British Rail Class 151
Encyclopedia
The British Rail Class 151 was a prototype
class of DMU
built by Metro Cammell in the mid-1980s.
Only two 3-car units were built and they were introduced into service in the spring and summer of 1985. The vehicles were aluminum bodied and each one was equipped with Cummins
NT855 285 hp diesel engines with hot-shift Twin Disc
transmissions
and Gmeinder
final drives. Their maximum speed was 75 mph (120 km/h) and their light weight meant good acceleration. The Class 151 vehicles looks strikingly similar to those used on the Tyne and Wear Metro
, also built by Metro Cammell, five years previously.
The gearboxes would prove to be troublesome, giving jerky shifts and sending violent shocks throughout the train. Problems were never fully rectified until a modified version of the transmission appeared some years later on the Class 154, however interest in the Class 151 or hot-shift gearbox had disappeared by then.
The units had one or two other unusual features including hydraulically-driven alternators and cooling fans. The main cooler group and radiators were fitted in a pod on the roof of each vehicle. The bogies were non-standard and this combined with several other unique features lead ultimately to their withdrawal in 1989. There were proposals to fit standard Class 150 bogies, however this proved to be impractical.
The production contract was awarded to the BREL
-built Class 150
. After withdrawal the units were stored at Llandudno Junction
carriage sheds until they were purchased by Railtest (later Serco Railtest) who had planned to convert them into test units. However, for the same reasons which saw their withdrawal from service, Railtest did not go ahead with any conversions and the units were again stored out in the open in the sidings of the Derby RTC
.
In March 2000, they were bought by a company called Endeavour Rail who were planning to refurbish both units for spot hire to TOCs and they were transferred to Pete Waterman
's LNWR company at Crewe
, but again the proposed refurbishment did not happen and the units remained in the open next to the main line where they would remain until scrapped on site, their condition having rapidly degenerated, in part due to vandalism. The unit was scrapped in 2004.
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
class of DMU
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 by Metro Cammell in the mid-1980s.
Only two 3-car units were built and they were introduced into service in the spring and summer of 1985. The vehicles were aluminum bodied and each one was equipped with Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
NT855 285 hp diesel engines with hot-shift Twin Disc
Twin Disc
Twin Disc, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes power transmission equipment for a wide range of applications, including marine, off-road vehicle and industrial. The company was founded in the 1920s to manufacture clutches for farm tractors...
transmissions
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
and Gmeinder
Gmeinder
Gmeinder GmbH was a German locomotive and engineering company based in Mosbach. Its products included diesel engines, small locomotives and other railway locomotive parts...
final drives. Their maximum speed was 75 mph (120 km/h) and their light weight meant good acceleration. The Class 151 vehicles looks strikingly similar to those used on the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
, also built by Metro Cammell, five years previously.
The gearboxes would prove to be troublesome, giving jerky shifts and sending violent shocks throughout the train. Problems were never fully rectified until a modified version of the transmission appeared some years later on the Class 154, however interest in the Class 151 or hot-shift gearbox had disappeared by then.
The units had one or two other unusual features including hydraulically-driven alternators and cooling fans. The main cooler group and radiators were fitted in a pod on the roof of each vehicle. The bogies were non-standard and this combined with several other unique features lead ultimately to their withdrawal in 1989. There were proposals to fit standard Class 150 bogies, however this proved to be impractical.
The production contract was awarded to the BREL
BREL
British Rail Engineering Limited , was the railway systems engineering division of British Rail, until the design and building of trains in the UK was privatised in 1993. On 31 October 1969, the company was incorporated as British Rail Engineering Limited.-Main products:The vast majority of BREL's...
-built Class 150
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
. After withdrawal the units were stored at Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction , once known as Tremarl, is a small town in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. It is part of the ancient parish of Llangystennin, and it is located south of Llandudno. It adjoins Deganwy and is to the east of the walled town of Conwy, which is on the opposite side of the River...
carriage sheds until they were purchased by Railtest (later Serco Railtest) who had planned to convert them into test units. However, for the same reasons which saw their withdrawal from service, Railtest did not go ahead with any conversions and the units were again stored out in the open in the sidings of the Derby RTC
Railway Technical Centre
The Railway Technical Centre in London Road, Derby, UK, was built by the British Railways Board in the early 1960s to be its technical headquarters....
.
In March 2000, they were bought by a company called Endeavour Rail who were planning to refurbish both units for spot hire to TOCs and they were transferred to Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
's LNWR company at Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, but again the proposed refurbishment did not happen and the units remained in the open next to the main line where they would remain until scrapped on site, their condition having rapidly degenerated, in part due to vandalism. The unit was scrapped in 2004.
Formation
| Unit Number | DMSL (68S seats) | MS (84S seats) | DMS (80S seats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151001 (151003) | 55202 | 55402 | 55302 |
| 151002 (151004) | 55203 | 55403 | 55303 |