2A02:C7F:E5DB:A400:4097:1E38:53C:B002: /* Preservation */

2023-02-18T13:23:44Z

Preservation

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{No footnotes|date=October 2009}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #0033cc;color:white
| name = British Rail Class 103
| image = Rear oil lamp being placed on a Class 103 at Kingswear station (1972).jpg
| imagealt =
| imagesize = 240px
| caption = A Class 103 at [[Kingswear railway station|Kingswear station]] in 1972.
| interiorimage =
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption =
| service = 1957–1983
| manufacturer = [[Park Royal Vehicles]]
| factory =
| family = [[List of British Rail diesel multiple unit classes#First generation|First generation]]
| replaced = Steam locomotives and carriages

| yearconstruction =
| yearservice =
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction=
| numberbuilt = 20 sets (40 cars)
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped =
| formation = 2 car sets: DMBS-DTCL
| fleetnumbers =
| capacity = {{abbr|DMBS|Driving Motor Brake Second}}: 52 second class; {{abbr|DTCL|Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory}}: 16 first and 48 second class
| operator = [[British Rail]]
| depots =
| lines =
| carbody =
| trainlength =
| carlength = {{convert|57|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|9|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| height =
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| art-sections =
| doors =
| maxspeed = {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| weight = DMBS: {{long ton|33|8}} DTCL: {{long ton|26|7}}
| acceleration =
| deceleration =
| traction =
| engine = Two [[British United Traction|BUT]] ([[Associated Equipment Company|AEC]]) 6-cylinder diesels
| poweroutput = {{convert|150|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} each engine
| transmission = Mechanical: 4 speed [[Epicyclic gearing|epicyclic]] [[gearbox]]
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| electricsystem =
| collectionmethod =
| uicclass =
| aarwheels =
| bogies =
| brakes = [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]]
| safety =
| coupling = [[Railway coupling#Buffers and chain|Screw-link couplings]], [[Corridor connection|British Standard gangways]]
| multipleworking = ■ Blue Square
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg}}
}}
The [[British Rail]] '''Class 103''' [[diesel multiple unit]]s were built by [[Park Royal Vehicles]] with [[diesel engine]]s by [[British United Traction]] (BUT). Ordered in the first half of 1955, 20 of these sets were built by Park Royal at the [[Crossley Motors]] works in [[Stockport]] of the [[Associated Commercial Vehicles|ACV Group]]. They consisted of a [[power car]] and a [[driving trailer]]. Standard BUT equipment was fitted, with 'A' type engines.

A two-car set with 16 first class and 100 second class seats weighed just under 60 [[long ton]]s, representing 1,150 lb (520 kg) a seat and had 5 hp per ton of empty weight or 4.35 hp per ton when full.

==Orders==
{| class="wikitable"
! Lot No. !! Car type !! Quantity !! Fleet numbers !! Notes
|-
| 30286 || Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) || 20 || 50395–50414 ||
|-
| 30287 || Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) || 20 || 56150–56169 ||
|-
|}

==Operations==
They were allocated new to the [[London Midland Region of British Railways]], spending most of their time at [[Chester]]. The first deliveries went to traffic in the [[Llandudno]] area, allocated to [[Llandudno Junction]] in early 1958. This is believed to be an indirect consequence of unit shortages as a result of bogie problems with the BRCW units [Trains Illustrated 1958]. By the end of the same year they were all allocated to Ryecroft for the routes radiating from Walsall. These services were dieselised on 17 November that year [Trains Illustrated Jan 1959 p53]. The last four sets, including W50413 and W56169 the surviving full set,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.helstonrailway.co.uk/about/rolling-stock/#dmu |title=Rolling Stock| accessdate=27 December 2017}}</ref> were transferred to the [[Western Region of British Railways]], and worked on the [[Dartmouth Steam Railway|Kingswear Branch]] having been based out of [[Laira Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Laira Depot]]. Although considered non-standard, owing to their bodywork construction, their use of standard [[British United Traction|BUT]] equipment and [[Multiple working|blue square coupling code]] allowed them to operate with other classes.

