Propelling Control Vehicle

Infobox Train
background=darkgreen
name = British Rail Propelling Control Vehicle


imagesize=300
caption = NAA 94335 at Plymouth on 29 August 2003. This vehicle is in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes.
designation=94302–94327, 94331–45, 95300–95301
aka = NAA
Manufacturer = Hunslet-Barclay (conversion)
InService = 1994–2004
yearconstruction = 1994-1996 (conversion from class 307)
numberbuilt=42
numberservice=None
numberscrapped = 7
Brakes = Air
MaxSpeed = See article text
Operator = Rail Express Systems,
EWS

A Propelling Control Vehicle (PCV) is a type of British railway carriage for carrying mail. They were converted from Class 307 driving trailers and have a cab at one end. This allows mail trains to be propelled at low speed, with the locomotive at the rear of the train being driven from the PCV.

Forty-two PCVs were converted by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock from 1994 to 1996. The rebuilding work including removal of the windows and slam-doors, the fitting of roller-shutter doors, and modernisation of the cab. The vehicles were given the TOPS code NAA and numbered 94300-327 and 94331-345. The first two vehicles converted were prototypes, and were extensively tested to iron out any problems. The subsequent 40 vehicles incorporated modifications as a result of this testing. At the same time these vehicles were converted, the Class 47/7 locomotives that hauled mail trains were modified to be able to work in push-pull mode with the PCVs.

When first converted the vehicles were used by the Rail Express Systems parcels sector of British Rail. They were painted in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes. PCVs were marshalled at either end of mail trains that worked into London termini, which removed the need for the locomotive to run round the train at its destination. Trains were propelled only at low speed, not for long distances.

In 1996, Rail Express Systems was sold to EWS, who continued to operate mail trains on behalf of Royal Mail. PCVs were used on trains between London and Norwich, Plymouth, Bristol, Swansea, Newcastle and Glasgow. PCVs were also used on Travelling Post Office trains from London to Plymouth, Newcastle, Norwich, Carlisle and Glasgow.

The two prototype PCVs, nos. 94300/1, were non-standard. Consequently, they were used as standard mail coaches on a new high-speed mail train from Walsall to Inverness, painted in EWS maroon/gold livery and renumbered 95300/1.

In early 2004, EWS lost the contract to transport mail. As a result, all PCVs except 95300/1 have been withdrawn from service, pending new traffic, sale or scrapping.

Fleet details

The table below shows details of the fleet, including numbering and disposition.

See also

* Cab car - a passenger car with a train control cab used in push-pull service.