British Rail Class 125
Encyclopedia
This article is about the class of first-generation DMU. For the InterCity 125, see British Rail class 43
.
The Class 125 was a design of three car Diesel Multiple Unit
built for British Rail
in 1958. They were high-density units, externally very similar to the Class 116
. They were built specifically for the Lea Valley Line, were all withdrawn in 1977, and none survive to this day. Like many first-generation DMU classes, they never carried their 125xxx TOPS
set numbers.
During the mid-'60s rail blue appeared, and white cab roofs were gradually dispensed with and buffer beams became black. Initially the yellow warning panels were expanded to cover the complete lower front of the driving cabs and later the whole cab fronts became yellow.
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
.
The Class 125 was a design of three car Diesel Multiple Unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
built for British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
in 1958. They were high-density units, externally very similar to the Class 116
British Rail Class 116
The British Rail Class 116 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1957 to 1961.-Regular use:These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic. They were replaced on regional services by the new "Sprinter" derivative units, or by Class 323...
. They were built specifically for the Lea Valley Line, were all withdrawn in 1977, and none survive to this day. Like many first-generation DMU classes, they never carried their 125xxx TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
set numbers.
Numbering
| Vehicle Number | Type | TOPS Class | Weight | Seats | BR Diagram No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50988 - 51007 | DMS | 125/1 | 39.5 LT | 91 | 596 |
| 51154 - 51173 | DMBS | 125/1 | 39.5 LT | 65 | 595 |
| 59449 - 59468 | TS | 185 | 28.5 LT | 110 | 597 |
Liveries
They were delivered in an unlined medium shade of Brunswick green with white cab roofs and yellow speed whiskers. The whiskers were replaced during the early '60s by split yellow warning panels, one either side of the central character train describer which remained green.During the mid-'60s rail blue appeared, and white cab roofs were gradually dispensed with and buffer beams became black. Initially the yellow warning panels were expanded to cover the complete lower front of the driving cabs and later the whole cab fronts became yellow.
Other technical details
- Coupling Code: Orange Star
- Transmission: Hydraulic, Twin-disc (Rolls-Royce) torque converter