- British Rail Class 108
-
British Rail Class 108
(Derby Lightweight)
Class 108 DMU, nos. 50980 and 52054, at Bodmin on 28 August 2003. This unit is preserved on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Cornwall.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 classOperator 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,
Trailer cars: 21.5 to 23.5 tonnesEngine(s) Two BUT (AEC) 150 hp then BUT (Leyland) 150 hp per power car Transmission Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox Safety system(s) AWS Multiple working ■ Blue Square 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These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic.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 and lack of asbestos has ensured that many of this class have been saved for preservation. 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 line metals for a very long time.
Contents
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 Preservation
Many vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways.
Vehicles Numbers Set Number Location Comments 50599 - - L490 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 50599 was the first built vehicle of the class and moved to Wirksworth 16/03/10. - - 56491 L490 Keith and Dufftown Railway 56491 is now at the Keith and Dufftown Railway 50619 - 56492 B962 Dean Forest Railway 50619 is now in service as the 3rd car when it is needed. 56492 in regular traffic. 50928 - 51565 S948 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - 50971 - 51571 - Kent and East Sussex Railway - 50982 - 52054 LO275 Bodmin & Wenford Railway - 51562 - 51922 S941 National Railway Museum 51562 was the 1000th vehicle built by BR at Derby. 51566 59387 53933 T072 Dean Forest Railway 53933 is now at the Severn Valley Railway replacing 51935, on loan from the DFR. Other vechiles being overhauled. 51567 - 53627 LO615 Peak Rail Used as a sandite unit after withdrawal from normal service. 51568 - 52053 T066 Keith and Dufftown Railway - 51907 - 54490 LO262 Llangollen Railway - 51914 - 56495 L232 Dean Forest Railway 56465 has been sold off, 51914 remains in traffic at the DFR. 51919 - 52048 T940 Barry EWS Depot - 51933 - 56504 LO618 Swanage Railway 56504 was the last built vehicle of the class. 51935 - 56208 T077 Severn Valley Railway 51935 was gutted internally by fire in 05/08 and was scrapped and replaced by another vehicle. 51937 - 54484 LO905 Peak Rail - 51941 59250 52064 T069 Severn Valley Railway Only surviving operational three-car unit. As of Spring 2011, 51941 is Out of Service due to having bodywork repairs/repaint 51950 - 52062 T070 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - 52061 - 53982 C921 Swansea Vale Railway - 53628 - 54223 L212 Keith and Dufftown Railway 53628 was the final vehicle of the class used in BR service. 53645 - 53926 T061 Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre - 54279 - - L212 Vale of Glamorgan Railway - 56207 59245 - - Appleby Frodingham Railway Used as locomotive-hauled stock. 52044 - 50632 Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway - 56224 Keith and Dufftown Railway External links
- Llangollen Railcar Group - owners of preserved DMUs on Llangollen Railway.
- The Railcar Association
- The DMU Group (West Midlands)
References
- 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
Diesel multiple units of the United Kingdom First generation units: First Generation
Original TOPS:First generation units
(pre-TOPS):British United Traction · Derby Lightweight · Metro-Cammell · Railbus · GWR Railcars · LMS Railcars
Second generation units: Diesel-electric units: Southern Railway designations: Families 
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