capacity	DMBS: 65; DTS 95
Operator	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	64 ft ½ in (19.52 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 8 1⁄8 in (3.86 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight	DMBS: 36 tons 0 cwt (80,600 lb or 36.6 t), DTS: 29 tons 0 cwt (65,000 lb or 29.5 t)
Engine(s)	BUT (AEC) 150 hp (110 kW) then BUT (Leyland) 150 hp
Transmission	Standard mechanical
Safety system(s)	AWS
Multiple working	■ Blue Square
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56290–56299 (later renumbered 54290–54299).

Initial use

The Class 122s were built mainly for use on the London Midland Region of British Rail, 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. 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 used on the Western Region).

Parcels use

Three Scottish Region cars (55013–55015) were converted to carry parcels traffic and were reclassified Class 131, though the vehicles themselves were not renumbered.

Class 960 departmental unit, no. 960015 at Crewe Diesel Depot on 1 June 2003. This unit is the former Class 122 no. 55019, and is painted in Railtrack's old brown livery. It is operated by Network Rail as a sandite application unit.

Usage after passenger service

number	former number	use	disposal/current use	cut up date
TDB 975023	55001	Route learning car	Preserved
TDB 975042	55019	Route learning car / Sandite	Still in use with Chiltern, set 960 015
TDB 975227	55017	Route learning car	Vic Berry	2/89
975309	55008	Route learning car	Mayer Newman	11/84
TDB 975310	55010	Route learning car	Mayer Newman	6/84
TDB 975540	55016	Route learning car	MC Metals	7/93
TDB 975994	55014	Test & stores car	Vic Berry	10/88
975998	55013	unknown	Mayer Newman	3/82
TDB 977177	55015	Route learning car	MC Metals	7/90
TDB 977223	55007	Route learning car	MC Metals	6/91
977941	55012	Route learner	Loadhaul then EWS

Current operations

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. These are listed below.

Unit no.	Vehicle no.		Livery	Operator	Use	Status
	Departmental no.	Former no.
122012	977941	55012	Load-Haul	DB Schenker	Route-learning unit	Preserved, on loan to NRM, Shildon
960015	975042	55019	NR Yellow	Network Rail	Sandite unit	Stored

Preservation

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

Vehicle no.		Unit no.	Vehicle type	Location	Livery	Comments
Original no.	Departmental no.
55000	-	122100	DMBS	South Devon Railway	BR Green	-
55001	975023	L101	DMBS	East Lancashire Railway	BR Blue	-
55003	-	P103	DMBS	Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway	BR Green	First preserved DMMU to gain main line certification
55005	-	P105	DMBS	Battlefield Railway	BR Blue/Grey	-
55006	-	P106	DMBS	Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	BR Green	Took part in Railcar50 in 2004
55009	-	P109	DMBS	Mid Norfolk Railway	BR Green	-

External links

Entry at the Railcar Association for class 122