British Rail Class 155
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| British Rail Class 155 "Super-Sprinter" | |
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 155341 at Castleton East Junction |
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| In service | 1987 - present |
| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Family name | Sprinter |
| Refurbishment | 2006 - 2007 |
| Number built | 1987 - 1988 |
| Formation | 2 car |
| Operator | Northern Rail |
| Lines served | Caldervale Line, Harrogate Line |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 75mph |
| Engine | Cummins NT855-R5 |
| Gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Safety systems | AWS, TPWS |
The British Rail Class 155 "Super-Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit. These DMUs were built by British Leyland at Workington (using Leyland National bus components) between 1987 and 1988 as part of British Rail's replacement of its ageing diesel fleet which were First-Generation.
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[edit] Description
The 2 x 23m units were fitted with Cummins NT855-R5 285HP engines and Voith transmission.
However following a number of teething troubles they did not last long in their original form, and in 1991/1992 most were converted into the single car Class 153. Before the units were disbanded, they were largely based in the West Country, at Cardiff Canton and surrounding depots, and used on local and regional services in Wales and the South West, into Birmingham New Street station in Birmingham as well on the longer distance services.
The units were equipped with a large parcels locker. This is because when the units were constructed in the 1980s, a large quantity of local parcels traffic was still conveyed by rail under the brand Red Star Parcels. This fell out of use in the period leading to rail privatisation, and the large areas are now used as luggage space (both on Class 153 descendants and the surviving 155 units). They are similar in interior to the Class 156 DMUs built at the same time, although operationally they have suffered more problems (the entire fleet was withdrawn in the late 1980s due to a fleetwide fault), which may be a factor as to why the 156 fleet survived longer in its original form than the 155s.
[edit] Later units
Seven further class 155 units, (155341-155347) were built in 1988 for West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) for MetroTrain services, and remain today in their original formation.
[edit] Current Operations
Currently all are based at Neville Hill Railway Depot and operate services mainly on the Leeds-Manchester Victoria corridor. They are often seen at York on services to Leeds and Harrogate.
As of January 2006 they are painted in the old carmine and cream WYPTE livery. However, the units are currently undergoing an internal and external revamp. All units now carry the livery of their operator, Northern Rail; the first of which, 155346, was in service from August 2006 around Leeds.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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