British Rail Class 105
| British Rail Class 105 | |
|---|---|
| File:BR Class 105 E51282 and E56461 Longsight.jpg
Inside Longsight Diesel TMD, Manchester, December 1983
|
|
| In service | 1959–1988 |
| Manufacturer | Cravens |
| Constructed | 1956–1959 |
| Number built | DMBS: 142, DTCL: 108, DMCL: 33, TCL 19. Total: 302 cars |
| Number preserved | 3 cars |
| Formation | 2-cars sets: DMBS-DTCL or DMBS-DMCL, 3 cars sets:DMBS-TCL-DMCL |
| Operator(s) | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m) |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
| Weight | Power cars: 29.5 or 30.5 tonnes (29.0 or 30.0 long tons) Trailer cars: 23.5 or 24.5 tonnes (23.1 or 24.1 long tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | Two BUT |
| Power output | 150 bhp (112 kW) each engine |
| Transmission | Mechanical: 4 speed epicyclic gearbox |
| UIC classification | Power cars: 1A′A1′ Trailer cars: 2′2′ |
| Coupling system | Screw-link couplings , British Standard gangways |
| Multiple working | ■ Blue Square |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The British Rail Class 105 diesel multiple units were built by Cravens Ltd. of Sheffield from 1956 to 1959. The class were built with a side profile identical to British Railways Mark 1 carriage stock, using the same doors and windows. None were selected for refurbishment. The last passenger car was withdrawn from service in 1988.
Usage
Norwich was the last depot to operate the Cravens units, with set 30 being returned to green livery, and gaining some celebrity status towards the end of its service life. The unit was, however, contaminated with asbestos and consequently scrapped.
A number of Class 112 cars were purchased and sectioned for use as store rooms on North Sea gas platforms. It is not known whether any of these sections survive.
Orders
| Lot No. |
Car type | Qty |
Fleet numbers |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30280 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 14 | 50359–50372 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30281 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 14 | 56114–56127 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30282 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 17 | 50373–50389 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30283 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 17 | 56128–56144 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30284 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 5 | 50390–50394 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30285 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 5 | 56145–56149 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30352 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 33 | 50752–50784 | 3-car sets |
| 30353 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 33 | 50785–50817 | 3-car sets |
| 30354 | Trailer Composite with lavatory (TCL) | 19 | 59307–59325 | 3-car sets |
| 30469 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 48 | 51254–51301 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30470 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 48 | 56412–56459 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30503 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 24 | 51471–51494 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30504 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 24 | 56460–56483 | Power-trailer 2-car sets |
| 30505 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 1 | 50249 |
Technical details
- Builder: Cravens
- Introduced: 1956
- Coupling Code: Blue Square
- Body: 57 ft 6 in x 9 ft 2 in
- Engines: Two BUT, 150 bhp
- Transmission: Standard mechanical
For coupling codes see British United Traction
Preservation
Due to the use of asbestos in their construction, and extended usage by BR, the class has fared very badly in preservation. 51485 and 56121 were preserved by the West Somerset Railway but moved to the East Lancashire Railway in 1997 where they are being restored after asbestos stripping. 56456 is based on the Llangollen Railway, working with a Class 127. The National Railway Museum had intended to preserve 53812 - which had been stripped of asbestos but a lack of space prevented this car and the Class 100 coupled to it from being moved to York and they were vandalised beyond repair at Crewe.
| Number | Vehicle type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51485 | DMBS | East Lancashire Railway |
| 56121 | DTCL | East Lancashire Railway |
| 56456 | DTCL | Llangollen Railway |
References
- Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs. Colin J. Marsden
- British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs. Kevin Robertson
- British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape
- A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units. Brian Golding
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 105. |
