British Rail Class 108
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.[1]
| British Rail Class 108 | |
|---|---|
 A class 108 unit formed from Nos. M50944, M56228 in 1975. | |
 The second class saloon of 52054 on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. | |
| In service | 1958–1993 |
| Manufacturer | British Railways |
| Built at | Derby Works |
| Family name | First generation |
| Replaced | Steam locomotives and carriages |
| Constructed | 1958–1961 |
| Scrapped | 1964–1993 |
| Number built | DMBS: 152, DMCL: 58, DTCL: 106, TSL: 11, TBSL: 6. Total: 333 cars |
| Number preserved | 32 sets |
| 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 class |
| Operator(s) | British Rail |
| Line(s) served | LMR NER |
| 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 (29.0 long tons; 32.5 short tons), Trailer cars: 21.5 to 23.5 tonnes (21.2 to 23.1 long tons; 23.7 to 25.9 short tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | Two BUT (AEC) then BUT (Leyland) |
| Power output | 150 bhp (110 kW) per engine |
| Transmission | Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox |
| Safety system(s) | AWS |
| Multiple working | ■ Blue Square |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
Overview
Driver's cab, with the signal token in the middle
The 108 was formed as a 2,3 or 4 car unit. Its aluminium body led the type to be classed a lightweight unit. These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic.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 on withdrawal and lack of asbestos has ensured that many of this class are now used on preserved railway lines.[2]
Orders
| Lot No. | Car type | Qty | Fleet No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30406 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 26 | 50599–50624 | ER power-trailer and power-twin sets |
| 30407 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 5 | 50625–50629 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30408 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 17 | 50630–50646 | ER power-twin and four-car sets |
| 30409 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 21 | 56190–56210 | ER power-trailer sets |
| 30410 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 5 | 56211–56215 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30411 | Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) | 6 | 59380–59385 | ER four-car sets |
| 30412 | Trailer Brake Second with lavatory (TBSL) | 6 | 59245–59250 | ER four-car sets |
| 30460 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 12 | 50924–50935 | LMR power-twin sets |
| 30461 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 12 | 51561–51572 | LMR power-twin sets |
| 30465 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 50 | 50938–50987 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30466 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 50 | 56221–56270 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30493 | Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) | 5 | 59386–59390 | ER (power-twin to) three-car sets |
| 30498 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 9 | 51416–51424 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30499 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 9 | 56271–56279 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30601 | Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) | 50 | 51901–51950 | LMR power-trailer and power-twin sets |
| 30602 | Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) | 21 | 56484–56504 | LMR power-trailer sets |
| 30660 | Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) | 29 | 52037–52065 | LMR power-twin sets |
Accidents and incidents
- On 19 October 1987, the Glanrhyd Bridge over the River Towy at Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire collapsed as a passenger train operated by a Class 108 unit crossed it. Four people were killed.[3]
- On 22 August 1990, a three-car Class 108 unit overran a signal and was in a head-on collision with a two-car Class 108 unit at Hyde Junction, Cheshire. Twenty-eight people were injured.[3]
Preservation
5 Class 108 vehicles at Bewdley on the SVR.
Many vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways. 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 lines for a very long time.
| Set number | Vehicle numbers | Livery | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMBS | TCL | DMCL | ||||
| - | 50599 | - | - | BR Blue | Ecclesbourne Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 50619 | 59387 | 51566 | BR Green | Dean Forest Railway | Operational |
| - | 50628 | - | - | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | 52044 (DMCL) | - | 50632 | BR Blue and Grey | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | Stored |
| - | 50926 | - | 50645 | BR Blue and Grey | Great Central Railway | Under Restoration |
| - | 50928 | - | 51565 | BR Green | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | Under restoration |
| - | 50933 | - | 52064 | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 50971 | - | 51571 | BR Green | Kent and East Sussex Railway | Operational |
| - | 50980 | - | 52054 | BR Green | Weardale Railway | Operational |
| - | 51922 | - | 51562 | BR Green (51922) and BR Blue (51562) | National Railway Museum | Static Display |
| - | - | - | 51567 | BR Blue and Grey | Ecclesbourne Valley Railway | Stored |
| - | 56274(DTCL) | - | 51572 | United Steel Red and Grey / BR Green | Wensleydale Railway | Stored |
| - | 51907 | - | 56490(DTCL) | BR Blue and Grey | Llangollen Railway | Operational |
| - | 51909 | - | 56271(DTCL) | BR Green | East Somerset Railway | Operational |
| - | 51914 | - | 56492(DTCL) | BR Green | Dean Forest Railway | Operational |
| - | 51919 | - | 52048 | BR Blue | Garw Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51933 | - | 56504(DTCL) | BR Green | Swanage Railway | Operational |
| - | 51937 | - | 56484(DTCL) | BR White Stripe/ Blue and Grey | Poulton & Wyre Railway | Under Restoration |
| - | 51941 | - | - | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51942 | - | 56270(DTCL) | Network South East/BR Blue and Grey | Mid-Norfolk Railway | Stored |
| - | 51947 | - | - | BR Blue and Grey | Bodmin and Wenford Railway | Stored as a source for spare parts |
| - | 51950 | - | 52062 | Chocolate and Cream | Telford Steam Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 52044 | BR Blue and Grey | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 52053 | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | 59245(TBSL) | 54207(DTCL) | Blood and Custard | Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56208(DTCL) | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
| - | 51618(Class 127) | - | 56223(DTCL) | BR Green | East Anglian Railway Museum | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56224(DTCL) | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56279(DTCL) | BR Green | Lavender Line | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56491(DTCL) | BR Green | Keith and Dufftown Railway | Operational |
| - | - | - | 56495(DTCL) | BR Green | Kirklees Light Railway | Static Display |
| - | - | 59250(TBSL) | - | BR Green | Severn Valley Railway | Operational |
References
- https://telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/the-railway/stock-list/class-108-d-m-u-british-rail-derby/
- Edgar, Gordon (15 February 2015). Yorkshire & Humberside Traction. ISBN 9781445643335.
- Vaughan, Adrian (2003) [2000]. Tracks to Disaster. Hersham: Ian Allan. pp. 53–61, 100–04. ISBN 0-7110-2985-7.
General 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
External links
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