List of British Rail diesel multiple unit classes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of British Rail diesel multiple-unit train classes.

For a historical overview of diesel multiple unit train development in Great Britain, see British railcars and diesel multiple units.

Pre-nationalisation designs[edit]

First Generation[edit]

Early BR DMUs (79xxx series)[edit]

Manufacturer Engines (per motor car) Transmission Type Built Quantity (sets) Withdrawn Notes Image Scrapped
BR Derby 'Lightweight' 2 × Leyland 125 bhp (93 kW) or 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) hydraulic (2 car) or mechanical (single car) low density 1954-1959 217 vehicles 1967-1969 7 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1977-1994 215
Metro-Cammell 'Lightweight' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) mechanical 1955-1956 36 sets 79047 + 79053 survived in departmental stock until 1981. All
AC Cars Railbuses 1 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) railbus 1958 5 1968 3 (1 in preservation)
Bristol-ECW Railbuses 1 × Gardner 112 bhp (84 kW) 2 1966 All
Park Royal Railbuses 1 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 5 1966-1968
Waggon and Maschinenbau Railbuses 1 × Büssing 150 bhp (112 kW) 1966-1967 1
Wickham Railbuses 1 × Meadows 105 bhp (78 kW) 6 1966 Elliot Track Recorder survived in departmental use until 1997 5

TOPS classes[edit]

Class Manufacturer Engines (per motor car) Transmission Type Built Quantity (sets) Withdrawn Notes Image Scrapped
Class 100 Gloucester RC&W 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) mechanical low density 1957–1958 40 sets (80 cars) 1969–1988 56315 used by Fisons as a Weedkiller Vehicle until 1988 About 79 (3 in preservation)
Class 101 Metro-Cammell 1956–1960 527 sets 1957 (1)
1978–2003 		2 survived in departmental stock until 2009–2012 About 502 (9 in preservation)
Class 102 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) 106 sets
Class 103 Park Royal 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 1957 20 sets (40 cars) 1972–1983 3 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1985-1990 The rear oil lamp being placed on a Class 103 at Kingswear station. About 19 (3 in preservation)
Class 104 Birmingham RC&W 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) 1957–1959 302 cars 1980–1995 About 63
Class 105 Cravens 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 1956–1959 302 cars 1976–1988 6 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1989–1990. About 300
Class 106 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW)
Class 107 BR Derby 'Heavyweight' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 1960 26 sets (78 cars) 1973 (1)
1983–1992 		6 vehicles survived in sandite use until 1995 About 19 sets (66 cars)
Class 108 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) 1958–1961 333 cars 1964 (1)
1974 (1)
1990–1993 		About 138
Class 109 D Wickham & Co 1957–1958 5 sets 1971 4
Class 110 Birmingham RC&W 'Calder Valley' 2 × Rolls-Royce C6NFLH 180 bhp (134 kW) 1961–1962 30 sets 1963 (3)
1971–1972 (3)
1983 (3)
1986–1991 		About 28 sets (85 vehicles)
Class 111 Metro-Cammell 1957–1960 23 train sets 1989 Last unpowered car went in 2000 About 23 (50 vehicles)
Class 112 Cravens 1 × Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) 1959–1960 25 sets (50 cars) 1968–1969 All
Class 113 1 × Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) hydraulic 25 sets (50 cars)
Class 114 BR Derby 'Heavyweight' 2 × Leyland 230 bhp (172 kW) mechanical 1956–1957 (entered service 1960) 50 sets (100 cars) 1962 (1)
1965 (1)
1967 (prototype)
1970–1971 (6)
1984 (2)
1986–1992 		54904 and 55929 survived as an ATP Test Unit (ADB 977775/6) until 2004. About 48 sets (95 vehicles)
Class 115 BR Derby 'Suburban' 2 × Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) high density 1960 41 four-car sets 1991–1994 About 30 sets (149 vehicles; 3 in preservation)
Class 116 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) 1957–1961 310 cars 1961 (1)
1983 (32)
1987–1995 		2 converted to Class 130 About (304 vehicles; 5 in preservation)
Class 117 Pressed Steel 'Suburban' 1959–1961 123 cars 1993–2000 30
Class 118 Birmingham RC&W 'Suburban' 1960 15 sets (45 cars) 1994 About 14 sets (44 cars)
Class 119 Gloucester RC&W 'Cross-Country' cross country 1958 84 cars 1992–1995 About 28 sets (81 cars)
Class 120 BR Swindon 'Cross-Country' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 194 cars 1989 About 64 sets (193 cars)
Class 121 Pressed Steel 'Bubble Car' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) high density 1960–1961 26 1978 (2)
1991–2017 		Last first-generation DMU in service, 55022 still in departmental use 12 (2 in preservation)
Class 122 Gloucester RC&W 'Bubble Car' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 1959 29 1979–1995 4 survived in departmental stock until 1998–2011. 8
Class 123 BR Swindon 'Intercity' 2 × Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) intercity 1963 40 (Ten 4-car units) 1984 Buffets withdrawn in 1970 and a DMBS and DMSK withdrawn in 1977 and 1979 respectively. All
Class 124 BR Swindon 'Trans-Pennine' 2 × Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) mechanical 1960 Eight 6-car sets, plus 3 spare cars 1972 (3)
1975
1979–1984
Class 125 BR Derby 'Lea Valley' 2 × Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) hydraulic high density 1958 20 three-car sets 1971 (1)
1976–1977 		59458/66 survived as fire test vehicles 975993/4 until 1986–1988.
Class 126 BR Swindon 'Intercity' 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) mechanical intercity 1959 22 1970 (1)
1973 (3)
1979–1982 		About 21 (62 cars; 3 in preservation)
Class 127 BR Derby 'Bed-Pan' 2 × Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) hydraulic high density 1959 30 sets (120 vehicles) 1964 (1)
1966 (1)
1968 (1)
1972 (1)
1975–1977 (8)
1982–1993 		22 rebuilt in 1985 About 27 vehicles (112 vehicles; 3 in preservation)
Class 128 Gloucester RC&W 'Parcels' 2 × Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) mechanical parcels 1959–1960 10 1971 (1)
1979–1980 (2)
1982 (2)
1990 		All
Class 129 Cravens 'Parcels' 2 × Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) 1955 (entered service 1958) 3 1972–1973 M55997 survived in departmental stock until 1986
Class 130 Parcels conversion from Class 116 1957–1961
(converted 1969) 		2 1972 Parcels conversion from Class 116
Class 131 Parcels conversion from Class 122 2 × AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) 1959
(converted 1966, 1969 and 1971) 		3 1976 Parcels conversion from Class 122

