British Rail Class 124

British Rail Class 124
Trans-Pennine
A British Rail Class 124 at Hull Paragon station in 1983
In service1960–1984
ManufacturerBritish Rail
Order nos.
  • 30603 (DMC)
  • 30604 (MBSK)
  • 30605 (TSL)
  • 30606 (TFLRB)
Built atSwindon Works
Family nameFirst generation
Trans-Pennine
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1960
Entered service1960–61
Scrapped1984
Number builtEight 6-car sets, plus 3 spare cars
Number scrappedAll
FormationDMC+MBSL+TSL+TFLRB+MBSL+DMC
Diagram
  • BR562 (TFB)
  • DP316 or BR577 (DMC)
  • DR201 or BR579 (MBS)
  • DT212 or BR573 (TS)
  • DU205 (TBS, converted from MBS)
Fleet numbers
  • 51951-51967 (DMC)
  • 51968-51984 (MBSK/TBS)
  • 59765-59773 (TSL)
  • 59774-59781 (TFLRB)
OperatorBritish Rail
DepotsHull Botanic Gardens
Leeds Neville Hill
Line servedTrans-Pennine
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length
  • 64 ft 9 in (19.74 m) (DMC, over body)
  • 64 ft 6+1⁄8 in (19.663 m) (over body, others)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (over handles)
Height12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.899 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)
Weight228 long tons (232 t; 255 short tons)
Prime mover2 × 230-horsepower (170 kW) Leyland Albion per power car
Engine typeDiesel
TransmissionMechanical
HVACOil burning air heater
Bogies
  • DT4 mk1 and mk2 (one of each, TSL)
  • DD3 (others)
Braking systemVacuum
Safety systemAWS
Coupling system
Multiple working■ Blue Square
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

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

History

The type were built at British Railways Swindon Works and were introduced in 1960, and were regularly used on the Liverpool to Hull Trans Pennine route. The appearance of the units was the result of the industrial designer E.G. Wilkes.

In 1977 the type was integrated with the Class 123, and were found on various workings in Northern England.

All were withdrawn in 1984, none survived into preservation.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Class 124 Swindon Trans-Pennine 6-car DMUs: Numbering". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 Longworth 2015, p. 366
  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. DP316, DR201, DT212, DU205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Class 124, 180, 181". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 "BR562". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Marsden 1982, p. 78
  7. ↑ Marsden 1982, p. 81
  8. 1 2 3 "Class 124 Swindon Trans-Pennine 6-car DMUs". RAILCAR.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2026.

Sources

Further reading