British Rail Class 105

The British Rail Classes 105 and 106 diesel multiple units were built by Cravens Ltd. of Sheffield from 1956 to 1959. The class were built with a side profile identical to British Railways Mark 1 carriage stock, using the same doors and windows. None were selected for refurbishment. The last passenger car was withdrawn from service in 1988.

British Rail Classes 105 and 106
Inside Longsight Diesel Traction Maintenance Depot, December 1983
In service1959–1988
ManufacturerCravens
Family nameFirst generation
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1956–1959
Number builtDMBS: 142, DTCL: 108,
DMCL: 33, TCL 19.
Total: 302 cars
Number preserved3 cars
SuccessorClass 313
Formation2-cars sets: DMBS-DTCL or DMBS-DMCL,
3 cars sets:DMBS-TCL-DMCL
Operator(s)British Railways
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
DoorsSlam
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
WeightPower cars: 29.5 or 30.5 tonnes (29.0 or 30.0 long tons)
Trailer cars: 23.5 or 24.5 tonnes (23.1 or 24.1 long tons)
Prime mover(s)Two BUT
Power output150 bhp (112 kW) each engine
TransmissionMechanical: 4 speed epicyclic gearbox
UIC classificationPower cars: 1A′A1′
Trailer cars: 2′2′
Coupling systemScrew-link couplings , British Standard gangways
Multiple working Blue Square
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Class 105 set forming a charter at Fakenham East railway station, Norfolk.
Class 105 at Kings Cross York Rd station on the last day of diesel services to Moorgate in 1976.

Usage

1978 view towards Bures from Class 105 approaching Sudbury.

The Class 105 DMUs were used chiefly on Eastern Region services around Hull, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and local services to/From London King's Cross. Units initially designated to work on the former Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway lines were moved to services from London King's Cross upon the closure of the M&GN joint lines in 1959. Units were also used on the London Midland Region and in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire. The closure of many of these lines in the 1960s resulted in their dispersal throughout Great Britain, notably to Tysley depot near Birmingham. The electrification of the lines from London King's Cross and the introduction of the Class 313 EMUs in 1976 led to the withdrawal of many Cravens units.

Norwich was the last depot to operate the Cravens units, with set 30 being returned to green livery, and gaining some celebrity status towards the end of its service life. The unit was, however, contaminated with asbestos and consequently scrapped.

Orders

Lot
No.
Car typeQty
Fleet
numbers
Notes
30280Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)1450359–50372Power-trailer 2-car sets
30281Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)1456114–56127Power-trailer 2-car sets
30282Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)1750373–50389Power-trailer 2-car sets
30283Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)1756128–56144Power-trailer 2-car sets
30284Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)550390–50394Power-trailer 2-car sets
30285Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)556145–56149Power-trailer 2-car sets
30352Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)3350752–507842- or 3-car sets
30353Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL)3350785–508172- or 3-car sets
30354Trailer Composite with lavatory (TCL)1959307–593253-car sets
30469Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)4851254–51301Power-trailer 2-car sets
30470Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)4856412–56459Power-trailer 2-car sets
30503Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)2451471–51494Power-trailer 2-car sets
30504Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)2456460–56483Power-trailer 2-car sets
30505Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)150249

Technical details

  • Builder: Cravens
  • Introduced: 1956
  • Coupling Code: Blue Square
  • Body: 57 ft 6 in x 9 ft 2 in
  • Engines: Two BUT, 150 bhp
  • Transmission: Standard mechanical

For coupling codes see British United Traction

Preservation

Cravens trailer E56456 at the Llangollen Railway

Due to the use of asbestos in their construction, and extended usage by BR, the class has fared very badly in preservation. 51485 and 56121 were preserved by the West Somerset Railway but moved to the East Lancashire Railway in 1997 where they have been restored after asbestos stripping. 56456 is based on the Llangollen Railway, working initially with a Class 127. The National Railway Museum had intended to preserve 53812 - which had been stripped of asbestos but a lack of space prevented this car and the Class 100 coupled to it from being moved to York and they were vandalised beyond repair at Crewe.

Number Vehicle type Location
51485DMBSEast Lancashire Railway
56121DTCLEast Lancashire Railway
56456DTCLLlangollen Railway

Models

Bachmann produce 00 scale models of the class 105 in both BR green and BR blue liveries.

References

  • Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs. Colin J. Marsden
  • British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs. Kevin Robertson
  • British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape
  • A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units. Brian Golding
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