British Rail Metro-Cammell
Encyclopedia
In 1955, Metropolitan Cammell produced its first lightweight Diesel multiple unit
s, the prototypes of what were to become British Rail
's most successful and longest-lived First Generation DMU type, the Class 101
.
They proved to be very successful, but with line closures continuing through the 1960s, including many in East Anglia where the type was first used, their non-standard coupling arrangements left them prone to early withdrawal, which took place during 1967-69.
All were scrapped following withdrawal, except two (79047 + 79053), which were taken into departmental (non-revenue earning) service as 975018 + 975019. They were used at the Railway Technical Centre
in Derby
as Laboratory 21: Plasma Torch Research
. When this extended life was complete, they too were scrapped, in 1981.
DMBS + DTSL: 79047 + 79263 through 79075 + 79291
DMBS + DTCL: 79076 + 79626 through 79082 + 79632
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s, the prototypes of what were to become British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
's most successful and longest-lived First Generation DMU type, the Class 101
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
.
Operations
The seven London Midland Region sets (formed DMBS + DTCL) were used on the Bury-Bacup line services, while the other sets were all allocated to the Eastern Region. These sets were used on a variety of lines in East Anglia as well as the (then) non-electrified lines in Essex (Romford-Upminster and Wickford-Southminster branches).They proved to be very successful, but with line closures continuing through the 1960s, including many in East Anglia where the type was first used, their non-standard coupling arrangements left them prone to early withdrawal, which took place during 1967-69.
All were scrapped following withdrawal, except two (79047 + 79053), which were taken into departmental (non-revenue earning) service as 975018 + 975019. They were used at the Railway Technical Centre
Railway Technical Centre
The Railway Technical Centre in London Road, Derby, UK, was built by the British Railways Board in the early 1960s to be its technical headquarters....
in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
as Laboratory 21: Plasma Torch Research
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
. When this extended life was complete, they too were scrapped, in 1981.
Formations
Two different formations were used:DMBS + DTSL: 79047 + 79263 through 79075 + 79291
DMBS + DTCL: 79076 + 79626 through 79082 + 79632