The 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...

 Class 960 was reserved for former 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:...

s converted for departmental use, and former electrical multiple units rebuilt as test trains. Diesel units were converted for various tasks, including application of sandite

Sandite

Sandite is a substance used on railways in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands to combat leaves on the line, which can cause train wheels to slip and become damaged with flat spots...

, route learning, use as tractor units to tow other trains, and conversion to test trains.

Diesel and electric units are dealt with separately.

Diesel Units

Key:	In service	Withdrawn	Preserved	Returned to normal traffic	Scrapped

Unit No.		Converted	Use	Former Class	Final livery	Formation			Wdn.	Status
Current	Original					DM (DT*)	T	DM (DT*)
960002	L120	-	Sandite/Route-learning unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	NSE	977722 ex-55020	-	-	2002	Returned to normal service as 121020
960010	L124	-	Sandite unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	BR Maroon	977858 ex-55024	-	-	-	In service
960011	L125	-	Ex Video-survey, now Route-learning unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	Railtrack Blue/Green	977859 ex-55025	-	-	-	In service
960012	L128	-	Route-learning unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	SWT Blue/Red	977860 ex-55028	-	-	2010	Preserved on Swanage Railway Swanage Railway The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
960013	L130	-	Sandite unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	NSE	977866 ex-55030	-	-	-	Scrapped (2011)
960014	L122	-	Route-learning unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	BR Blue/Grey	977873 ex-55022	-	-	-	In service
960015	122019	-	Sandite unit	122 British Rail Class 122 The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019...	NR Yellow	975042 ex-55019	-	-	-	In service
960021	L121	-	Sandite/Route-learning unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	Railtrack Brown	977723 ex-55021	-	-	-	Scrapped (2011)
960301	117308	2003	Water-cannon unit	117 British Rail Class 117 The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel from 1959 to 1961.When first introduced, these three-car units were all based with the similar Class 121 single carriage units on British Railway's Western Region for suburban work out of London Paddington, as well as...	BR Green	977987 ex-51371	977992 ex-51375	977988 ex-51413	-	In service
960302	121027	2003	Severn Tunnel Severn Tunnel The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....   emergency train	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	NR Yellow	977975 ex-55027	-	-	-	Moved to Long Marston for storage 12/07 Moved to Cardiff for storage 06/08
960303	121031	2003	Severn Tunnel Severn Tunnel The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....   emergency train	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	NR Yellow	977976 ex-55031	-	-	-	Moved to Long Marston for storage 12/07 Moved to Cardiff for storage 06/08
960931	107744	1992	Sandite unit	107 British Rail Class 107 The British Rail Class 107 diesel multiple units were built by the Derby Works of British Railways and were introduced in 1960. The class looked similar to the later Class 108 units, but were heavier - having been built out of steel.-Usage:...	Strathclyde Orange	977832 ex-52005	-	977833 ex-52025	1996	Preserved
960932	107730	1992	Sandite unit	107 British Rail Class 107 The British Rail Class 107 diesel multiple units were built by the Derby Works of British Railways and were introduced in 1960. The class looked similar to the later Class 108 units, but were heavier - having been built out of steel.-Usage:...	Strathclyde Orange	977830 ex-51990	-	977831 ex-52030	1996	Preserved
960933	107733	1992	Sandite unit	107 British Rail Class 107 The British Rail Class 107 diesel multiple units were built by the Derby Works of British Railways and were introduced in 1960. The class looked similar to the later Class 108 units, but were heavier - having been built out of steel.-Usage:...	Strathclyde Orange	977834 ex-51993	-	977835 ex-52012	1996	Preserved
960991	LO991	-	Sandite unit	101 British Rail Class 101 The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...	NSE	977895 ex-53308	-	977896 ex-53331	2001	Scrapped (2003)
960992	LO992	-	Sandite unit	101 British Rail Class 101 The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...	BR Blue/Grey	977897 ex-53203	-	977898 ex-53193	2001	Preserved
960993	LO993	-	Sandite unit	101 British Rail Class 101 The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...	BR Blue/Grey	977899 ex-51427	-	977900 ex-53321	2001	Preserved
960994	LO994	-	Sandite unit	101 British Rail Class 101 The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...	BR Blue/Grey	977901 ex-53200	-	977902 ex-53231	2001	Scrapped (2003)
960995	LO995	-	Sandite unit	101 British Rail Class 101 The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...	BR Blue/Grey	977903 ex-53208	-	977904 ex-53291	2001	Scrapped (2003)
-	-	1968	Ultrasonic test train	DL British Rail Derby Lightweight The British Rail Derby Lightweight diesel multiple units, were the first such trains to be built en-masse for British Railways. The units were built at BR's Derby Works from 1954 to 1955. The units were built in various formations, including 12 power-twin 2-car units, 84 power-trailer 2-car units,...	RTC Blue/Red	975007 ex-79018	-	975008* ex-79612	1995	Preserved
-	-	1968	Test Coach "Iris"	DL British Rail Derby Lightweight The British Rail Derby Lightweight diesel multiple units, were the first such trains to be built en-masse for British Railways. The units were built at BR's Derby Works from 1954 to 1955. The units were built in various formations, including 12 power-twin 2-car units, 84 power-trailer 2-car units,...	BR Green	975010 ex-79900	-	-	2000	Preserved
-	-	1971	Viaduct inspection unit	103 British Rail Class 103 The British Rail Class 103 diesel multiple units were built by Park Royal Vehicles with diesel engines by British United Traction . Ordered in the first half of 1955, 20 of these sets were built by Park Royal at the Crossley Motors works in Stockport of the ACV Group. They consisted of a power car...	BR Blue	975137 ex-50397	-	975228* ex-56160	1985	Preserved
-	-	1988	Sandite coach	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	BR Blue/Grey	977466* ex-54286	-	-	1995	Scrapped (1996)
-	-	1988	Sandite coach	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	BR Blue/Grey	977486* ex-54285	-	-	1995	Preserved
-	CA924	1991	ATP Automatic Train Protection Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...  test train	114 British Rail Class 114 The British Rail Class 114 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1956 to 1957. Forty-nine 2-car units were built, numbered 50001-49 for driving motors and 56001-49 for driving trailers . The units were used in the early days out of Lincoln TMD on services all over the county...	Red/Grey	977775 ex-55929	-	977776* ex-54904	2002	Preserved
-	01	1969	Sandite/Route-learning unit	122 British Rail Class 122 The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019...	BR Blue	975023 ex-55001	-	-	1995	Preserved
-	121029	2001	Video-survey unit	121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...	EurailScout Yellow	977968 ex-55029	-	-	-	In service
-	122012	1995	Route-learning unit	122 British Rail Class 122 The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019...	Load-Haul	977941 ex-55012	-	-	2002	Withdrawn

