British Rail Derby Lightweight

The British Rail Derby Lightweight diesel multiple units, were the first such trains to be built en-masse for British Railways. The units were built at BR's Derby Works from 1954 to 1955. The units were built in various formations, including 12 power-twin 2-car units, 84 power-trailer 2-car units, and four 4-car units. The two single car units were originally built as a two-car unit and then split two years later when demand came about.

British Rail Derby Lightweight
Derby Lightweight power car no. 79018 at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway
The refurbished seating in the 2nd class saloons of the Trailer Car 79612 - 2021
In service1954-1969
ManufacturerBR Derby Works
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1954-1959
Number built217 vehicles
Number preserved2 sets
Formation1, 2 & 4 car formations
Capacity16 1st + 53 3rd class (motor composite), 61 3rd class (motor third brake)
Operator(s)British Rail
Specifications
Car length57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Doors2 on each side
Maximum speed62 mph (100 km/h)
Weight27 tonnes (26.6 long tons; 29.8 short tons) power car
Prime mover(s)Two BUT
Power output(AEC) 125 bhp (93 kW) except BUT (AEC) 150 bhp (110 kW) for single units
Multiple working Yellow Diamond
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Derby Lightweight trailer no. 975008 (79612) outside EVR maintenance shed, Wirksworth, 2021. This vehicle has been restored to original condition, and will be able to enter traffic after cab wiring has been completed and its power car, after standing idle for 19 years, has been refurbished to run with it. The twin unit is preserved at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway - Wirksworth.

Body framing was extruded and riveted together. Panelling was welded into continuous sheets and riveted to the frame. Luggage racks were light alloy. The floors had 2 layers of flameproof hardboard, covered with linoleum. To reduce noise and condensation, the inside structure and undersides were sprayed with asbestos. Lighting was by 60-watt, 24-volt lamps charged by belt driven dynamos. Heating was oil fired. Standard mild steel bogies ran on Timken roller bearings.[1]

Contemporaneous with these units was the unique Battery Electric Multiple Unit.

Operations

The first units were introduced on services around the West Riding of Yorkshire, namely Leeds to Bradford and Harrogate services from 14 June 1954.[2] Subsequent units were introduced onto services in West Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Newcastle to Middlesbrough, Edinburgh to Glasgow[3] and, later, Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield, Bletchley to Buckingham and Banbury, and East London lines services. They were also the last units to run on the Anglesey Central Railway which closed to public traffic in 1964.

These units were an outstanding success, helping to reduce the operating costs of branchlines. Initially they also attracted many more passengers. Between February and October 1956 on the London Midland, they carried 800,000 more passengers than steam in the same period of 1955. The largest increase was 434% (4,772 passengers) on the Buckingham-Banbury line (from 13 August), followed by Birmingham-Lichfield 178% (from 5 March), Bury-Bacup 152% (from 6 February), Llandudno-Blaenau Ffestiniog 39% (from 5 March) and Manchester-Buxton 38% (from 8 October).[4] As such, British Railways ordered many more DMU vehicles from various builders over the next decade, thus helping to eliminate steam locomotives. However, as these units were non-standard compared to other later DMU vehicles, they were subject to early retirement. The last units were withdrawn from normal traffic in 1969.

Table of orders and numbers
Lot No.TypeDiagramQtyFleet numbersNotes
30084Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5018E79000–79007ER Power Twin sets
30085Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL)5078E79500–79507ER Power Twin sets
30123Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)50313M79008–79020LMR Power-Trailer sets
30124Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)50913M79600–79612LMR Power-Trailer sets
30126Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)50413M79021–79033LMR Power-Trailer sets
30127Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)50513M79613–79625LMR Power-Trailer sets
30177Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)50413M79034–79046LMR Power-Trailer sets
30178Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)50513M79250–79262LMR Power-Trailer sets
30192Driving Motor Composite (DMC)5025E79508–79512ER 4-car sets
30193Driving Motor Second (DMS)5085E79150–79154ER 4-car sets
30194Trailer Brake Second with lavatory (TBSL)5175E79325–79329ER 4-car sets
30195Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL)5185E79400–79404ER 4-car sets
30201Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)6337M79143–79149LMR Power-Trailer sets
30202Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)6427M79663–79669LMR Power-Trailer sets
30235Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)6339M79118–79126LMR Power-Trailer sets
30236Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)5099M79639–79647LMR Power-Trailer sets
30240Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)63310M79127–79136LMR Power-Trailer sets
30241Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)50910M79648–79657LMR Power-Trailer sets
30240Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5274E79137–79140ER Power-Trailer sets
30241Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)6314E79658–79661ER Power-Trailer sets
30246Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)6332M79141–79142LMR Power-Trailer sets
30247Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)6421M79662LMR Power-Trailer sets
30321Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)63313M79169–79181LMR Power-Trailer sets
30322Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)51115M79670–79684LMR Power-Trailer sets
30324Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)6335M79184–79188LMR Power Twin sets
30325Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL)5095M79189–79193LMR Power Twin sets
30380Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5141M79900Single car unit; 61 seats
30387Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5151M79901Single car unit; 52 seats

