British Rail Class 124

British Rail Class 124 Trans-Pennine
A British Rail Class 124 at Liverpool Lime Street station
In service	1960–1984
Manufacturer	BR Swindon Works
Operator	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 9 1⁄2 in (3.899 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Weight	41 long tons (42 t)
Engine(s)	Leyland Albion 230 hp (170 kW)

The British Rail Class 124 diesel multiple units were built by BR Swindon Works in 1960.

Introduction

The British Rail Class 124 was a class of initially six-car Diesel Multiple Units used and built specifically for the trans-pennine route. In the late 70s, the Class was merged with their Class 123 cousins that had been relocated from Reading services on 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 They were all withdrawn in 1984 when their duties were taken over by Class 31/4, diesel electric locomotive hauled rakes of 4 coaches. 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 to remove the asbestos from the vehicle was cost prohibitive.

The Class was not unique, the Class 124 DMUs sharing mechanical components with their sister Class 123 on Western Region and the Class 126.

"Wrap-Round" windscreens where a feature that was also seen on the "Glasgow Blue Train" electric units (which were later relocated south onto the Manchester-Glossop service when the 1500dc overhead system was switched off (following the closure of Woodhead Tunnel).

Numbering

51951 - 67 DMC
51968 - 84 MBSL
59765 - 73 TSL
59774 - 81 TFBL

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 where adequate. To show this change the remaining MBSL were renumbered on removal of the engines.

Old New
51969 59834
51973 59841
51974 59835
51975 59839
51976 59838
51978 59836
51980 59842
51981 59833
51983 59840
51984 59837

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
• Transmission: Standard mechanical

For coupling codes see British United Traction

References

• Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs. Colin J. Marsden
• British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape

External links

• History of the Class 124s