British Rail Class 122

British Rail Class 122 Bubble Car
Class 122, no. 55006, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit is painted in the second version of BR Green livery, and is preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
Interior of W55000 on the South Devon Railway
In service1958–1995
ManufacturerGloucester RC&W
Family nameFirst generation
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Number built20 motor, 9 trailer
Number preservedDMBS: 8
FormationSingle car
Diagram
  • DMBS: 539
  • DTS: 538
Fleet numbers
  • DMBS: 55000–55019
  • DTS: 56291–56299
Capacity
  • DMBS: 65
  • DTS: 95
OperatorsBritish Rail
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length64 ft 0+12 in (19.52 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 8+18 in (3.86 m)
DoorsSlam
Articulated sectionsSingle car (2)
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight
  • DMBS: 36 long tons (81,000 lb; 37 t)
  • DTS: 29 long tons (65,000 lb; 29 t)
Prime mover(s)Two BUT (AEC) then BUT (Leyland) of 150 hp (110 kW) (both types)
Power output300 hp (220 kW)
TransmissionStandard mechanical
Safety system(s)AWS
Multiple working Blue Square
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car, double-ended driving motor vehicles, nicknamed "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019. These were supplemented by nine single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 56291–56299[9] (some of which were later renumbered into the 54291–54299 block).

  1. ^ British Rail Locoshed book. Ian Allan. 1981. p. 50. ISBN 0-7110-1112-5.
  2. ^ a b c Hemming 1978, p. 12.
  3. ^ British Rail Locoshed book. Ian Allan. 1979. p. 48. ISBN 0-7110-0931-7.
  4. ^ Mitchell 1994, p. 25.
  5. ^ Heginbotham, Stephen (2010). Cornwall's Railways Remembered. Halsgrove. pp. 51–52. ISBN 978-0-85704-005-3.
  6. ^ Mitchell 1994, p. 33.
  7. ^ Mitchell 1994, p. 89.
  8. ^ Mitchell 1994, p. 136.
  9. ^ Butcher, Roger (November 1993). Departmental Coaching Stock (5th ed.). Southampton: South Coast Transport Publishing. pp. 60, 75. ISBN 1-872768-10-5.