British Rail Class 108
| British Rail Class 108 | |
|---|---|
|
Class 108 DMU, nos. 50980 and 52054, at Bodmin on 28 August 2003. This unit is preserved on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Cornwall. | |
|
Driver's cab, with the signal token in the middle | |
| In service | 1958–1990 |
| Manufacturer | British Railways |
| Built at | Derby Works |
| Constructed | 1958–1961 |
| Number built | DMBS: 152, DMCL: 58, DTCL: 106, TSL: 11, TBSL: 6. Total: 333 cars |
| Formation | 2, 3, or 4-car sets |
| Capacity |
DMBS: 52 second class, DMCL: 12 first 53 second, DTCL: 12 first 53 second, TSL: 68 second class, TBSL: 50 second class |
| Operator | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 58 ft 1 in (17.70 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m) |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
| Weight |
Power cars: 29.5 tonnes (29.0 long tons; 32.5 short tons), Trailer cars: 21.5 to 23.5 tonnes (21.2 to 23.1 long tons; 23.7 to 25.9 short tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | Two BUT (AEC) then BUT (Leyland) |
| Power output | 150 bhp (110 kW) per engine |
| Transmission | Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox |
| Safety system(s) | AWS |
| Multiple working | ■ Blue Square |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The British Rail Class 108 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1958 to 1961, with a final production quantity of 333 vehicles.
Class 108 DMU, nos. 56208 and 51935, at Bewdley on 15 October 2004. This unit is preserved on the Severn Valley Railway.
These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic. They were replaced on regional services by the new "Sprinter" derivative units, or by "Turbo" units on services around London. The final units lasted in traffic until October 1993, although many saw further use in departmental service, as sandite or route-learner units. Good condition on withdrawal and lack of asbestos has ensured that many of this class are now used on preserved railway lines.
Orders
| Lot No. | Car type | Qty | Fleet No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30406 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 26 | 50599–50624 | |
| 30407 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 5 | 50625–50629 | |
| 30408 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 17 | 50630–50646 | |
| 30409 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 21 | 56190–56210 | |
| 30410 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 5 | 56211–56215 | |
| 30411 | Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) | 6 | 59380–59385 | |
| 30412 | Trailer Brake Second with lavatory (TBSL) | 6 | 59245–59250 | |
| 30460 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 12 | 50924–50935 | |
| 30461 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 12 | 51561–51572 | |
| 30465 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 50 | 50938–50987 | |
| 30466 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 50 | 56221–56270 | |
| 30493 | Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) | 5 | 59386–59390 | |
| 30498 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 9 | 51416–51424 | |
| 30499 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 9 | 56271–56279 | |
| 30601 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 50 | 51901–51950 | |
| 30602 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 21 | 56484–56504 | |
| 30660 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 29 | 52037–52065 | |
Accidents and incidents
- On 19 October 1987, the Glanrhyd Bridge over the River Towy at Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire collapsed as a passenger train operated by a Class 108 unit crossed it. Four people were killed.[1]
- On 22 August 1990, a three-car Class 108 unit overran a signal and was in a head-on collision with a two-car Class 108 unit at Hyde Junction, Cheshire. Twenty-eight people were injured.[1]
Preservation
Many vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways. None are currently certified for use on the main line - although the Swanage Railway's set was hauled from the railway to Eastleigh and back, for overhaul - and is believed to be the first class 108 to have been seen on main lines for a very long time.
| Set number | Vehicle numbers | Livery | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMBS | TCL | DMCL | ||||
| - | 50599 | - | - | BR Blue | East Anglian Railway Museum | Operational |
| - | 50619 | 59387 | 51566 | BR Green | Dean Forest Railway | Operational |
| - | 50628 | - | - | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | 52044 (DMCL) | - | 50632 | BR Blue and Grey | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | Stored |
| - | 50926 | - | 50645 | BR Blue and Grey | Great Central Railway | Under Restoration |
| - | 50928 | - | 51565 | BR Green | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 50933 | - | 52064 | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 50971 | - | 51571 | BR Green | Kent and East Sussex Railway | Operational |
| - | 50980 | - | 52054 | BR Green | Bodmin and Wenford Railway | Operational |
| - | 51922 | - | 51562 | BR Green (51922) and BR Blue (51562) | East Kent Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 51567 | BR Blue and Grey | Midland Railway | Stored |
| - | 56274(DTCL) | - | 51572 | BR Green/Blood and Custard | Stainmore Railway | Stored |
| - | 51907 | - | 56490(DTCL) | BR Blue and Grey | Llangollen Railway | Operational |
| - | 51909 | - | 56271(DTCL) | BR Green | Avon Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51914 | - | 56492(DTCL) | BR Green | Dean Forest Railway | Operational |
| - | 51919 | - | 52048 | BR Blue | Garw Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51933 | - | 56504(DTCL) | BR Green | Swanage Railway | Operational |
| - | 51937 | - | 56484(DTCL) | BR White Stripe | Midland Railway | Stored |
| - | 51941 | - | - | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51942 | - | 56270(DTCL) | Network South East/BR Blue and Grey | Mid-Norfolk Railway | Stored |
| - | 51947 | - | - | BR Blue and Grey | Bodmin and Wenford Railway | Stored as a source for spare parts |
| - | 51950 | - | 52062 | Chocolate and Cream | Telford Steam Railway | Under Restoration |
| - | - | - | 52044 | BR Blue and Grey | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 52053 | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | 59245(TBSL) | 56207(DTCL) | Blood and Custard | Private Site | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56208(DTCL) | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51618(Class 127) | - | 56223(DTCL) | BR Green | East Anglian Railway Museum | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56224(DTCL) | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56279(DTCL) | BR Green | Lavender Line | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56491(DTCL) | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56495(DTCL) | BR Green | Kirklees Light Railway | Static Display |
| - | - | 59250(TBSL) | - | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
References
- Sources
- 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 108. |
- Llangollen Railcar Group - owners of preserved DMUs on Llangollen Railway.
- The Railcar Association
- The DMU Group (West Midlands)
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