British Rail Class 127
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The British Rail Class 127 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby in 1959. Thirty 4-car units were built, formed of two outer driving motor vehicles, sandwiching two intermediate trailers. The technical description of such as 4-car unit was DMBS + TSL + TS + DMBS.
Vehicles were numbered as follows:
- 51591-51650 - DMBS
- 59589-59618 - TSL
- 59619-59648 - TS
The units were almost exclusively used on London St. Pancras to Bedford commuter services, which earned the class the nickname "Bed-Pan" units. The class was maintained at a new purpose-built depot at Cricklewood. Unlike other "Heritage" DMU units, the "Bed-Pan" units had hydraulic transmission (as opposed to the more standard mechanical transmission). Power was provided by engines supplied by Rolls-Royce.
It is generally recognised that at the time, the "Bed-Pan" units operated the most intensive passenger service worked by diesel multiple units. However, this had its toll on the units, and by the late 1970s, it was clear they needed replacing. It was therefore decided to electrify the Bedford line, and replace the Class 127 units with new Class 317 electrical multiple units. The "Bed-Pan" units should have been withdrawn by 1982. However, problems with the new trains meant they had to struggle on in service, despite appalling reliability. The final units lasted in service until eventually being withdrawn in July 1983. The units were then stored at Carlisle depot pending reuse, preservation or scrapping. Subsequently, many trailer vehicles saw further use in combination with Class 116 units, based at Tyseley depot in Birmingham. These lasted until October 1993.
In 1985, 22 redundant power cars, including the first built, no. 51591, were rebuilt to form 11 two-car parcels units. Vehicles were renumbered 55966-987, and formed into sets CH910 to CH920. Units were fitted with roller-shutter doors, and were based at Chester depot. The units lasted in service until 1989, when they were withdrawn.
[edit] Preservation
Three units have been preserved on heritage railways, although only one of these contains a trailer vehicle.
| Vehicles Numbers | Livery | Location | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51591 | 59609 | 51625 | BR Green | Midland Railway Butterley | Previously parcels unit 55966+55976. |
| 51592 | 59719 | 51604 | BR Green | South Devon Railway | 59719 is a Class 115 vehicle. |
| 51610 | - | - | BR Green | Privately-owned, Rogart station | Previously parcels unit 55967. |
| 51616 | 59276 | 51622 | BR Green | Great Central Railway | 59276 is a Class 120 vehicle. |
| 51618 | - | 56456 | BR Green | Llangollen Railway | 56456 is a Class 105 vehicle. |
| - | 59603 | - | BR Blue/Grey | Chasewater Railway | - |
[edit] External links
- Llangollen Railcar Group - owners of preserved DMUs on Llangollen Railway.
- Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group - owners of 3-car unit 51591+59609+51625.
| 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 | |
