British Rail Class 419 | |
---|---|
In service | 1959 - 2004 |
Manufacturer | BR Eastleigh [1] |
Order no. | 30458 (68001-2) 30623 (68003-10) [2] |
Constructed | 1959 (68001-2) 1960-61 (68003-10) [2] [3] |
Entered service | 1959 [1] |
Number built | 10 |
Formation | Single car |
Diagram | EX560 [2] [4] |
Fleet numbers | |
Operators | British Rail |
Depots | Ramsgate [2] |
Specifications | |
Car length | 19.64 m (64 ft 5 in) [2] |
Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) [1] |
Height | 12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.899 m) [1] |
Maximum speed | 90 mph (140 km/h) [2] |
Weight | 45.5 long tons (46.2 t; 51.0 short tons) [6] |
Traction motors | 2 × 250 hp (190 kW) English Electric 507 [1] [7] total 500 hp (370 kW) |
Current collector(s) | Third rail [1] |
Bogies | Mk 3B [1] |
Braking system(s) | Air (EP/Auto), also fitted with vacuum exhauster [1] for hauling vacuum brake fitted van stock |
Coupling system | Buckeye [1] |
Multiple working | Within Southern Region units and vacuum stock [1] |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 419 Motor Luggage Vans (or MLV) were battery electric multiple unit cars built from 1959-61 by BR at Eastleigh Works.
Each MLV unit is essentially a motorised BG carriage, with a driver's position at each end. Each vehicle has two luggage compartments and a guard's compartment. [4] [8]
Ten of these units were built for the boat trains from London Victoria to Dover [1] and Folkestone. Units were originally numbered in the range 68001-68010, but were classified Class 419 under the TOPS system and were then renumbered 419001-419010, the numbers actually carried on the units in service reduced to 9001-9010, omitting the first two digits.
The units were able to work alone, hauling a limited load, [nb 1] or work in multiple with other EP-type rolling stock, [7] usually in conjunction with Class 410 and Class 411. [2] [6] The units were also fitted with batteries to allow them to operate over the short-distance of non-electrified quayside lines at Dover and Folkestone. [7] The batteries allowed the units to be used at low-speed for 20–30 minutes, and could be recharged when the unit was taking power from 750 V DC third-rail.
By 1963, it was discovered that one luggage carriage was insufficient for the boat train service. [8] Some trains were operated with paired MLVs, which resulted in a shortage of the vehicles. [8] To overcome the problem, six Trailer Luggage Vans (TLV) were introduced in 1968 and kept in use alongside the MLVs until 1975. [8] These were numbered 68201-68206 as Class 499 and were conventional BG carriages, except for having their gangway ends sealed from use. [8]
The MLVs were withdrawn from traffic in 1991-92, with the closure of Dover Western Docks railway station and the end of the boat train services. [8]
The design of the units was based on an earlier vehicle, numbered 68000, which was used as a parcels van on the Tyneside DC electrified network. When the South Tyneside network was de-electrified in 1967, the unit was initially transferred for use on the Southport to Liverpool electric line before being withdrawn.
After withdrawal from normal service, the entire fleet was transferred to departmental service as Class 931 tractor units. [5] [8] Unit 9006 was damaged in an accident at Ramsgate in 1994,[ contradictory ] resulting in it being withdrawn and subsequently scrapped. [8] Units 9003 and 9009 were specially repainted in BR Blue and LSE "Jaffa Cake" liveries, by staff at Strawberry Hill depot, to commemorate the closure of the depot in 1995. [8]
Most of the units were withdrawn again in 1997. [8] They were kept at Bournemouth depot, while they were waiting for disposal. [8] While there, units 9001 and 9002 stayed in use as depot shunters. [8] Unit 9001 was retired in 1998, and subsequently preserved. [8] Unit 9002 was kept by South West Trains until 2004, when former 4CEP unit 1512 replaced it. [8]
All but two of the units have been preserved. [8] One unit was scrapped after an accident whilst in service, and the other was scrapped in preservation. [8]
The first unit to be preserved was first-built no. 9001, which was saved in 1998 after a campaign by the EPB Preservation Group. It was bought to power the group's preserved 2EPB unit, no. 5759. The units dumped at Bournemouth were put out to tender in 1999, and were bought mainly for use as storage vehicles. Their ability to move under battery-power has also allowed limited passenger use. The final unit to be saved was no. 9002, which has now been stored at Southall. After extensive overhaul at Southall 9002 ventured back onto the main line on 28 August 2015 when it was hauled by Battle Of Britain Class 34067 Tangmere to Ramsgate Depot for an open day, it returned a day later but has not been out since. The table below gives details of the current (as of 2016 [update] ) locations and fates of the Class 419 units.
Key: | Preserved | Scrapped |
---|
Unit Number | Final Livery | DMLV [7] | Introduced [5] | Withdrawn | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Original [2] | Departmental [5] | |||||
9001 | 931091 | BR Green | 68001 | April 1959 | 1998 | Stored at Southall |
9002 | 931092 | NSE | 68002 | May 1959 | 2004 | |
9003 | 931093 | BR Green | 68003 | December 1960 | 1997 | Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway |
9004 | 931094 | 68004 | Preserved at the Mid-Norfolk Railway | |||
9005 | 931095 | LSE "Jaffa Cake" | 68005 | January 1961 | Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway | |
9006 | - | - | 68006 | January 1961 | December 1991 [5] | Scrapped March 1994 following a collision. [5] [ citation needed ] |
9007 | 931097 | - | 68007 | February 1961 | 1997 | Scrapped 2006 for spares. [10] |
9008 | 931098 | BR Green | 68008 | March 1961 | 1997 | Stored at Southall |
9009 | 931099 | 68009 | ||||
9010 | 931090 | In house colours | 68010 | Preserved at the Eden Valley Railway |
A OO gauge model of the Class 419 MLV has been produced by Bachmann Branchline. [11] [12]
The British Rail Class 312 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMUs) were built between 1975 and 1978 for use on outer-suburban passenger services. It was the last class of multiple unit to be constructed with the British Rail Mark 2 bodyshell, as well as the last class of multiple unit to be built with slam doors in Britain. These features contributed to their relatively early withdrawal at 25–28 years old, compared with a typical EMU life expectancy of 30–40 years.
