| British Rail Class 103 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A Class 103 atKingswear station in 1972. | |
| In service | 1957–1983 |
| Manufacturer | Park Royal Vehicles |
| Family name | First generation |
| Replaced | Steam locomotives and carriages |
| Number built | 20 sets (40 cars) |
| Formation | 2 car sets: DMBS-DTCL |
| Capacity | DMBS: 52 second class; DTCL: 16 first and 48 second class |
| Operators | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Weight | DMBS: 33 long tons 8 cwt (74,800 lb or 33.9 t) DTCL: 26 long tons 7 cwt (59,000 lb or 26.8 t) |
| Prime mover(s) | TwoBUT (AEC) 6-cylinder diesels |
| Power output | 150 bhp (112 kW) each engine |
| Transmission | Mechanical: 4 speedepicyclicgearbox |
| Braking system(s) | Vacuum |
| Coupling system | Screw-link couplings,British Standard gangways |
| Multiple working | ■ Blue Square |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
TheBritish RailClass 103diesel multiple units were built byPark Royal Vehicles withdiesel engines byBritish United Traction (BUT). Ordered in the first half of 1955, 20 of these sets were built by Park Royal at theCrossley Motors works inStockport of theACV Group. They consisted of apower car and adriving 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 60long tons, 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.
They were allocated new to theLondon Midland Region of British Railways, spending most of their time atChester. The first deliveries went to traffic in theLlandudno area, allocated toLlandudno 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,[1] were transferred to theWestern Region of British Railways, and worked on theKingswear Branch having been based out ofLaira Depot.[citation needed]
Due toasbestos insulation, only three Class 103 vehicles survive in preservation. 50413 and 56169 are currently being restored by theHelston Railway Diesel Group for use on the Helston branch line. 56160 is privately preserved. Three other vehicles were preserved but have since been scrapped.
| Number | Type | Location | Owner | Condition | Image | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50413 | DMBS | Helston Railway | HRDG | Non-operational, used as a buffet car |  | Restoration underway, engines being looked at[citation needed] |
| 56160 | DTCL | Bodfari,Denbighshire[2] | Private | Non-operational | Ex-Viaduct Inspection Unit | |
| 56169 | DTCL | Helston Railway | HRDG | Non-operational, used as a waiting room | .jpg) | In process of restoration, near complete[citation needed] |
| Number | Type | Location | Owner | Scrapped | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50397 | DMBS | Private | Swansea | September 2009 | |
| 50414 | DMBS | West Somerset Railway | West Somerset Railway | 1993 | .jpg) |
| 56168 | DTS |
