British Rail Class 103

Infobox DMU
name = British Rail Class 103


imagesize = 240px
background = #0033cc
caption =
Manufacturer = Park Royal
Operator = British Rail
Formation = power car + driving trailer
Built = 20 sets
LinesServed =
InService = 1957-1983
CarLength =
CarWidth =
CarHeight =
Weight =
Capacity = 116 seats
MaxSpeed = 70 mph (113 km/h)
Gauge = standard gauge
Traction = diesel-mechanical
Engine = Two BUT (AEC) of 150 bhp
SafetySystem= |

The British Rail Class 103 diesel multiple units were built by Park Royal Vehicles with diesel engines by British United Traction (BUT). Ordered in the first half of 1955, 20 of these sets were built by Park Royal at the Crossley Motors works in Stockport of the ACV Group. They consisted of a power car and a driving trailer. Standard BUT equipment was fitted, with 'A' type engines.

A two-car set with 16 first class and 100 second class seats weighed just under 60 long tons, representing 1,150 lb (520 kg) a seat and had 5 hp per ton of empty weight or 4.35 hp per ton when full.

Operations

They were allocated new to the London Midland Region of British Railways, spending most of their time at Chester. The first deliveries went to traffic in the Llandudno area, allocated to Llandudno Junction. The last four sets were transferred to the Western Region of British Railways, and worked in the Cardiff and Reading areas. Although considered non-standard, owing to their bodywork construction, their use of standard BUT equipment and blue square coupling code allowed them to operate with other classes.

They spent some time in the Watford area, working the St Albans and Belmont branches after the demise of the ACV/BUT "flying brick" railcars.

On 8 May 1972 an oil train 'ran away' and crashed in Chester General station. M50407 and M56154 were in an adjacent platform and damaged beyond repair.

Liveries

They were delivered in Brunswick green with cream lining, red bufferbeam and pale grey roof. The first sets were delivered without "speed whiskers" (a decorative device on the front). Plain blue with yellow ends was later applied, initially with just a small yellow panel.

Decline

The bodywork became troublesome in service, seeing many withdrawn early. By the end of 1972 there were only 12 power and 14 trailers left in service. The last power car was withdrawn in December 1982, and the last trailer in February 1983.

Preservation

Only four Class 103 vehicles survived into preservation. 50413 and 56169 are currently being restored by the Helston Railway Diesel Group for use on the Helston branch line, and the other two vehicles are now safe.

ources

*"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

* [http://www.railcar.co.uk/his100-109/103intro.htm The Railcar Association]