The British Rail Class 489 (GLV) is a type of electric multiple unit, specially converted for use on Gatwick Express trains, from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.
The British Rail Class 207 (3D) diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh in 1962. The fleet had a lifespan of 42 years. The Southern Region class 201 to 207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the distinctive sound of their engines.
The British Rail Class 423, electric multiple unit passenger trains were mostly built by British Rail (BR) at York Works from 1967 to 1974, although the MBSOs and TSOs of the first 20, 7701-7720, were built at Derby Works. They have manually opening doors next to every seating row and were the last coaching stock built in this pattern for BR. They were mostly found working outer-suburban services in South London and rural services in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, up to 2005 when they were finally replaced by Electrostar and Desiro units. The fleet had a working life of 38 years.
The British Rail Class 308 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by British Railways' Holgate Road carriage works in three batches between 1959 and 1961. They were initially classified as AM8 units before the introduction of TOPS.
The British Rail Class 311 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by Cravens at Sheffield from 1966 to 1967. They were intended for use on the line from Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, which was electrified in 1967.
The British Rail Class 485 and British Rail Class 486 electrical multiple units were originally built for the London Electric Railway from 1923-31 as its 'Standard' tube stock. They were purchased by British Rail in 1967 and transported to the Isle of Wight to work 'mainline' services on the newly electrified Ryde to Shanklin line, where they worked for an additional quarter of a century. At the time of their purchase the units had already worked for over 40 years on the London Underground, but their introduction allowed the last steam locomotives on the line to be withdrawn.
The British Rail Class 309 "Clacton Express" electric multiple units (EMUs) were built by British Rail (BR) York Carriage Works from 1962 to 1963. They were initially classified as Class AM9 before the introduction of TOPS. These units were the first express 25 kV alternating current (AC) units to be built by British Rail and were their first EMUs capable of 100 mph.
The British Rail Class 307 electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh Works from 1954 to 1956. They were initially classified as AM7 before the introduction of TOPS.
The British Rail Class 310 was a slam-door, alternating current (AC) electric multiple-unit passenger train (EMU) introduced in 1965 as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification project. They were initially classified as Class AM10 units before the introduction of the TOPS classification system. Constructed at BR's Derby Carriage and Wagon Works. They consisted of four carriages - a second class driving trailer, a second class trailer, a second class motor car and a composite driving trailer. The maximum speed was 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). A glass partition behind the driver's cab enabled passengers in the leading and rear coaches to view the line ahead or behind.
The British Rail Class 201 six-car diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs) were built in 1957–1958 at Eastleigh and underframes were built at Ashford.
The British Rail Class 504 was a unique type of electric multiple unit that ran on 1,200 V DC third rail with side-contact current collection. All other mainline UK third rails have the electric "shoe" on top of the rail. The type was used only on the Bury Line between Manchester and Bury. They were built in 1959 at Wolverton Works, and the body was a standard type used for several electrification schemes of the time, but the high DC voltage through a side-contact third rail was unique in Britain. The trains replaced the previous five-car units built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR) for the route, which had inaugurated this electrification scheme in 1916.
The British Rail Class 501 electric multiple units were built in 1955/56 for use on the former LNWR/LMS suburban electric network of the London Midland Region. A total of 57 three-car units were built.
The British Rail Class 306 was a fleet of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains introduced in 1949. It consisted of 92 three-car trains which were used on the Great Eastern Main Line between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street.
British Rail Class 503 passenger trains were 65 mph (105 km/h) electric multiple units. They were introduced in two batches: the first were in 1938, by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), with a further batch in 1956 by the then nationalised British Railways (BR). When introduced by the LMS, they were known officially as Class AM3. They were designed for, and operated on, the Wirral & Mersey lines from Liverpool to West Kirby, New Brighton and Rock Ferry. There were few places on their network of closely-spaced stations to attain their maximum speed, except for the open section between Moreton and Meols. All but one set were withdrawn and scrapped by 1985. The final set was used on special Merseyrail services until 1988; it was preserved and kept at the Electric Railway Museum near Coventry, until it moved on to the Locomotive Storage Ltd warehouse at Margate.
The British Rail Class 304 were AC electric multiple units designed and produced at British Rail's (BR) Wolverton Works.
The British Rail Class 305 was an alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU). Under the pre-1973 British Rail numbering system, the class was known as AM5; when TOPS was introduced, it became Class 305.
The British RailClass 414 were two-car electric multiple units that were built between 1956 and 1963. They were withdrawn in 1995.
The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple-unit passenger train, originally built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at its Derby Works. Introduced in 1940 and withdrawn by 1980, they spent the whole of their working lives on the electrified railway lines north of Liverpool.
The British Rail Class 124 diesel multiple units were built by BR Swindon Works in 1960.