View source for Driving Brake Standard Open

{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{short description|British railway control car}}
{{Infobox train
| name           = British Rail DBSO
| background     = #00008b;color:white
| image          = DBSO 9701 at Colchester.JPG
| imagesize      = 300px
| caption        = [[Anglia Railways]]' DBSO 9701, at [[Colchester railway station|Colchester station]] in June 2003
| service        = 1979–present
| manufacturer   = {{ubl|Originally: [[British Rail Engineering Limited|BREL]], [[Derby Litchurch Lane Works|Derby]]|Rebuilt: BREL, [[Glasgow]]}}
| family         = [[British Rail Mark 2]]
| operator       = {{ubl|[[Locomotive Services Limited]]|[[Network Rail]]|}}
| numberbuilt    = 14 rebuilt
| numberpreserved= 3
| numberscrapped = 2
| fleetnumbers   = 9701–9714
| lines          = 
| carlength      = {{Convert|66|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} 
| width          = {{Convert|9|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| height         = {{Convert|12|ft|9+1/2|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{Convert|33|LT|t ST|1}}
| capacity       = 
| maxspeed       = {{Convert|100|mph|abbr=on}} 
| brakes         = [[Railway air brake|Air]]
| gauge          = {{RailGauge|1435 mm}}
}}

[[File:DBSO 9710 at Norwich.JPG|thumb|[[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] liveried DBSO 9710, at [[Norwich railway station|Norwich station]] in January 2004]]
[[File:Rail-DBSO-9710-amoswolfe.jpg|thumb|'[[National Express East Anglia|ONE]]' liveried DBSO 9710, at [[Norwich railway station|Norwich station]] in April 2004]]
[[File:NIRailwaysDBSO.jpg|thumb|DBSO 9712, following conversion for use by [[NI Railways]] as 8918]]

A '''Driving Brake Standard Open''' ('''DBSO''') is a type of [[railway carriage]] in the [[United Kingdom]], converted to operate as a [[Control car (rail)|control car]]; this is not to be confused with [[Driving Van Trailer|DVTs]], such as those in [[InterCity 225]] sets. Fourteen such vehicles, numbered 9701 to 9714, were converted from [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2F]] [[Brake Standard Open]] (standard class coaches with [[brake van]]) carriages. Modifications included adding a driving cab and [[Time-division multiplex|TDM]] equipment to allow a [[locomotive]] to be driven remotely. Using a system known as [[Push–pull train|push–pull]], the driver in the DBSO can drive the locomotive, even though it is at the opposite end of the train.

==Operations==
The vehicles were converted in two batches. Numbers 9701–9710 were converted in 1979 for use on the newly introduced [[Glasgow Queen Street railway station|Glasgow]]–[[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]] [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity ScotRail]] [[Push–pull train|push–pull]] service with specially modified [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47/7]] locomotives. A further four, 9711–9714, were converted in 1985/86. The fourteenth was a replacement for no. 9706, which was [[derailment|derailed]] and damaged beyond repair in the [[Polmont rail crash]] after it hit a cow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report on the Detailment that occurred on 30th July 1984 near Polmont |author= |website=railwaysarchive.co.uk |date=7 February 1985 |url= https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Polmont1984.pdf |language= |quote=}}</ref>

When first introduced, the DBSO fleet had half-cabs and retained their end gangways. They were later rebuilt to have full-width cabs, with the removal of the end gangways.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

In the late 1980s, with the introduction of [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] [[diesel multiple unit]]s on the Glasgow–Edinburgh corridor, the DBSO fleet was transferred en-masse, and converted to use the TDM system used by the AC electric locomotives used on the [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]] to [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]] services on the newly electrified [[Great Eastern Main Line]]. The [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2E/2F]] coaching stock used on the route was based at [[Crown Point TMD]] and rakes were marshalled into semi-permanent formations (numbered AR01–AR13). Traction was provided by [[British Rail Class 86|Class 86/2]] [[electric locomotive]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traintesting.com/DBSO.htm |title=Norwich to Liverpool St push–pull |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322183911/http://www.traintesting.com/DBSO.htm |archive-date=22 March 2012 }}</ref>

As part of the [[privatisation of British Rail]], the London–Norwich route became part of the [[Anglia Railways]] franchise. From 1997 onwards, a new livery of turquoise with a white stripe was introduced onto all Anglia stock. However, rake AR01, containing DBSO 9710 retained its old [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] livery. On the Anglia services they were originally attached to the first class coaches but this was changed and they were attached to the standard class coaches as the seating in the DBSO was standard class. 

In April 2004, the Anglia franchise became part of the new [[National Express East Anglia|One]] franchise. The thirteen surviving DBSOs were still in service, although they were gradually replaced by [[Driving Van Trailer]]s (cascaded from [[Virgin Trains West Coast|Virgin Trains]]). One DBSO, no. 9710, had the new one Anglia livery applied by means of adhesive vinyls, whilst retaining the InterCity livery underneath.

However, many of the new Mark 3 sets being received by Anglia were not originally accompanied by DVTs. For this reason a small number of DBSOs were retained until enough DVTs had been received. The last DBSOs were withdrawn from mainline service in December 2006. DBSO 9713 was preserved for further use on the [[Mid-Norfolk Railway]], although this was later sold to Direct Rail Services and scrapped following component recovery.

