British Rail Class 114

Infobox DMU
name = British Rail Class 114


imagesize = 240px
background = #0033cc
caption = Class 114 no. 56006 at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the "Railcar 50" event. This vehicle has been restored to its original 1956 condition, and is preserved at the Midland Railway Butterley.
Manufacturer = BR Derby
Operator = British Rail
Formation = Unknown
Built =1956-1957
LinesServed =
InService = 1960-2002
CarLength = 64 ft 6 in
CarWidth = 9 ft 3 in
CarHeight = 12 ft 4 1/2 in
Weight = 35 tons 10 cwt
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 70 mph (112 km/h)
Gauge =
Traction =
Engine =
SafetySystem= |

The British Rail Class 114 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1956 to 1957. Forty-nine 2-car units were built, numbered 50001-49 for driving motors (later renumbered 53001-49) and 56001-49 for driving trailers (later renumbered 54001-49). The units were used on services in the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Humberside.

Prototype Unit

In addition to the 49 production units, a fiftieth two-car unit (cars 50000 and 56000) was built to test the Rolls Royce engine type later used on the Class 127 units. It was withdrawn in October 1967 as it was deemed to be non-standard, thus never received an official TOPS class designation.

Withdrawal

The units were replaced by newer "Sprinter" units in the late 1980s. By 1992, only two units were still in service, based at Tyseley depot in Birmingham. The final set, T027, was eventually preserved.

Non-Passenger Use

Five units were rebuilt as parcels units with roller-shutter doors in 1988. These were repainted in Royal Mail red livery, and were based at Cambridge depot. They were withdrawn in 1991. Four of the units were scrapped, whilst the fifth was rebuilt as a test train for the new ATP. This unit passed into EWS ownership with the privatisation of Britain's railways. It was then used in a new role of a route-learner unit, until it was withdrawn in 2002. It was eventually preserved in 2004.

Preservation

Only two sets have been preserved on heritage railways.

External links

* [http://www.mrt-railcargroup.co.uk/ Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group - owners of units 50019+56006 and 56015+50015.]
* [http://www.railcar.co.uk/ The Railcar Association]

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