Second generation[edit]

Lightweight railcars[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Withdrawn Image
Class 139 Parry People Movers 2008 2 × single cars still in use

Pacers[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Withdrawn Image Scrapped
Leyland
Prototypes		 BREL-Leyland 1978-84 4 × single cars 1978-1997 None
Class 140 1980 1 × 2-car set 1981
Class 141 1984 20 × 2-car sets Britain 1997, Iran 2005 4 (2 in preservation)
Class 142 1985-87 96 × 2-car sets 2019–2021 52
Class 143 Barclay-Alexander 1985-86 25 × 2-car sets 2020 5
Class 144 BREL-Alexander 1986-87 13 × 2-car and 10 × 3-car sets 1

Sprinters[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Withdrawn Image Scrapped
Class 150
Sprinter		 BREL 1984–7 135 × 2-car and 2 × 3-car sets Still in use 1
Class 151 Metro-Cammell 1985 2 × 3-car units 1989 Both
Class 152 N/A Never built Proposed single car conversion of Class 156[1] Never built Never built
Class 153
Super Sprinter		 BREL-Leyland 1991–2 70 × single cars (Converted from Class 155) Still in use None
Class 154 BREL 1985 1 × 3 car unit converted from Class 150 Converted back to Class 150
Class 155
Super Sprinter		 BREL-Leyland 1987–8[2] 42 × 2-car sets
7 × 2-car sets still in original form		 Still in use
Class 156
Super Sprinter		 Metro-Cammell 1987–9[3] 114 × 2-car sets[3]
Class 157
Strathclyde Sprinter		 N/A Never built Proposed Strathclyde PTE Sprinter Never built Never built
Class 158
Express Sprinter		 BREL 1989–92 165 × 2-car and 17 × 3-car sets Still in use None
Class 159
South Western Turbo		 1992–3 22 × 3-car sets

Turbos[edit]

Networker[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image Scrapped
Class 165
Networker Turbo		 BREL/ABB York 1990–2 49 × 2-car and 26 × 3-car sets 1
Class 166
Networker Turbo Express		 1992–3 21 × 3-car sets None