They spent some time in the [[Watford]] area, working the [[St Albans]] and [[Belmont railway station, Harrow|Belmont]] branches after the demise of the ACV/BUT "[[flying brick]]" railcars. Three units were transferred for this service in December 1958, according to Trains Illustrated [Feb 1959 p110].

==Accidents and incidents==
On 8 May 1972 an oil train 'ran away' and crashed in [[Chester railway station|Chester General station]]. M50407 and M56154 were in an adjacent platform and damaged beyond repair.

==Liveries==
They were delivered in [[Brunswick green]] with cream lining, red bufferbeam and pale grey roof. The first sets were delivered without "speed whiskers" (a decorative device on the front). Plain blue with yellow ends was later applied, initially with just a small yellow panel.

==Decline==
The bodywork became troublesome in service, seeing many withdrawn early. By the end of 1972 there were only 12 power and 14 trailers left in service. The last power car was withdrawn in December 1982, and the last trailer in February 1983.

==Preservation==
Due to [[asbestos]] insulation, only three Class 103 vehicles survive in preservation. 50413 and 56169 are currently being restored by the [[Helston Railway Diesel Group]] for use on the Helston branch line. 56160 is privately preserved. Three other vehicles were preserved but have since been scrapped.
{| class="wikitable"
!align=center |Number
!align=center|Type
!align=center|Location
!align=left|Owner
!align=left|Condition
!align=left|Image
!align=left|Comments
|-
|50413
|DMBS
|[[Helston Railway Preservation Company|Helston Railway]]
|[[Helston Railway Diesel Group|HRDG]]
|Non-operational, used as a buffet car
|[[File:Class 103 @ Helston Railway.jpg|Numbers W50413 and W56169 sit at the Helston Railway's Prospidnick Halt.|100px]]
|Restoration underway, engines being looked at
|-
|56160
|DTCL
|[[Bodfari]], [[Denbighshire]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Preserved Railway Stocklist - Record Display|url=http://www.ukprsl.uk/final-results.asp?action=display&Id=16967|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.ukprsl.uk}}</ref>
|Private
|Non-operational
|
|Ex-Viaduct Inspection Unit
|-
|56169
|DTCL
|Helston Railway
|HRDG
|Non-operational, used as a waiting room
|[[File:Train (4523892040).jpg|100px]]
|In process of restoration, near complete
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Preserved and later scrapped
!align=center|Number
!align=center|Type
!align=center|Location
!align=left|Owner
!align=left|Scrapped
!align=left|Image
|-
|50397
|DMBS
|Private
|Swansea
|September 2009
|
|-
|50414
|DMBS
|rowspan=2|[[West Somerset Railway]]
|rowspan=2|West Somerset Railway
|rowspan=2|1993
|rowspan=2|[[File:Class 103 Park Royal DMU, WSR Minehead, December 1980 Slides275 (9972219346).jpg|100px]]
|-
|56168
|DTS
|-
|}

==References==
<references />
*{{cite book |last1=Fox |first1=Peter |last2=Webster |first2=Neil |title=Multiple Unit Pocket Book |date=July 1982 |location=Sheffield |publisher=Platform 5 Publications |page=9 |isbn=0-906579-26-0}}
*{{cite book |title=A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units |first=Brian |last=Golding}}
*{{cite book |title=British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units—The First Generation |first=Brian |last=Haresnape}}
*{{cite book |title=Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs |first=Colin J. |last=Marsden}}
*{{cite book |title=British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs |first=Kevin |last=Robertson}}
*{{cite book |title=The ABC of British Railways Locomotives combined volume |year=1959 |edition=1990s reprint |location=Shepperton, Surrey |publisher=Ian Allan Limited |isbn=0-7110-0726-8}}

==External links==
{{commons category|British Rail Class 103}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080706042110/http://www.railcar.co.uk/his100-109/103intro.htm The Railcar Association]
 
{{British Rail DMU}}

[[Category:British Rail diesel multiple units|103]]
[[Category:Park Royal Vehicles multiple units]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1957]]

British Rail Class 103 - Revision history

2A02:C7F:E5DB:A400:4097:1E38:53C:B002: /* Preservation */