British Rail Metro-Cammell
| British Rail Metro-Cammell | |
|---|---|
| In service | 1955–1981 |
| Manufacturer | Metropolitan Cammell |
| Number built | 36 sets (72 cars) |
| Formation | 2 car sets: DMBS-DTSL or DMBS-DTCL |
| Capacity | DMBS: 57 or 53 second class seats DTSL: 72 second class DTCL: 12 first and 53 second class |
| Operator | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 57 ft 0 in (17.37 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Weight | DMBS: 31 long tons 10 cwt (70,500 lb/32.0 t) DTSL: 25 long tons 0 cwt (56,000 lb/25.4 t) |
| Engine(s) | Two BUT (AEC) 6-cylinder diesels of 150 hp (112 kW) each |
| Transmission | Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox |
| Braking system(s) | Vacuum |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
In 1955, Metropolitan Cammell produced its first lightweight Diesel multiple units, the prototypes of what were to become British Rail's most successful and longest-lived First Generation DMU type, the Class 101.
[edit] Operations
The seven London Midland Region sets (formed DMBS + DTCL) were used on the Bury-Bacup line services, while the other sets were all allocated to the Eastern Region. These sets were used on a variety of lines in East Anglia as well as the (then) non-electrified lines in Essex (Romford-Upminster and Wickford-Southminster branches).
They proved to be very successful, but with line closures continuing through the 1960s, including many in East Anglia where the type was first used, their non-standard coupling arrangements left them prone to early withdrawal, which took place during 1967-69.
All were scrapped following withdrawal, except two (79047 + 79053), which were taken into departmental (non-revenue earning) service as 975018 + 975019. They were used at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby as Laboratory 21: Plasma Torch Research. When this extended life was complete, they too were scrapped, in 1981.
[edit] Formations
Two different formations were used:
DMBS + DTSL: 79047 + 79263 through 79075 + 79291 DMBS + DTCL: 79076 + 79626 through 79082 + 79632
[edit] External links
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