Formations

Four different sorts of formation were created from the 217 cars built of this type, as follows:

Power Twins

QtyDMBS + DMCLDMBS + DMCL
879000 + 79500to79007 + 79507
579184 + 79189to79188 + 79193

Power Trailers

QtyDMBS + DTCLDMBS + DTCL
2679008 + 79600to79033 + 79625
1379034 + 79250to79046 + 79262
2479118 + 79639to79141 + 79662
179142 + 79684
779143 + 79663to79149 + 79669
1379169 + 79670to79181 + 79682

Four Car Units

DMSTBSLTSLDMC
79150793257940079508
79151793267940179509
79152793277940279510
79153793287940379511
79154793297940479512

Single Car Units

DMBS
79900
79901

79683 was left over as a spare DTCL, and took the place of 79649 in 1957, when this was converted into a special saloon on diagram 565. It was later renumbered 999510 in the departmental saloon series and was eventually scrapped in 1981.

In 1962 three of the power twin units were converted to power trailer units, when 79191–79193 were rebuilt as DTCL vehicles and renumbered 79633–79635.

Powertrain

Power Twins 79000+79500 to 79007+79507

Remainder of the fleet

  • Engine: Two BUT (AEC) 150 bhp
  • Transmission: Mechanical
  • Coupling code: Yellow diamond

Departmental Use

A number of cars from these units were subsequently transferred to departmental (non-revenue earning) use after withdrawal from normal service:

  • 79018 + 79612 were rebuilt as an ultrasonic test train based at Reading, numbered 975007 + 975008. Replaced by unit 901001.
  • 79900 was rebuilt as test coach "Iris", based at Bletchley, numbered 975010. Later transferred to the BR Research Division at the Railway Technical Centre at Derby, for its last few years in traffic, it was repainted into original BR Green livery. Replaced by unit 901002.
  • 79185 was taken into departmental use for brake trials, numbered 975012. It was scrapped in 1970.
  • 79250 and 79252 were taken into departmental use as staff messrooms, numbered 975013 and 975014. They were scrapped in 1978 and 1982 respectively.
  • 79649, the inspection saloon mentioned above, took its place in the departmental series as 999510.

Preservation

Derby Lightweight single car unit no. 79900 fully restored to passenger carrying standard again after being former test car Iris. The unit now resides on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway running regular passenger diagrams.

Thanks to their extended life in departmental service, one 2-car unit and a single car unit survive in preservation on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the former following a high-profile campaign.

Vehicle Nos. Location Comments In Service Departmental Nos.
DMBS DTC DMBS DTC
79018 79612 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Used as ultrasonic test train. Part Restored/Not In Service 975007 975008
79900 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Used as test coach "Iris". Regularly in Passenger Service 975010

See also

  • British Rail BEMU – a power-trailer two car EMU based on the Derby Lightweight DMU design.

References

  1. Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (July 1954). "Lightweight Diesel Trains for British Railways". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 100, no. 639. Westminster: Tothill Press. p. 461.
  2. Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (June 1954). "B.R. Lightweight Diesel Trains". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 100, no. 638. Westminster: Tothill Press. p. 369.
  3. Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (July 1954). "Lightweight Diesel Trains for British Railways". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 100, no. 639. Westminster: Tothill Press. p. 458.
  4. Railway Magazine February 1957 p. 74

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