GNR BUT Class

The BUT Class was a fleet of diesel-powered railcars operated by the Great Northern Railway Board and its successors between 1957 and 1980. They were an evolution of the earlier AEC railcars, which had entered service in 1951.

GNR BUT Class
A BUT railcar operating for NIR at Lisburn in 1974
In service1957–1980
ManufacturerBritish United Traction
Dundalk Works
Park Royal Vehicles
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1956–1957
Scrapped1972–1980
Number built24 power cars
Number scrappedAll
SuccessorUTA 70 Class
Formation3–8 cars (maximum 4 power cars)
Fleet numbers701–716 (double-ended vehicles); 901–908 (single-ended vehicles)
Vehicles inherited by the UTA renumbered as follows:
121–129 (double-ended vehicles); 131–135 (single-ended vehicles)
Capacity56 seats per power car
Operator(s)Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
Ulster Transport Authority
Northern Ireland Railways
Córas Iompair Éireann
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel on timber framing
Car length65 feet (20 m)
Width9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m)
Height12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m)
Weight38.25 long tons (38.86 t) (single power car)
Prime mover(s)Two BUT A230 in each power car
TransmissionMechanical; five-speed preselector gearbox
HVACSteam heating
UIC classification1A′A1′
Braking system(s)Vacuum
Coupling systemScrew
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
See Rail gauge in Ireland

History

Great Northern Railway Board

In 1953 the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) was jointly nationalised by the governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The new Great Northern Railway Board (GNRB) aimed for complete dieselisation of passenger services, and so began planning for a new fleet of diesel railcars, following on from the twenty AEC railcars built in 1950 and 1951.

An order for twenty-four was placed in 1954 with British United Traction (BUT). Unassembled bodies (designed by Park Royal), underframes and mechanical parts were shipped to the GNRB's workshops in Dundalk in the summer of 1956, where final assembly took place. The first BUT railcar was completed in April 1957, and by June enough had been built for them to enter service, replacing the Belfast-based Enterprise set. As more railcars were turned out, one was used alongside a brake/first carriage to launch a morning express service between Enniskillen and Belfast via Omagh. This service was short-lived, however, as all railway services in County Fermanagh were withdrawn in September 1957. By December of that year, the BUTs were sufficient in number to take over the Dublin-based Enterprise set, as well as commence work on the "Derry Road" line between Portadown and Derry.

Upon the dissolution of the GNRB in 1958, fourteen of the BUTs passed to the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA), and the other ten to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ).

Ulster Transport Authority and Northern Ireland Railways

Railcar 132 at Lisburn station on 30 March 1974.

The BUTs inherited by the UTA continued to be used on the Enterprise and "Derry Road" services, before the latter service was withdrawn in 1965. In 1967, the UTA was split into road and rail operations, the latter becoming Northern Ireland Railways (NIR). The BUTs were displaced from the Enterprise service in the late 1960s by the new 70 Class diesel multiple units, after which they were used on local services between Belfast and Portadown. They were gradually withdrawn during the 1970s, although nine vehicles continued in use until 1980 after being converted to hauled stock. Following withdrawal, NIR discovered that the BUTs contained asbestos, so along with other stock they were disposed of at Crosshill quarry near Crumlin, County Antrim.

Córas Iompair Éireann

The BUTs inherited by CIÉ were eventually relegated to suburban services from Dublin to Howth and Dundalk. All had been withdrawn by the mid-1970s, and were scrapped at Mullingar.

Fleet details

The twenty-four railcars came in two varieties. Eight were built with a full-width cab at one end, similar to those on the earlier AEC railcars, and accommodation for 12 first-class and 44 second-class passengers. These were numbered 901–908. The other sixteen were built with a half-cab at each end to the left of the corridor connection, and accommodation for 56 second-class passengers, although they had no guard's or luggage compartment. These were numbered 701–716.

All the railcars were 65 feet (19.8 m) long and 9+12 feet (2.9 m) wide, and weighed 38+14 long tons (38.9 t). Each was powered by two underfloor, vertically-mounted BUT A230 engines, which were capable of 150 bhp. They entered service in the GNRB's railcar livery of blue and cream.

Up to four railcars could be used in one train, with two double-ended vehicles marshalled as intermediates. However, compatibility with the earlier AEC railcars and regular coaching stock was hindered by the fact that they utilised an unusual type of corridor connection.

Following the dissolution of the GNRB, the vehicles inherited by CIÉ were repainted into green, and subsequently into black and tan in 1961. These retained their GNRB numbers, with the addition of an 'n' suffix. The vehicles inherited by the UTA were renumbered, the double-ended vehicles becoming 121–129 and the single-ended vehicles 131–135; all of these had been repainted into Brunswick green, complete with yellow and black "wasp stripes", by 1963. After passing to NIR they were repainted once again, this time into maroon and grey, but retained their UTA numbers.

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