The Class 156 was the largest class of "Super Sprinter" built for the Regional Railways arm of British Rail in the late 1980s. The units replaced first generation DMUs and loco hauled trains. The Class 156 has a low-density layout [1] designed for outer suburban and regional routes, it is similar to the Class 153 and 155 DMUs with much of the same equipment used [2].
EMR 156 413 approaches Sileby
Information
Number built:
228 (114 2-car sets)
Built:
1987-89
Builder:
Metro Cammell
Engine:
Cummins NT855R5 diesel per car
Power:
520 hp (426 kW)
Formation:
Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)+Driving Motor Standard (DMS)
They are currently operated by East Midlands Railway, ScotRail and Northern. They have also been operated by a number of earlier companies including Greater Anglia, Central Trains and originally British Rail of course. They are among the most reliable trains in service today.
British Rail considered converting some Class 156s to single-car DMUs as the Class 152 for branch lines but in the end Class 155s were converted instead to form the Class 153.
EMR 156 406 at Sileby
EMR 156 917 at Derby
EMR 156 413 at Belper
EMR 156 414 at Derby
EMR 156 497 at Longport
[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 138 [2] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Multiple Units: The Second Generation & DEMUs (Ian Allan, 1986) p. 79