Turbostar[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image
Class 168
Clubman		 Adtranz/Bombardier, Derby 1998–2004 9 × 3-car and 10 × 4-car sets
Class 170
Turbostar		 1998–2005 44 × 2-car and 89 × 3-car sets
Class 171
Turbostar		 Bombardier, Derby 2003–04 9 × 2-car and 6 × 4-car sets 171805 at York Uckfield
Class 172
Turbostar		 2010–11 24 × 2-car and 15 × 3-car

Coradias[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image
Class 175
Coradia 		Alstom, Washwood Heath 1999–2001 11 × 2-car and 16 × 3-car sets
Class 180
Adelante 		2000–01 13 x 5-car sets and 1 x 4-car set (180 110)

Desiro[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image
Class 185 Desiro Siemens 2005–06 51 × 3-car sets

Civity[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image
Class 195 Civity CAF 2017–20 25 × 2-car sets
33 × 3-car sets
Class 196 Civity 2019– 12 x 2-car sets
14 x 4-car sets
Class 197 Civity 2021– 51 x 2-car sets
26 x 3-car sets

Diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs)[edit]

Southern Region DEMUs[edit]

Class SR code Built Quantity (sets) Withdrawn Image Scrapped
Class 201 6S 1957-58 7 × 6-car sets 1986 About 5
Class 202 6L 9 × 6-car sets About 8 (46 cars)
Class 203 6B 1958 7 × 6-car sets 1990 5
Class 204 2H/3T 1957 4 × 3-car sets
(formed using Class 205 and 206 cars)		 1987 About 3 (19 vehicles)
Class 205 2H/3H 1957-62 4 × 2-car and 29 × 3-car sets 1992–2004 About 21
Class 206 3R 1964 6 × 3-car sets
(formed using Class 201 and 416 cars)		 1979 All
Class 207 3D 1962 19 × 3-car sets 1990–2004 About 16

Second Generation[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Withdrawn Notes Image Scrapped
Class 210 BREL, Derby 1982 1 × 3-car and 1 × 4-car set 1987 mostly scrapped, with 1 carriage preserved and 2 carriages converted to Class 455 210001 at Reading for a service to Didcot 4 carriages
Class 230
D-Train		 Metro-Cammell (original builders)
Vivarail (conversion)		 2015
(prototype)		 1 × 3-car set (prototype)
3 × 2-car
5 × 3-car		 still in use Converted from former London Underground D78 Stock[4] None
Class 231
FLIRT		 Stadler 2021-22 11 × 4-car sets still in use
Class 769
Flex		 BREL, York
Brush Traction (conversion)		 2017 35 × 4-car sets still in use Converted from Class 319 EMUs[5]

Voyager-style express DEMUs[edit]

Class Manufacturer Date Built Number Built Image
Class 220
Voyager		 Bombardier, Bruges, Belgium 2000-01 34 × 4-car sets
Class 221
Super Voyager		 2001-02 4 × 4-car and 40 × 5-car sets
Class 222
Meridian/Pioneer		 2003–05 4 × 4-car, 7 × 9-car and 17 × 5-car sets

High-speed trains[edit]

Class Manufacturer Information Date Built Number Built Withdrawn Image Scrapped
Class 251 Metro-Cammell Blue Pullman 1959-1960 2 × 6-car
3 × 8-car 		1973 All
Class 252 BREL Prototype HST 1972 1 × 10-car plus 2 spare coaches 1982 2 vehicles
Class 253 HST 1975–1982 58 × 9-car still in use[α] 4
Class 254 36 × 10-car
Class 255 BREL HST Challenger 2002 (planned refurbishment) 14 (planned) Never built Never built
Class 800 Hitachi Kudamatsu &
Newton Aycliffe 		Electro-diesel units designed with both pantograph for OHLE use and internal diesel powerplant for non-electrified lines 2014-2019 46 × 5-car
13 × 9-car 		still in use None
Class 802 Hitachi Kudamatsu &
Pistoia 		2017-2020 27 x 5-car
7 x 9-car
Class 805 Hitachi Newton Aycliffe TBC 13 x 5-car Not In service Yet
Class 810 33 × 5-car
  1. ^ Driving motors reclassified as Class 43 and trailers as Mark 3 hauled stock

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The all-time guide to the UK Traction Classification System Part 3: Diesel Multiple Units[usurped] - the Railway Centre
  2. ^ Class 155 Super Sprinters
  3. ^ a b Fleet Survey - 156 Super-Sprinter
  4. ^ Rail magazine, Bauer Media, Issue 766, February 2015 [page needed]
  5. ^ "Flex 319s to be Class 769s". Today's Railways (187): 73. July 2017.

External links[edit]

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