Heritage Diesel Multiple Units.

Vehicle Codes

Diesel Mechanical & Diesel Hydraulic Units.

DMBS - Driving Motor Brake Standard.

DMC - Driving Motor Composite (1st and standard class accomodation).

DMS - Driving Motor Standard.

DMPMV - Driving Motor Parcels and Miscellaneous Van.

DTPMV - Driving Trailer Parcels and Miscellaneous Van.

DTC - Driving Trailer Composite.

DTS - Driving Trailer Standard.

MS - Motor Standard.

TS - Trailer Standard.

Notes: An L suffix on the end of one of these codes indicates that the unit is fitted with a lavatory. A brake vehicle is one with a seperate compartment for the guard. First class accomodation has now been declassified on most vehicles.

Class 101 - Metro Cammell.

Engine: Two Leyland of 112 kW (150 hp) per power car.
Transmission: Mechanical. Carden shaft and freewheel to a four-speed epicyclic gearbox with a further carden shaft to the final drive, each engine driving the inner axle of one bogie.
Gangways: Midland scissors type. Within unit only.
Slam Doors
Bogies DD15 (motor) and DT11 (trailer).
Vacuum Brakes.
Flourescent lighting.
Screw couplings on all vehicles. Can be coupled together to work with 6 motor cars or 12 cars in total formation. Cannot be coupled to 2nd generation DMUs.
Dimensions 18.49 x 2.82 m.
Seats 3+2 facing, 2+2 in first class.

Refurbished 2-Car Sets. (DMBS-DTSL). Units 101651 to 101665.

Refurbished Twin Power Car and 3-Car Sets. (DMBS-DMSL or DMBS-TSL-DMSL). Units 101676 to 101695.

Unrefurbished Twin Power Car Sets. (DMBS-DMCL). These have seats removed and additional luggage racks. These modifications were for the Gatwick Airport to Reading services. Units are 101835, 101840 and 101842.

Class 117 - Pressed Stell Suburban.

Engine: Two Leyland 680/1 of 112 kW (150 hp) per power car.
Transmission: Mechanical. Carden shaft and freewheel to a four-speed epicyclic gearbox with a further carden shaft to the final drive, each engine driving the inner axle of one bogie.
Gangways: GWR suspension type. Within unit only.
Slam Doors.
Bogies DD10 (motor) and DT9 (trailer).
Vacuum Brakes.
Flourescent lighting.
Screw couplings on all vehicles. Can be coupled together to work with 6 motor cars or 12 cars in total formation. Cannot be coupled to 2nd generation DMUs.
Dimensions 20.45 x 2.82 m.
Seating 3+2 facing.

Units are: 117301 to 117724.

Class 121 - Pressed Stell Suburban ("Bubble Car").

Engine: Two Leyland 1595 of 112 kW (150 hp) per power car.
Transmission: Mechanical. Carden shaft and freewheel to a four-speed epicyclic gearbox with a further carden shaft to the final drive, each engine driving the inner axle of one bogie.
Non gangwayed single cars with cabs at each end.
Slam doors.
DD10 (motor) and DT9 (tralier) Bogies.
Vacuum Brakes.
Flourescent lighting.
Screw couplings on all vehicles. Can be coupled together to work with 6 motor cars or 12 cars in total formation. Cannot be coupled to 2nd generation DMUs.
Dimensions 20.45 x 2.82 m.
Seats 3+2 facing.

Members of class: 121127 (55027), 121129 (55029) and 121131 (55031). All in Network Southeast livery and assigned to Ilford (Northeast London).

Class 122 - Gloucester Suburban ("Bubble Car").

Engine: Two AEC 220 of 112 kW (150 hp) per power car.
Transmission: Mechanical. Carden shaft and freewheel to a four-speed epicyclic gearbox with a further carden shaft to the final drive, each engine driving the inner axle of one bogie.
Non gangwayed single cars with cabs at each end.
Slam Doors.
Bogies DD10 (motor) and DT9 (trailer).
Vacuum Brakes.
Flourescent lighting.
Screw couplings on all vehicles. Can be coupled together to work with 6 motor cars or 12 cars in total formation. Cannot be coupled to 2nd generation DMUs.
Dimensions 20.45 x 2.82 m.
Seats 3+2 facing.

One unit left - 122012 (55012) used as a crew-training vehicle and does not carry its unit number.

Note: A lot of heritage DMU vehicles now exist as Departmental units including: Tractor, Sandite and Route Learning stock.

Heritage DMU Photographs.

Unit L402 with the Reading service at Guildford station on the 11th April 1993. This unit was in Network Southeast Livery. I believe that this is now unit 117702 assigned to Bletchley Depot (please tell me if I am wrong).	Unit L425 approaches Redhill on the 7th May 1993 with a Gatwick Airport service from Guildford. This unit comprises of cars 51363, 59515 and 51405. 09009 is also present in this photograph.
DMU P938 (51945 and 52060) at Penzance with a Class 47 locomotive on the 2nd November 1991. This DMU has since been withdrawn.	DMUs stand at Nottingham on the 14th February 1993. Units present are T058 53216, 53193 in Blue; 51431, 51501 in Orange (Strathclyde PTE). Behind these are 153328 and 153322.
"Bubble Car" 55005 at St. Ives on the 2nd November 1991.	Sandite Unit T008 (Ex 55016) at Nuneaton on the 15th February 1993.
52059 at Exeter St. Davids.	117305 stands at Nottingham on the 19th August 1992 resplendent in Chocolate and Cream livery. This unit was later transferred to Plymouth, Laira depot.
"Bubble Cars" 55032 and 55034 stand at Lincoln Station on the 19th August 1992.	Unit L400 stands at Eastleigh Depot on the 27th September 1992.
DMU T409 leaves Aston Station (Birmingham) on the 24th October 1992 with a Lichfield service. This unit was 51860, 59600, 59367 and 53941. This line is now worked by Class 323 EMUs.

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(C) Copyright 1999, Written by Mark Chatwin.