British Rail Class 950
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 950 is a diesel multiple unit
that was purpose-built for departmental use as a track assessment unit. It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1
"Sprinter" units that were built from 1985-1986.
It was originally classified as a Class 180 test unit, but since this designation is now used by the new First Great Western
"Adelante"
units, it has been reclassified into the departmental series.
The unit is formed of two driving motor vehicles.
The unit is currently painted in a plain overall yellow livery with Network Rail
branding. It mostly works on lines also used by Sprinters and Pacers
where the track quality is not good enough for larger and heavier track assessment stock. It is able to operate over most railway lines around Great Britain
.
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...
Class 950 is a 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:...
that was purpose-built for departmental use as a track assessment unit. It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1
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 :...
"Sprinter" units that were built from 1985-1986.
It was originally classified as a Class 180 test unit, but since this designation is now used by the new First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
"Adelante"
British Rail Class 180
The Class 180 is a type of British diesel multiple unit train built by Alstom between 2000 and 2001 for use on then-new express services by First Great Western . They were built at Washwood Heath in Birmingham and are part of the Coradia 1000 family along with the Class 175. FGW stopped using the...
units, it has been reclassified into the departmental series.
The unit is formed of two driving motor vehicles.
| Unit No. | DM | DM |
|---|---|---|
| 950001 | 999600 | 999601 |
The unit is currently painted in a plain overall yellow livery with Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
branding. It mostly works on lines also used by Sprinters and Pacers
Pacer (train)
Pacer is the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses, built between 1984 and 1987...
where the track quality is not good enough for larger and heavier track assessment stock. It is able to operate over most railway lines around Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.