British Rail Class 112

Infobox DMU
name = British Rail Class 112


imagesize = 240px
background = #0033cc
caption =
Manufacturer = Cravens
Operator = British Rail
Formation =
Built =1960.
LinesServed =
InService = 1960-
CarLength = 57 ft 6 in
CarWidth = 9 ft 3 in
CarHeight =
Weight = 29 tons 10 cwt
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 70 mph (112 km/h)
Gauge =
Traction =
Engine =Rolls Royce of 238 hp
SafetySystem= |

The Class 112 DMUs used the standard Cravens body used for Class 105s but had a single Rolls-Royce engine of 238 hp per car, and they were all formed into 'power twins'- two car sets with both vehicles powered.

There were two batches built, the first 50 vehicles (25 sets) had standard mechanical transmission via a gearbox and were allocated the Class 112. The second batch of 50 cars (25 sets) had hydraulic transmission, and became Class 113s.

The cars were built for services in the LMR Central Division and in the Liverpool - St Helens area, where the gradients in the Lancashire & Yorkshire area required more power. Both types also spent some time working from Cricklewood.

The gross weight of a set with all seats occupied was approximately 70 tons, giving 6.8 hp per ton. Empty, it was 8.1 hp/ton, which compared favourably with 5.7 hp/ton that the Cravens power/trailer had.

Other technical details

* Coupling Code: Blue Square
* Transmission: Standard Mechanical (Class 112), Hydraulic (Class 113)

Preservation

All 112/3s were withdrawn by the late 1960s, and none survive.

References

* [http://www.railcar.co.uk/ The Railcar Association]
*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