The Class 155 was a development of the Class 150 Sprinter DMU with longer bodies (twenty three metres) for longer distance Provincial Sector routes [1]. The Class 155 had a low-density seating interior and used a riveted bus like construction style. The original batch of thirty five sets were originally allocated to Cardiff with a follow-on batch of seven ordered for the West Yorkshire PTE, these still remain in service with Northern.
155 341 at Harrogate
Information
Number built:
84 (42 2-car sets)
Built:
1987-88
Builder:
British Leyland
Engine:
Cummins NT855R5 diesel per car
Power:
570 hp (430 kW)
Formation:
Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)+Driving Motor Standard (DMS)
The original thirty five Class 155s are no more however, they were converted to create seventy Class 153 single-car DMUs [2] to replace the ageing fleet of first generation railcars.
The Class 155s have not been without their problems, the length of the cars plus the production methods used means that some warping and sagging has occurred in some coaches (a problem some 153s also have have). The doors also caused some problems early on, the fleet having to be withdrawn from service at one stage until the problems were rectified.
Another view of 155 341
[1] Brian Haresnape, Diesel-Multiple Units (The Second Generation & DEMUs) (Ian Allan, 1986) p. 79 [2] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 137
The Class 142 Pacer was the most controversial train in Britain, a cheaply made diesel multiple unit from the 1980s still serving in 2020. Questions were asked repeatedly, from parliament downwards [1], about when it would finally be replaced. The controversy however, is somewhat unfair as when built the Class 142 was a way to provide cheap rolling stock for branch lines and services that may have otherwise been closed or had services withdrawn. The Class 142 has also served quite bit longer than was originally intended. The end finally came in December 2020.
Northern 142 005 at Wigan North Western
The Class 142 resembles a bus on rails [2], because in some ways that is what it is! The body is based on that of the Leyland National, a very common bus that could regularly been seen on Britain's roads from the 1970s until recently. The body is wider than earlier bus-based DMUs like the Class 141 [3]. The chassis is a development of a high speed freight vehicle designed in the late 60s and each carriage only has four wheels. The Class 142 provided a rather poor ride for passengers and excessive wheel squeal and flange wear on sharp curves.
There were 2 sub-classes, the 142/0 and 142/1, the distinction is mostly due to when they were built in two production series. One difference between the sub-classes is that the 142/1 has a simpler roof structure. The Class 142s were originally fitted with Leyland TL11 engines but were re-engined with Cummins diesels, they also originally had mechanical gearboxes but were later fitted with Voith hydraulic transmission.
Information
Number built:
192 (96 2-car sets)
Built:
1985-87
Builder:
BREL Derby / Leyland
Engine:
Cummins LTA-10R diesel per car
Power:
450 hp (330 kW)
Formation:
DMS (Driving Motor Standard)+DMSL (Driving Motor Standard Lavatory)
The Class 142 has served with British Rail and a number of post-privatisation operators and in it's final years with Northern and Transport for Wales [4]. The Class 142 fell short of accessibility requirements for passenger trains being bought in in 2020. Withdrawals began in the late 2010s with the final examples being withdrawn at the end of 2020 (several months later than expected). Sixteen sets have entered preservation with some other cars having been converted into non-rail uses including a library!
Northern 142 022 at Meadowhall Interchange
Transport for Wales 142 072 at Cardiff Central
Aboard Northern 142 015
Northern 142 023 at York
Northern 142 041 at Liverpool Lime Street
[1] "Nick Clegg demands replacement of outdated "Pacer" trains", The Chronicle <http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nick-clegg-demands-replacement-outdated-8055969> [2] Colin J. Marsden, Traction Recognition (2nd Edition) (Ian Allan, 2011), p. 102 [3] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Multiple Units: The Second Generation and DEMUs (Ian Allan, 1986), p. 64 [4] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013), p. 122
Forty-two 2-car Class 155 DMUs were built in the late 1980s by British Leyland for cross-country routes but at the same time British Rail saw a need for a new generation of single "bubble" car DMUs to replace ageing first generation stock like the Class 121 [1] and conversions of some of the new 155s fitted the bill.
EMT 153 302 at Ambergate
Thirty-five of the Class 155s were hence converted to 70 single car DMUs by being split up and by adding a second cab to each car. Adding the extra cab was not a simple process due to the lack of available space as the existing door pocket could not be moved and the extra cab is rather compact [2].
Information
Number built:
70
Built:
1987-88 (as Class 155)
Converted to single cars 1991-92
Builder:
British Leyland
Conversions by Hunslet-Barclay
Engine:
Cummins NT855R5 diesel
Power:
285 hp (213 kW)
Formation:
Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)
The Class 153s (as they became) quickly proved themselves to be very flexible and versatile units able to run on lightly-loaded branch lines such as the Stourbridge Town branch and the line to Cardiff Bay. They also provide a capacity boost to other routes where needed as they are able to work in multiple with other members of the "Sprinter" DMU family.
They are in service with a number of Train Operating Companies including Transport for Wales, Scotrail, Northern, East Midlands Railway and West Midland Railway.
WMR 153 354 at Ridgmont
EMT 153 310 and friend at Attenborough
EMT 153 382 at Duffield
TfW 153 303 at Cardiff Bay
EMT 153 326 at Belper
[1] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 134 [2] Colin J. Marsden (ed.), Modern Locomotives Illustrated No. 211 February-March 2015 (Classes 150-156 Second Generation DMUs) p. 52
