| After the extensive technical
support of the prototype 150 and 151 units the focus of attention moved
primarily to the fleet of railbuses then being introduced.
Following the original proposals by the Research Division several single car railbuses (or LEV's) were built for evaluation. A two car unit 140 001 was then built to BR's then current specifications regarding end loading strength etc which resulted in an expensive unit. This was trialled all over the country. The first complete class was the twenty units of two car class 141 railbuses which were originally based at Neville Hill, Leeds. Introduced about 1983,84 these turned out to be very uncomfortable and unreliable and have been withdrawn. There followed three further classes of railbus, the142, 143 and 144. Later a centre car
was added to some of the 144 units. The original traction power train consisted of a
Leyland TL11 200 HP engine, a Self Changing Gears mechanical automatic gearbox and a Gmeinder final drive unit on each car driving only one axle.
After the problems experienced with most of the
components they now sport Cummins
LTA10-R
230 HP engines with Voith hydraulic gearboxes and Voith final drives. |
Click on the picture for a bigger image - photos are the author's unless otherwise indicated
The first two car unit was a sort of beefed up version of a LEV and was known as the class 140..................
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The prototype 2-car railbus 140 001 arrives at Shrewsbury on 4th December 1981 having traversed the scenic Central Wales line on a driver training run |
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The unit stands in the sidings awaiting the return trip |
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Later that day 140 001 leaves Shrewsbury for Swansea |
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Pictured in the RTC yard at Derby in April 1984 the 140 front end had waist high air hoses and marker lights together with a corridor connection. Altogether rather ugly. |
After the original came the class 141's - a bit of a disaster.....no longer operational in the UK.....look here for the fate of eight of the units.
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This is the first example in the yard at Derby C&W Works Author's collection |
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An unidentified class 141 is pictured on the Goods Lines at Derby around 1985 - probably heading for the RTC for a test of some sort |
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On a rainy day at Wakefield Kirkgate an unidentified class 141 departs with a Huddersfield service |
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In the Metrotrain livery another unidentified Class 141 in one of the north side bay platforms at York - probably 1986 |
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Here's a shot of one of the class 141 railbuses on the Old Dalby test track in December 1987. 141 012 had been at RTC to have its engine and transmission replaced in a bid to improve the performance of these truly awful trains. Bob Osborne |
The 142, 143 and 144 classes followed ............................better looking but an awful ride on anything other than CWR.
Class 142
Built by BREL at Derby - 142049 was shipped to Vancouver in 1986 for the World's Fair and even carried passengers but unfortunately it was returned to the UK.
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The pioneer of the class 142001 at Etches Park depot Derby whilst on test wears the Manchester PTE livery in 1985. |
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142001 near Whatstandwell on the Matlock branch whilst on an evening test run from RTC. |
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142010 wearing the livery of Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE) pictured at Shaw & Crompton on the Oldham Loop sometime in the late 1980's. Author's collection |
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An unidentified Class 142 heads south out of a tunnel, probably somewhere in the Pennines. The unit is adorned in the first 'Provincial Sector' colours. Author's collection |
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142021 in unbranded Arriva Trains Wales livery sits at York on 25th May 2006 |
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142045 captured at Liverpool Lime Street with a service to Manchester Oxford Road on 25th May 2006 |
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Yet another livery for 142068 pictured at Lime Street with a Wigan service on 25th May 2006 |
Class 143
Built by Andrew Barclay with body by Walter Alexander of Falkirk
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A later
re-numbering of the 143's No:143615 passes Marshfield on the South Wales
main line on 8th October 1999 Steve Jones |
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143616 picks up
the single line token at Tondu on its way to Coryton on 8th October 1999 Steve Jones |
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143623 passes
Cardiff Canton depot with a local service on 8th October 1999 Steve Jones |
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Andrew Barclay-built unit 143020 in the Tyne and Wear PTE livery sits in the bay at Carlisle in early 2003. Like the proverbial original broom (three new heads and two new handles) the railbuses have had virtually all the power train and the braking system - and the seats - and the doors changed since they were built. It would have cheaper and infinitely better to have built more Sprinters instead! |
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On 8th June 2006 143611 sits in the bay platform 1 at Bristol Temple Meads with a service for Avonmouth |
Class 144
Built by BREL with body by Walter Alexander of Falkirk
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144002 at York on 25th May 2006 in a Metro/Northern livery |
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Three-car 144020 at York on 25th May 2006 |
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144010 at Leeds later that same day |
