British Rail Class 101

British Rail Class 101
London-based Class 101 no. 54405 (from set L220) in Network SouthEast livery
In service	1956–2003
Manufacturer	Metropolitan Cammell
Constructed	1956–1960
Number built	Class 101: 527 (DMCL: 97, DMBS: 217, DTCL: 120, TSL: 41, TSLRB: 6, TCL: 18, TBSL: 28) Class 102: 106 (DMCL: 53, TCL: 53)
Number preserved	41 cars
Formation	2-, 3-, or 4-car sets
Operator(s)	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	57 ft 0 in (17.37 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight	32.5 tonnes (32.0 long tons; 35.8 short tons) (powered), 25 tonnes (25 long tons; 28 short tons) (unpowered)
Prime mover(s)	Two BUT (AEC or Leyland) 6-cylinder diesels
Power output	150 bhp (112 kW) each engine
Transmission	Mechanical: 4-speed epicyclic gearbox
Coupling system	Screw-link couplings, British Standard gangways
Multiple working	■ Blue Square
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be one of the most successful and longest-lived of BR's First Generation DMUs, second in age only to the Class 121, with the final five units being withdrawn on 24 December 2003. The oldest set was, by then, just over 47 years old.

Original TOPS classes

When TOPS was originally introduced only the Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) and the Driving Motor Composite (with Lavatory) (DMCL) were classified as Class 101 (AEC engines) or Class 102 (Leyland engines). The Driving Trailer Composite (with Lavatory) (DTCL) were either Class 144 or Class 147. The Trailer Seconds (with Lavatory) (TSL) were Class 162, the Trailer Brake Second (with Lavatory) (TBSL) were Class 168 and the Trailer Composite (with Lavatory) (TCL) were Class 171. Later all the cars were reclassified, becoming Class 101.

Table of orders and numbers

Fleet numbers	Type	Order	Seating	Weight	Lot No	Diagram	Formation (Original)	Year built
50138–50151	DMC(L)	101/1	12F 45S (2/2)	32t	30249	BR 618	4-car	1956
50152–50157	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30252	BR 523	Power-Twin	1956/7
50158–50163	DMC(L)	101/1	12F 53S	32t	30253	BR 620	Power-Twin	1956/7
50164–50167	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30254	BR 523	Power-Twin	1956/7
50168–50171	DMC(L)	101/1	12F 53S	32t	30255	BR 620	Power-Twin	1956/7
50172–50197	DMC(L)	101/1	12F 53S	32t	30256	BR 620	4-car	1957
50198–50209	DMBS	101/2	52s	32t	30259	BR 523	P/Trailer	1957
50210–50233	DMBS	101/2	52s	32t	30261	BR 523	P/Trailer	1957
50234–50245	DMC(L)	101/1	12F 45S	32t	30263	BR 619	4-car	1957
50246–50248	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30339	BR 619	P/Trailer	1957
50250–50259	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30266	BR 523	Power-Twin	1957
50260–50269	DMC(L)	101/1	12f 53S	32t	30267	BR 621	Power-Twin	1957
50290–50292	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30270	BR 523	3-car	1957
50293–50296	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30270	BR 523	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
50303–50320	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30275	BR 523	3-car	1958
50321–50338	DMC(L)	101/1	12F + 53S	32t	30276	BR 621	3-car	1958
50745–50747	DMC(L)	101/1	12F + 53S	32t	30271	BR 621	3-car	1957
50748–50751	DMC(L)	101/1	12F + 53S	32t	30271	BR 621	4-car	1957
51174–51203	DMBS	101/1	52S	32t	30467	BR 523	Power/Trailer 2-car	1958
51204–51223	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30467	BR 523	Power/Trailer 2-car	1958
51224–51253	DMBS	101/2	52S	32t	30467	BR 523	Power/Trailer 2-car	1958
51425–51434	DMBS	102/2	52S	32t	30500	BR 523	Power/Trailer 2-car	1959
51435–51444	DMBS	102/2	52S	32t	30500	BR 523	4-car	1959
51445–51470	DMBS	102/2	52S	32t	30500	BR 523	3-car	1959
51495–51504	DMC(L)	102/1	12f+53S	32t	30501	BR 621	P/Twin	1959
51505–51514	DMC(L)	102/1	12f+53S	32t	30501	BR 621	4-car	1959
51515–51540	DMC(L)	102/1	12f+53S	32t	30501	BR 621	3-car	1959
51795–51801	DMBS	102/2	52S	32t	30587	BR 523	3-car	1959
51802–51808	DMC(L)	102/1	12F+53S	32t	30588	BR 621	3-car	1959
56050–56061	DTC(L)	144	12F+53S	25t	30260	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56062–56085	DTC(L)	144	12F+53S	25t	30262	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56086–56089	DTC(L)	144	12F+52S	25t	30272	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56218–56220	DTC(L)	144	12F+45S	25t	30340	BR 629	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56332–56361	DTC(L)	144	12F+53S	25t	30340	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56362–56381	DTC(L)	144	12F+53S	25t	30468	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
56382–56411	DTC(L)	144	12F+53S	25t	30468	BR 630	Power/Trailer 2-car	1957
59042–59048	TS(L)	162	61S	25t	30250	BR 622	4-car	1956
59049–59055	TBS(L)	168	45S	25t	30251	BR 626	4-car	1956
59060–59072	TS(L)	162	71S	25t	30257	BR 623	4-car	1957
59073–59085	TBS(L)	168	53S	25t	30258	BR 627	4-car	1957
59086–59091	TS(L)	162	61S	25t	30264	BR 622	4-car	1957
59092–59097	TBS(L)	168	45S	25t	30265	BR 622	4-car	1957
59112–59113	TBS(L)	168	53S	25t	30274	BR 627	4-car	1957
59114–59131	TC(L)	171	12F+53S	25t	30277	BR 624	3-car	1957
59302–59304	TS(L)	162	71S	25t	30273	BR 623	3-car	1957
59305–59306	TC(L)	171	71S	25t	30273	BR 623	4-car	1957
59523–59542	TC(L)	171	12F+53S	25t	30277	BR 624	3-car	1957
59543–59568	TC(L)	171	12F+53S	25t	30502	BR 624	3-car	1958
59685–59692	TC(L)	171	12F+53S	25t	30589	BR 624	3-car	1959
59569–59572	TS(L)	164	71S	25t	30510	BR 623	-	1960
59573–59578	TSB(L)	165	71S	25t	30510	BR 625	-	1960

