Francais | English | Espanõl

British Rail Class 120

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The Class 120, were a cross-country DMU in three carriage formation, built at the Swindon Works of British Railways.

Totalling 194 cars, three batches were built:

  • 1958 - 49 sets for the Western Region
  • 1959 - 7 sets for the Scottish Region
  • 1961 - a further 9 sets for the Western Region

British Railways placed the order with BUT in summer 56 for the equipment required for the 98 power cars and 47 trailers of the first batch. The order, along with equipment ordered by Cravens for 66 power cars and the 3 parcels cars, was valued at £830,000. The first batch was ordered for the WR's West Country dieselisation scheme, which it hoped to complete by the end of 1959. The sets were expected to work between Bristol & South Devon. Their general reliability and good braking characteristics made them popular with drivers.

In February 1959 the BTC place an order with BUT for the equipment for the seven ScR sets, along with equipment for Class 108s and 127s being built at Derby. These 120s were to work mainly on the Aberdeen to Inverness line although appearances at Oban were not unknown. Otherwise the cars worked mainly in the Western and Midland Regions.

Some cars had a trial refurbishment but this was found to be too expensive, meaning an early withdrawal for most of the class. The final vehicles survived until 1989.

[edit] Technical

  • Introduced : 1958
  • Coupling Code : Blue Square
  • Engines : BUT (AEC) 150hp
  • Body : 64ft 1/2 in x 9ft 3in
  • Transmission : Standard mechanical

[edit] External links

British Rail diesel multiple units
Diesel locomotives - Electric locomotives - DMU - DEMU - AC EMU - DC EMU - Departmental units
First-generation diesel units
Classes: 100 - 101 - 102 - 103 - 104 - 105 - 106 - 107 - 108 - 109 - 110 - 111 - 112 - 113 - 114 - 115  
116 - 117 - 118 - 119 - 120 - 121 - 122 - 123 - 124 - 125 - 126 - 127 - 128 - 129 - 130 - 131
Original TOPS: 140 - 141 - 142 - 143 - 144 - 145 - 147 - 148 - 149 - 150 - 160 - 161 - 162 - 163 - 164 - 166  
167 - 168 - 169 - 171 - 172 - 173 - 175 - 176 - 177 - 178 - 179 - 180 - 182 - 183 - 185 - 186  
188 - 189
Pre-TOPS: British United Traction - Derby Lightweight - Metro-Cammell - Railbus
GWR Railcars - LMS Railcars
Second-generation diesel units
Classes: 140 - 141 - 142 - 143 - 144 - 150 - 151 - 153 - 154 - 155 - 156 - 157 - 158 - 159 - 165 - 166
168 - 170 - 171 - 175 - 180 - 185
Diesel-electric units
Classes: 201 - 202 - 203 - 204 - 205 - 206 - 207 - 210 - 220 - 221 - 222 - 251 - 252 - 253 - 254 - 255
  SR designation: 3D - 3H - 3R - 3T - 4L - 6B - 6L - 6S
Departmental units
Classes: 901 - 930 - 950 - 951 - 960 - APT-E - MPV
Personal tools