British Rail Class 126

British Rail Class 126
In service	1957–1983
Manufacturer	BR Swindon Works
Number built	1957
Operators	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	38 long tons (39 t)
Prime mover(s)	BUT (AEC) 150 hp (110 kW)

The British Rail Class 126 diesel multiple unit was built by BR Swindon Works in 1959/60 to work services from Glasgow to Ayrshire and comprised 22 Motor Second vehicles ( Sc51008-29), 22 Motor Brake Second ( Sc51030-51), 10 Kitchen Trailer First (59391-400) and 11 Trailer Composite (59402-59412) vehicles formed into 22 3-car sets formed Motor Second + Trailer + Motor Brake Second. These trainsets were based on the earlier Swindon-built trainsets that had been introduced in 1955 to work the Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen St services with vehicles numbered in the 79xxx series which formed the first Inter City service to be operated by diesel units in Great Britain. The introduction of these early diesel multiple units originated in a British Transport Commission report of 1952 that suggested the trial use of diesel railcars. BR's Swindon Works were chosen to design and build express units for the ex-North British Railway Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street route. There is much confusion with these early sets as the Class number (126) was allocated in the early 1970s when TOPS was introduced by British Railways but the imminent withdrawal of 79xxx numbered units meant that they were not reclassified thus Class 126 officially refers to only the 5xxxx series vehicles.

Description

The cars were of steel construction and featured Pullman gangways and buckeye couplings. Each power car was fitted with two AEC 150 hp underfloor engines with mechanical transmission giving a maximum speed of 70 mph. Initially termed "Inter-urban", this was soon changed to "Inter-City" long before that branding was used for mainline express services.

These trains had two front-end designs: either a full-width cab or a half-cab with central gangway connection. The latter "intermediate" driving car allowed through access within a six-car set. Neither end featured any destination blinds or marker lights, only a box holding a stencil indicating the train classification (A, B or C; later changed to 1, 2 or 3). Power car seating was of the "open" saloon arrangement with compartment seating in the trailers. A unique multiple working control system (coded White Circle) was employed. Unlike other classes, each power car produced its own control air supply and was thus incompatible with any other.

The second batch was closely based on the 1956 stock. One big improvement was that the guard's van was moved to the rear of the coach giving passengers a forward view. Four-character headcode displays were fitted; the intermediate power cars having a two-character box either side of the gangway. Destination blinds and marker lights were not incorporated.

Operations

Most were introduced to Edinburgh to Glasgow (E. & G.) services in January 1957; allocated to Leith Central depot. However, the first six three-car sets worked their first three years on Western Region on Birmingham–South Wales services. There was criticism of the lack of a forward view for passengers and also of the plain "utility" appearance of the non-gangwayed cab front. The usual E. & G. formation was a six-car set with two trailers together in the centre of the train. The class usually stuck to this route but could appear on other services from time to time.

The second batch entered service in August 1959 from Ayr depot and was mostly used on Ayrshire Coast Line on Ayr, Girvan, Stranraer, Largs and Ardrossan workings. Formations were either three- or six-car with the trailers between two power cars as per most classes.

The 1970s saw the first class accommodation downgraded. Being of a non-standard design, the class was not included in the DMU refurbishment programme so remained in close-to-original condition. The main alteration was the plating over of the outer gangway connection on the DMS vehicles in 1979–81 following drivers' complaints of draughts.

126s were displaced from E. & G. services from 1971 by the Class 27 push-pull sets. All were withdrawn by 1972 except for four cars transferred to Ayr. The Ayrshire Coast stock fared rather better, surviving almost intact until mass withdrawals in the early 1980s. The last two units finally lost the fight in January 1983. Although used on various other routes out of Glasgow in their final years, these 126s remained closely identified with the Ayr line until displacement by a mixture of loco-hauled trains and other DMUs. Electrification meant that DMU operations on the Ayrshire routes finally ended in 1986 with the introduction of Class 318 EMUs.

Post-BR use

Five of the ex-E&G leading power cars were overhauled and exported to Liberia for use by LAMCO mining company for staff trains.

BR Number	LAMCO Number
79091	91
79093	93
79094	94
79096	96
79097	97

Picture of the LAMCO unit disused

Preservation

Four vehicles (51017, 51043, 59404 & 79443) survive in preservation, owned by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and based at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Three of these vehicles have been completely overhauled and are currently in Apple Green livery and the buffet car (79443) is currently undergoing restoration. They most recently featured at the 2010 Diesel Gala. Three others (59098, 59099 & 79441) went to heritage lines but have now been cut up.

Numbering

1956 batch

• 79083 - 090, 095 DMBS (Intermediate)
• 79091 - 094, 096 - 111 DMBS (Leading)
• 79155 - 68 DMS (Intermediate)
• 79440 - 7 TRBF
• 79470 - 82 TF

1959 batch

• 50936, 51008 - 29 DMS (Intermediate)
• 51030 - 51 DMBS (Leading)
• 59098 / 9 TRBF
• 59391 - 400 TF
• 59402 - 12 TC

External links

• Swindon Diesel Preservation Society