In fiction

In The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, the character Daisy the Diesel Rail-Car, a Class 101 herself, was introduced to assist on the Branch Line when Thomas was away for repairs after crashing into a stationmaster's house.

Preservation

The Class 101 was one of the largest classes of first-generation DMUs and, partly thanks to their relatively late withdrawal from revenue-earning service, numerous vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways, for example the Great Central Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. There are only two centre cars preserved. One is at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and the other at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. One buffet car survived and is at the Great Central Railway. No Trailer Brake Seconds were saved.

Set number	Vehicle numbers			Livery	Location	Notes
	DMBS	TCL	DMCL
101685	50164	59539	50160	BR Green	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	Fully operational
-	50203	-	50193	BR Blue and Grey	Great Central Railway	Stored
-	50204	-	51511	BR Green	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	Operational
-	-	-	50170	BR Green	Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	Operational
-	50222	-	50338	BR Green	Barry Island Railway	Operational
-	50253	-	-	Primer	Midland Railway	Stored
-	50256	-	56343(DTCL)	BR Blue	East Kent Railway	Operational
-	50321(DMCL	-	50266	Primer	Great Central Railway	Operational
-	51427	-		BR Green	Peak Rail	Operational
-	-	-	50746	BR Blue	Wensleydale Railway	Stored
-	51187	-	51512	BR Green	Cambrian Heritage Railways	Under Repair
-	51188	-	-	BR Blue	Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	Operational
-	51189	-	51803	BR Green	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway	Under Restoration
-	51192	-	56352(DTCL)	BR Green	North Norfolk Railway	Operational
-	51205	-	56055(DTCL)	BR Green	Cambrian Heritage Railways	Under Repair
-	51210	-	51400(DMS)	BR Blue	Wensleydale Railway	Operational, 51400 is a Class 117 DMS
-	51213	-	-	BR Blue	East Anglian Railway Museum	Operational
-	51226	-	51499	BR Green	Mid Norfolk Railway	Operational
-	51228	-	56062(DTCL)	BR Green	North Norfolk Railway	Under Overhaul
-	51434(DMBC)	59117	51503	BR Blue and Grey	Mid Norfolk Railway	Under Overhaul/Operational
-	-	-	51505	BR Blue	Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	Operational
-	-	-	56342(DTCL)	BR Blue and Grey	Midland Railway	Stored
-	-	-	56347(DTCL)	BR Green	Foxfield Railway	Operational
-	-	-	56356(DTCL)	Non Standard Green and Cream	Great Central Railway	For Sale
-	-	-	56358(DTCL)	BR Blue	Severn Valley Railway	Operational
-	-	-	56408(DTCL)	SR Malachite Green	Spa Valley Railway	Operational
-	-	59303(TSL)	-	BR Green	Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	Operational
-	50211	-	-	Regional Railways	Private Site	Stored Cab Only
-	-	-	50269		Private Site	Stored Cab Only
-	51177	-	-	BR Blue	Private Site, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire	Cab Only, used as a store room.

References

• The Railcar Association

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons