British Rail Class 140

The British Rail Class 140 was the prototype of the Pacer diesel multiple unit. Much of the bodywork was constructed using Leyland National bus components, with the exception of the cabs, between 1979 and 1981. The sole member of the class has been preserved and is at the Keith and Dufftown Railway.

Design

Based on the single car railbus prototypes, the class 140 was built to BR's then stringent regulations regarding crashworthiness and resistance to end loading in 1980. This meant that it lost its lightweight 'bus on a wagon' look and was much more substantial.

The original traction power train consisted of a Leyland TL11^[1] 200 HP engine, a Self-Changing Gears mechanical automatic gearbox and a Gmeinder final drive unit on each car driving only one axle.

History

The unit was built between 1979 and 1981, had a press launch in June 1981, and then toured the UK for trials and as a demonstration unit.^[2] During 1985, the unit was in use as a driver training vehicle.^[2] By 1994, prior to sale, the unit was kept at Neville Hill depot as a parts donor.^[3]

Legacy

The Class 140 formed the basis of the design of the production Pacer sets of Class 141 introduced in 1984 and Class 142 introduced in 1985.

Preservation

The unit was purchased for preservation and collected from Leeds in February 1995.^[4] The sole member of the class, 140001, formed of cars 55500+55501, has been preserved and is at the Keith and Dufftown Railway^[5] This unit is at Dufftown Station. It is being restored to its former state by volunteers at the railway.

140001 at Shrewsbury between driver training runs on the Central Wales line on 4 December 1981.

References

Sources

• Smith, R.I. (2002). Class 140: The Past, The Present, The Future. Keith & Dufftown Railway Association. ISBN 0901845213. 

External links

• Pictures of some of the early pacer units on test and in use.