British Rail Class 139

British Rail Class 139
Parry People Mover
A West Midlands Trains Class 139 approaches Stourbridge Town in September 2023
The interior of a London Midland Class 139
In service2009—present
ManufacturerParry People Movers
Family namePPM
ReplacedClass 153
Number built3
Formation1 car
Capacity20–25 seated, 30–35 standing[1]
OperatorsWest Midlands Railway
DepotsStourbridge
Lines servedStourbridge Town branch line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel frame
Car length
  • 8.7 m (28 ft 6+1⁄2 in) (139 012)
  • 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) (139 001–002)[1]
Width2.4 m (7 ft 10+1⁄2 in)[1]
Height3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)[1]
Wheel diameter610 mm (24 in)[1]
Maximum speed32 km/h (20 mph)[2] (as in service)
Weight12 t (11.8 long tons; 13.2 short tons) (139 012)[3]
Traction systemFlywheel (1,000–2,600 rpm)[1]
Prime mover(s)Ford DSG423 2.3 L (140 cu in)[1][4]
Power output86 hp (64 kW)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

British Rail Class 139 is the TOPS classification[5] for PPM60 model lightweight[6][7][8] railcars built by Parry People Movers,[6] for use on the British rail network. The class were originally built in 2008 for operation on the Stourbridge Town branch line following an extensive trial with a prototype registered as a Class 999 unit.

The first newly constructed Class 139 was shown on 28 June 2008 at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day. The full fleet of two units entered public service on the branch line in June 2009.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "PPM 50/ PPM 60 Specification". Parry People Movers. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2008. Dimensions: Length [..] 9.6m [..] Width 2.4m [..] Height 3.2m (high floor) Maximum speed: 65km/h on suitable trackwork [..] Passenger accommodation: Typical capacity 20-25 seated plus 30-35 standing [..] Flywheel energy storage: Effective speed range 1,000-2,600rpm [..] Self-powered vehicles: Engine Ford DSG423 2.3L LPG fuel)
  2. ^ "West Midlands Prospectus" (PDF). gov.uk. December 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Clean, Green & Quiet - Lightweight Railcar Operation Scores Success and Acclaim in Passenger Service". Parry People Movers. 30 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2010. the 12-tonne PPM 50 vehicle
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference sb-news-200k was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Today's Railways UK. No. 74. p. 59. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ a b Tift, Duncan (1 August 2007). "Green light for PPM to pioneer new rail policy". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2010. Parry People Movers ... based in Cradley Heath, supplies lightweight rail and tram vehicles.
  7. ^ "£700,000 oredr for two lightweight railcars". TransportXtra. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Class 153s temporarily return to the Stourbridge Branch as a description" (PDF). Railway Herald. No. 170. 16 March 2009. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2010. However, problems introducing the new lightweight railcars,