British Rail Class 120

British Rail Class 120
Swindon 3-car Cross-country sets
In service1958–1989
ManufacturerBritish Railways
Order nos.
  • 30334 (50647-50695)
  • 30335 (50696-50744)
  • 30336 (59255-59301)
  • 30515 (51573-51581)
  • 30516 (51582-51590)
  • 30517 (59579-59588)
  • 30559 (51781-51787)
  • 30560 (51788-51794)
  • 30561 (59679-59685)
Built atBR Swindon Works
Family nameFirst generation
ReplacedSteam locomotives hauling auto coaches and coaches
Constructed1957–1960
Number built194 cars
Number preserved1 car (a TSLRB)
Number scrapped193 cars
Formation3 car sets: DMSL-TSL[RB]-DMBC
Diagram
  • DP204 or BR586
  • DP205 or BR637
  • DQ101 or BR587
  • DQ303 or BR587
  • DQ304 or BR636
  • DT210 or BR572
  • DT217 or BR561
Fleet numbers
  • 51573-51581, 51781-51787, 53696-53744 (DMBC)
  • 59255-59301, 59579-59588, 59679-59685 (TSLRB)
  • 50647-50695, 51582-51590, 51788-51794 (DMSL)
Capacity
  • DMC: 18 first class and 16 second class seats
  • DMSL: 68 second class seats
  • TSLRB: 60 second class seats
  • TSL: 68 second class seats
OperatorBritish Rail
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length
  • 64 ft 7+7⁄16 in (19.70 m) (DP205, DQ304, over body)
  • 64 ft 6+1⁄8 in (19.66 m) (others, over body)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (overall)
Height12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m) (overall)
DoorsSlam
Wheelbase
  • 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (bogies)
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight
  • Dia 586: 36.50 long tons (37.09 t; 40.88 short tons)
  • Dia 587: 36.35 long tons (36.93 t; 40.71 short tons)
  • Dia 561: 30.60 long tons (31.09 t; 34.27 short tons)
  • Dia 636: 36.95 long tons (37.54 t; 41.38 short tons)
  • Dia 637: 37.05 long tons (37.64 t; 41.50 short tons)
  • Dia 572: 30.15 long tons (30.63 t; 33.77 short tons)
Prime moverTwo BUT (AEC) of 150 hp (110 kW) per power car
Power output600 hp (447 kW) per 3-car set
TransmissionStandard mechanical
HVACOil burning air heater
Bogies
  • DD1 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)
  • DD2 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)
  • DT3 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)
Braking systemVacuum
Safety systemAWS
Coupling systemScrew
Multiple working■ Blue Square
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 120 was a cross-country DMU in three-car formation, built at the British Rail Swindon Works.

Operation

From first introduction, units were based at Laira and operated several services in Cornwall including the Truro and Newquay Railway route via Perranporth.

Accidents and incidents

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs: Numbering". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Class 120, 179". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP204, DP205, DQ101, DQ303, DQ304, DT210, DT217. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  4. ↑ Hemming 1978, pp. 5–9.
  5. ↑ Fox 1987, pp. 10–11, 26, 33
  6. ↑ Fairclough, Tony (1970). The story of Cornwall's railways. Truro: Tor Mark Press. p. 35.
  7. ↑ Vaughan 1983, p. 56.
  8. ↑ Vaughan 1983, p. 106.
  9. ↑ Vaughan 1983, p. 87.
  10. 1 2 Heginbotham 2010, p. 56.
  11. ↑ Rail Express, May 2018, Page 33.

Sources

  • Fox, Peter (1987). Multiple Unit Pocket Book. British Railways Pocket Book No.2 (Summer/Autumn 1987 ed.). Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
  • Heginbotham, Stephen (2010). Cornwall's Railways Remembered. Halsgrove. ISBN 978-0-85704-005-3.
  • Hemming, R (August 1978). British Rail DMU/EMU Allocation book. National Railway Enthusiasts Association.
  • Vaughan, John (1983). Diesels in the Duchy. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1326-8.