The Class 50 was built in the late 1960s, and initially hired by British Rail from English Electric, to power the remaining non-electrified portions of the West Coast Main Line from Crewe to Scotland [1] on passenger trains and freight. The Class 50, a development of the English Electric DP2 prototype, often worked these WCML trains in pairs (though they could also work in multiples of three) to provide sufficient performance to match the timings of the electric locomotives that they shared their trains with. The locomotives were bought outright by BR in 1973 but by the mid-1970s were being displaced from the WCML due to the completion of electrification and the arrival of the Class 87. The Class 50s were sent to Western Region to work in the south and south west of England.
GB Railfreight liveried 50 049 at Kidderminster Town
Information
Number built:
50
Built:
1967-68
Builder:
English Electric, Vulcan Foundry
Motor:
English Electric 16CSVT diesel
Power:
2, 700 hp (2, 013 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
Co-Co
At first the reliability of the Class 50 was poor with failures often due to problems with the then-novel electronic systems fitted. Crews joked that they were called the Class 50 as there was only a 50:50 chance that they would make it to their destinations! [2] The Class 50 received a full refurbishment in the late 1970s/early 1980s to improve reliability by removing little used and redundant equipment such as the slow speed control.
Much of the locomotives' time was spent on west of England express passenger trains out of London Paddington and London Waterloo and other passenger services. This made them vulnerable as multiple units became the favoured mode of people mover in the late 1980s and early 1990s and the supply of work dried up. There were attempts to utilise the class for slower freights and one locomotive was modified with lower geared bogies though the experiment was not a success.
The Class 50 was withdrawn from BR service by 1994, though no less than eighteen have been preserved (thirty six percent of the fleet) and several are mainline certified. The Class 50s were the first class of diesel locomotive to only carry BR blue livery (and later variations) though one preserved locomotive has been given a "what might have been" BR green livery. One British Rail exception came in the 1980s when one Class 50 was renamed Sir Edward Elgar and repainted in Brunswick Green to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the GWR.
Also in GBRf livery, 50 007 at Bewdley
Network South East livery is carried by 50 026 at Kidderminster Town
50 049 when it carried BR large logo livery
50 007 approaches Highley
50 034 at Kidderminster Town
[1] Brian Haresnape, Production Diesel-Electrics Types 4 and 5 (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 67 [2] Michael Welch, Diesels on the Western (Capital Transport, 2013) p. 107
The Class 69 is a rebuild of the Class 56 with an EMD 710 engine and updated controls and some equipment (similar to those used on the Class 66). GB Railfreight ordered the rebuilds from sixteen Class 56s they bought in 2018, some of which had been out of service for some time. Ten were rebuilt in the initial batch with an option for six more added later on.
The first Class 69 began trials on the Severn Valley Railway in early 2021. The locomotives began to enter service in 2022. The first seven locomotives were withdrawn from service in early 2023 to address some issues but following modifications were returned to service.
As well as GB Railfreight livery, a number of Class 69s have been completed in versions of heritage liveries.
69 010 on test at Derby, still in undercoat, later it was finished in GB Railfreight blue
69 005 approaches Kidderminster hauling two Class 73s
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
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
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
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
The Class 805 is part of the Intercity Express Programme family like theClass 802 and 810 and are bi-mode units for Avanti West Coast to replace the Class 221 on services between London Euston and north Wales.
Avanti West Coast 805 008 at Stafford
Information
Number built:
65 (13 5-car sets)
Built:
2021-
Builder:
Hitachi
Motor:
Hitachi traction system (25kV AC OHLE) &
MTU 12V 1600 R80L diesel
As the Class 805 is bi-mode, a big advantage it has over the pure diesel 221 is that electric traction can be used while travelling under wires, which a fair amount of the route is under.
Testing of the units began in 2022 ahead of an expected entry into service by the end of 2023 but that was pushed back until Summer 2024. In service the trains are called the Evero by Avanti West Coast.
805 001 arrives at Stafford
Such a difference a livery makes! 805 003 at Stafford before it received AWC livery
The Class 196 diesel multiple units are part of the CAF Civity family like the Class 195 and 397. Twenty six sets (in a mixture of two and four car formations) have been built for West Midlands Railway for use on their routes from Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury replacing Class 170s and other WMR services. Deliveries of the Class 196 began in 2020 and the type entered service in October 2022 initially on services to Shrewsbury [1].
West Midlands Railway 196 008 at Bedworth
Information
Number built:
80 (26 2 or 4-car sets)
Built:
2019-2022
Builder:
CAF Newport
Motor:
Rolls-Royce MTU 6H1800R85L diesel per car
Power:
523 hp (390 kW) per car
Twelve two-car sets and fourteen four-car sets have been built.
The type are also used on the Birmingham to Hereford, the Leamington-Nuneaton line (also known as the Elephant & Bear Line). The new Camp Hill services planned for 2025 could also use the Class 196. Some two-car sets could also be allocated to operate on the new East West Rail line between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central when it opens later this decade.
196 107 at Shrewsbury
Aboard a 196
196 009 at University
196 110 at Birmingham New Street
196 007 at Nuneaton
[1] "West Midlands Trains launches CAF 196s", Modern Railways (November 2022) p. 12
The Urbos 3 fleet is the second generation of light rail rolling stock built for the West Midlands Metro from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, replacing the earlier T-69 fleet [1].
Tram 31 on Corporation Street
Information
Number built:
42
Built:
2012-15, 2021-23
Builder:
CAF
Motor:
12 traction motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power:
1, 320 hp (960 kW)
The Urbos is a successful type of modern tram built by CAF, used in dozens of light rail systems across the world though the West Midlands Metro fleet is the only Urbos 3 stock used in England (the type is also used in Edinburgh).
The trams were introduced for the extension of the West Midlands Metro from Birmingham Snow Hill to Birmingham New Street railway station. They are slightly wider than the T-69s they replaced (about seventeen centimetres) thus the line had to be closed for a few weeks to allow for platform modifications before the Urbos 3 could enter service.
The trams are also nine metres longer and can carry up to 210 passengers per tram compared to 156 on the T-69 (though the actual number of seats is almost the same). All of the trams were given the pink and white livery of the Midlands Metro as it was originally known though all now carry the blue livery of the re-branded West Midlands Metro.
CAF have developed rechargable batteries for fitting to the fleet to allow them to operate on extensions to the metro where there are no overhead wires [2] such as around Birmingham town hall. Twenty one more trams were built in the early 2020s to strengthen the fleet as the West Midlands Metro expands.
Tram 38 (the first in the second batch) arrives at Loxdale
The original livery carried by the trams
Tram 48 at Edgbaston Village, the current terminus of Line 1
Look Ma no wires! A tram passes Birmingham Town Hall on battery power
Tram 51 heads towards West Bromwich
[1] Colin J Marsden, Rail Guide 2016 (Ian Allan, 2016) p. 280 [2] Colin J Marsden (ed.), Light Rail (Key Publishing, 2018) p. 63