Electric Units

Unit No.		Converted	Use	Former Class	Final livery	Formation			Wdn.	Status
Current	Original					DM (DT*)	T	DM (DT*)
960101	309616	2001	Cab signalling test unit	309 British Rail Class 309 The British Rail Class 309 "Clacton Express" electric multiple units were built by British Rail York Works from 1962-1963. They were initially classified as Class AM9 before the introduction of TOPS...	Blue/White				2004	Preserved at Electric Railway Museum Coventry Railway Centre The Electric Railway Museum is located in Warwickshire, south of Coventry city, outside Baginton, and near to Coventry Airport. The heritage railway centre was also known as "The Airfield Line" as the railway was built on the site of a greenfield...
960102	309624	2001	Cab signalling test unit	309 British Rail Class 309 The British Rail Class 309 "Clacton Express" electric multiple units were built by British Rail York Works from 1962-1963. They were initially classified as Class AM9 before the introduction of TOPS...	Blue/White				2004	Preserved at Electric Railway Museum Coventry Railway Centre The Electric Railway Museum is located in Warwickshire, south of Coventry city, outside Baginton, and near to Coventry Airport. The heritage railway centre was also known as "The Airfield Line" as the railway was built on the site of a greenfield...
960201	310109/ 310113	2002	Traction equipment test	310 British Rail Class 310 The British Rail Class 310 is a slam-door, alternating current electric multiple unit introduced in 1963 as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification project. They were initially classified as Class AM10 units before the introduction of the TOPS classification system. Constructed at BR's...	Green				2005	Scrapped (2005)