[[File:DBSO 9708 Network Rail 18-11-18.jpg|thumb|Network Rail DBSO 9708 at Stafford station on a test train 18 November 2018]]
In February 2007, [[Network Rail]] took delivery of five DBSOs, nos. 9701, 9702, 9703, 9708 and 9714. These have been converted to allow test-trains to run in push–pull mode, therefore eliminating the need to operate two locomotives (one at each end of the train).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traintesting.com/images/9703%20DBSO.jpg |title=Image of Network Rail DBSO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324073745/http://www.traintesting.com/images/9703%20DBSO.jpg |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> Three of these (9701, 9708 and 9714) were subsequently fitted with a 60 kVA diesel generator to provide power for onboard systems while in operation.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Network Rail buys four DBSOs |magazine=[[Today's Railways UK]] |issue=64 |date=April 2007 |page=70}}</ref>

Ex Anglia MK2 driving trailer 9712 was sold to [[Northern Ireland Railways]] for use on the [[British Rail Class 488|ex Gatwick set]] to convert it to [[push–pull train|push–pull operation]] using [[CIE 071 Class|111 class]] locomotives. It is registered as 8918 on NIR.  The vehicle was delivered to Belfast on 26 June 2009, almost 14 months late on its contracted delivery date. The ex-Gatwick coaches were stopped on 19 June (before it was delivered) and have now been withdrawn.

In 2015, three were purchased by [[Direct Rail Services]] from [[British American Railway Services]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Direct Rail Services purchase trio of Mk2 DBSOs |magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue=771 |date=April 2015 |page=31}}</ref> These were overhauled and in July 2015 entered service on [[Northern Rail]] [[Cumbrian Coast Line]] services.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Cumbrian top and tail 37s phased out |magazine=Rail |issue=780 |date=5 August 2015 |page=22}}</ref>

In September 2017, DBSO 9711 was acquired by Crewe Diesel Preservation Group for preservation alongside [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47/7]] locomotive 47712 and moved to Crewe Heritage Centre.

In 2022, Direct Rail Services offered their five DBSO vehicles for sale. [[Locomotive Services Limited]] acquired 9704 and 9707, Eastern Rail Services acquired 9709, 9710 and 9705.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Locomotive Services Acquires DBSOs |magazine=[[Rail Express]] |issue=312 |date=May 2022 |page=31}}</ref>

On 18 October 2022, Locomotive Services Group revealed that 9707 had been repainted back into its 1980s ScotRail livery; it is expected that it will operate its first charter train in early 2023, as part of a six-coach set, with 47712 ''Lady Diana Spencer''.<ref name="locomotive-services">{{Cite web |title=ScotRail DBSO is final piece in 'Push Pull' set for Crewe based Class 47 locomotive |last=Holden |first=Michael |work=RailAdvent |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 |url= https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/10/scotrail-dbso-is-final-piece-in-push-pull-set-for-crewe-based-class-47-locomotive.html}}</ref>

==Fleet details==
Full details of the DBSO fleet are given below:
{| class="wikitable"
!Key:
|In Service
|bgcolor=#ffc0cb|Stored
| bgcolor="#87cefa" |Preserved
|bgcolor=#cecece|Scrapped
|}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Numbers
!rowspan=2|Built
!rowspan=2|Converted
!rowspan=2|Current Livery
!rowspan=2|Operator
!rowspan=2|Withdrawn
!rowspan=2|Status
|-
!width=45|DBSO
!width=45|BSO
|-
|align=center|9701
|align=center|9528
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|NR Yellow
|[[Network Rail]]
|align=center|Operational
|In service with Network Rail
|-
|align=center|9702
|align=center|9510
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|NR Yellow
|Network Rail
|align=center|Operational
|In service with Network Rail
|-
|align=center|9703
|align=center|9517
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|NR Yellow
|Network Rail
|align=center|Operational
|In service with Network Rail 
|-bgcolor=#ffc0cb
|align=center|9704
|align=center|9512
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|DRS Compass
|[[Locomotive Services Limited]]
|align=center|Stored
|
|-bgcolor=#ffc0cb
|align=center|9705
|align=center|9519
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|DRS Compass
|Eastern Rail Services Limited
|align=center|Stored
|
|- bgcolor="#cecece"
|align=center|9706
|align=center|9514
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|
|
|align=center|11/1984
|Scrapped following [[Polmont rail accident]]
|-bgcolor=#87cefa
|align=center|9707
|align=center|9511
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|ScotRail
|[[Locomotive Services Limited]]
|align=center|Preserved
|Used for railtours to Scotland with 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' <ref name="locomotive-services" />
|-
|align=center|9708
|align=center|9530
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|NR Yellow
|Network Rail
|Operational
|In service with Network Rail
|-bgcolor=#ffc0cb
|align=center|9709
|align=center|9515
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|DRS Compass
|Eastern Rail Services Limited
|align=center|Stored
|
|-bgcolor=#ffc0cb
|align=center|9710
|align=center|9518
|1974 Derby
|1979 Glasgow
|DRS Compass
|Eastern Rail Services Limited
|align=center|Stored
|
|- bgcolor="#87cefa"
|align=center|9711
| align=center|9532
|1974 Derby
|1985 Glasgow
|Anglia Railways
|Crewe Diesel Preservation Group
|align=center|12/2006
|Moved to [[Crewe Heritage Centre]] for restoration
|- bgcolor="#87cefa"
|align=center|9712
|align=center|9534
|1974 Derby
|1985 Glasgow
|Translink Gatwick
|[[Downpatrick and County Down Railway]]
|align=center|04/2006
|[[Barrier vehicle]] at Downpatrick ''(now 8918)''
|- bgcolor="#cecece"
|align=center|9713
|align=center|9535
|1974 Derby
|1985 Glasgow
|
|
|align=center|10/2016
|Scrapped at [[CF Booth]], Rotherham
|-bgcolor=
|align=center|9714
|align=center|9536
|1974 Derby
|1986 Glasgow
|NR Yellow
|Network Rail
|align=center|Operational
|In service with Network Rail
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|British Rail Mk2 DBSO coaches}}

{{British Rail Coaches|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:British Rail coaching stock]]
[[Category:BREL products]]