British Rail Class 120

British Rail Class 120
Swindon 3-car Cross-country sets
In service1958–1989
ManufacturerBritish Railways
Order no.
  • 30334 (50647-50695)
  • 30335 (50696-50744)
  • 30336 (59255-59301)
  • 30515 (51573-51581)
  • 30516 (51582-51590)
  • 30517 (59579-59588)
  • 30559 (51781-51787)
  • 30560 (51788-51794)
  • 30561 (59679-59685)[1]
Built atBR Swindon Works
Family nameFirst generation
ReplacedSteam locomotives hauling auto coaches and coaches
Constructed1957–1960[2]
Number built194 cars
Number preserved1 car (a TSLRB)
Number scrapped193 cars
Formation3 car sets: DMSL-TSL[RB]-DMBC
Diagram
  • DP204 or BR586
  • DP205 or BR637
  • DQ101 or BR587
  • DQ303 or BR587
  • DQ304 or BR636
  • DT210 or BR572
  • DT217 or BR561[1][3]
Fleet numbers
  • 51573-51581, 51781-51787, 53696-53744 (DMBC)
  • 59255-59301, 59579-59588, 59679-59685 (TSLRB)
  • 50647-50695, 51582-51590, 51788-51794 (DMSL)[1][2]
Capacity
  • DMC: 18 first class and 16 second class seats
  • DMSL: 68 second class seats
  • TSLRB: 60 second class seats
  • TSL: 68 second class seats
OperatorsBritish Rail
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[3]
Car length
  • 64 ft 7+7⁄16 in (19.70 m) (DP205, DQ304, over body)
  • 64 ft 6+1⁄8 in (19.66 m) (others, over body)[3]
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (overall)[3]
Height12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m) (overall)[3]
DoorsSlam[2]
Wheelbase
  • 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (bogies)[3]
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)[2]
Weight
  • Dia 586: 36.50 long tons (37.09 t; 40.88 short tons)
  • Dia 587: 36.35 long tons (36.93 t; 40.71 short tons)
  • Dia 561: 30.60 long tons (31.09 t; 34.27 short tons)
  • Dia 636: 36.95 long tons (37.54 t; 41.38 short tons)
  • Dia 637: 37.05 long tons (37.64 t; 41.50 short tons)
  • Dia 572: 30.15 long tons (30.63 t; 33.77 short tons)
Prime mover(s)Two BUT (AEC) of 150 hp (110 kW) per power car
Power output600 hp (447 kW) per 3-car set
TransmissionStandard mechanical
HVACOil burning air heater[3]
Bogies
  • DD1 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)
  • DD2 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)
  • DT3 mk1 and mk2 (one of each)[3]
Braking system(s)Vacuum[3]
Safety system(s)AWS[3]
Coupling systemScrew[3]
Multiple working■ Blue Square
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 120 was a cross-country DMU in three-car formation, built at the British Rail Swindon Works.

  1. ^ a b c "Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs: Numbering". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Class 120, 179". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP204, DP205, DQ101, DQ303, DQ304, DT210, DT217. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  4. ^ Hemming 1978, pp. 5–9.
  5. ^ Fox 1987, pp. 10–11, 26, 33
  6. ^ Fairclough, Tony (1970). The story of Cornwall's railways. Truro: Tor Mark Press. p. 35.
  7. ^ Vaughan 1983, p. 56.
  8. ^ Vaughan 1983, p. 106.
  9. ^ Vaughan 1983, p. 87.
  10. ^ Heginbotham 2010, p. 56.