Class 487 Waterloo & City Stock

The Class 487 electric multiple unit spent the entirely of it's revenue earning service running underground. They were operated on the Waterloo & City Line, which nowadays is part of London Underground but originally was a separate line to the majority of London's subterranean railways and owned by a succession of mainline railway companies until nationalisation and British Rail. In 1994 the line was transferred to London Underground to become an Underground line proper.

At LT Museum Acton in restored NSE livery

Information
Number built:	28 cars (12 DMBSO driving cars and 16 TSO trailers)
Built:	1940
Builder:	English Electric Dick Kerr works
Engine:	2 English Electric EE500 traction motors (660v DC third rail)
Power:	380 hp (283 kW) per driving car
Formation:	(Variable) Driving Motor Brake Standard Open (DMBSO)+ Trailer Standard Open (TSO)+DMBSO

Designed by O.V.S. Bulleid, the Class 487s (originally TOPS classified Class 453) were built for the Southern Railway during World War 2 and entered service from 1940 [1]. The units consisted of driving motor cars (with cabs at both ends - and hence could operate singly) and trailers. In off-peak periods the Waterloo & City Line trains often ran with just a pair of motor cars until the 1960s when this was thought to be unsafe due to the excess of power [2]). In peak times up to three trailers could be marshalled between two motor cars.

The Class 487 remained in service until being replaced by the Class 482 in 1993 seeing out it's final days in Network South East livery. Before that, the units wore Southern Railway green and BR Blue (though uniquely without yellow ends) [3]. The Class 487s operated on 660v DC third rail and spent all of it's working life on the short underground line though the units did see sunlight now and then when they needed heavy maintenance and had to be bought up to the surface. For test purposes to develop a new speedometer, one driving car was operated above ground in the late 1970s for a short period [4]. As it did not have windscreen wipers the tests had to be curtailed immediately if it rained!

One DMBSO has been saved from the scrap man and has being restored at the London Transport Museum to its final Network South East livery.

Interior

Cab view

Restored condition

A photo taken in May 2015 during the restoration

The preserved car in under coat, what a difference a livery makes!

[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 370
[2] Colin J Marsden & Christopher G Perkins (ed.) "The Waterloo & City Line", Modern Locomotives Illustrated Annual No. 2 (RailwayCentre, 2010) p.82
[3] John Glover, London Underground Rolling Stock in Colour (Ian Allan, 2009) p. 31
[4] Marsden, DMU p. 371

Class 119 (Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company Cross-Country 3-car)

The Class 119 diesel multiple unit was built for cross-country services by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to a BR Swindon and Derby influenced design, and is similar mechanically to the company's single-car Class 122. The Class 119 three-car sets included toilets, buffet facilities and first class compartments though the buffets were later removed [1].

W51073 at Duffield on the EVR

Information
Number built:	81 cars (in 27 3-car sets)
Built:	1958
Builder:	Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company
Engine:	2 BUT AEC 6-cyl later 2 Leyland 680-1595 diesels per power car
Power:	600 hp (447 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Brake Composite (DMBC)+ Trailer Brake Second (Lavatory) (TBS(L))+ Driving Motor Standard (Lavatory) (DMS(L))

The Class 119 originally worked throughout Western Region, later on working on Reading-Guildford services plus the extension through to Gatwick Airport (where extra luggage space was provided) and services around south west London. They were withdrawn in 1992.

On Southern Region the Class 119 were known as "glasshouses" by SR drivers as the large cab windows were unlike those usually found on SR allocated multiple units [2]. Three cars have been preserved including Driving Motor Brake Composite W51073 on the EVR.

Luggage area on W51073

W51073 has a first class area behind the cab

W51073 at Wirksworth

Class 119 cab

Another view of W51073 at Duffield

[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU & EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 76
[2] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Multiple Units: The First Generation (Ian Allan, 1985) p. 53

Class 03 (British Railways 204hp Diesel-Mechanical)

After purchasing a number of small fleets of privately built diesel mechanical shunters, British Railways finally decided to build a "standard" type, the resulting Class 03 ended up being very similar to the Drewry built Class 04 [1]. 

03 066 at Barrow Hill Roundhouse

Information
Number built:	230
Built:	1957-61
Builder:	BR Swindon and Doncaster
Engine:	Gardner 8L3 diesel
Power:	204 hp (152 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	0-6-0

The Class 03s served with British Rail for many years, outlasting all other shunters except for the standard diesel-electrics (Class 08/09). Although much of their work disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s, as the nature of the freight sector changed, they continued to have a role on the network in places where larger and heavier locomotives were unsuitable and the last was not withdrawn until 2008 [2].

A good number of Class 03s have seen further use after British Rail with industrial users and no fewer than fifty-five have been preserved. Although primarily intended for shunting (and trip work) Class 03s did occasionally haul passenger trains, though these tended to be special workings such as taking Channel Island boat trains up to Weymouth harbour where the line ran through the streets [3] and unadvertised special services for workers [4].

03 073 at Crewe Heritage Centre

D2059 at Havenstreet, Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Another view of 03 073 at Crewe Heritage Centre

D2090 at NRM Shildon in original BR green

03 099 at Rowsley South, Heritage Shunters Trust

[1] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Shunters (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 56
[2] Colin J. Marsden (ed.), "BR Class 03 0-6-0 DMs", Modern Locomotives Illustrated No 217 February-March 2016 (SR, GW, LNER, LMS & Trial Shunters & Class 03s), p. 67
[3] Haresnape, Shunters p. 20
[4] Michael Welch, Diesels on the Western (Capital Transport, 2013) p. 18

Class 139 Parry People Mover

The Class 139 is unique on the British Railways system in being railcar powered by a hybrid diesel-flywheel system. The flywheel stores energy and is charged by a Ford diesel engine when the railcar is at rest, kinetic energy from the brakes and from downhill operation are also recycled [1].

West Midands Railway 139 001 at Stourbridge Town

At first London Midland, and currently West Midlands Railway operates the railcar along the short Stourbridge branch between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town [2]. Two Class 139s have been built. There was also a prototype built in 2002 which was used to prove the flywheel concept. It ran on a number of heritage lines for testing and was referred to as the Class 999.

Information
Number built:	2
Built:	2007-08
Builder:	Parry People Movers
Motor:	Ford DSG423 diesel driving flywheel
Power:	86 hp (64 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Second (DMS)

The Class 139 is a small railcar (less than nine metres long) though has seating capacity for over twenty people plus over thirty standing.

The Class 139 began operation on the Stourbridge branch in 2009 releasing a Class 153 for other duties. The Class 139s are not allowed on any other part of the network and have their own little "depot" at Stourbridge Junction [3].

The Class 999 prototype, seen at Highley on the Severn Valley Railway

WMR 139 001 at Stourbridge Junction

139 001 again, this time at Stourbridge Town

Interior view

Cab view

[1] PPM Technology <http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/technology.htm>
[2] Where can i ride on a PPM railcar <http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/popup-faq22.htm>
[3] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 118