Propelling Control Vehicle
Encyclopedia
British Rail Class 307
The British Rail Class 307 electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh Works from 1954-1956. They were initially classified as AM7 before the introduction of TOPS.-Description:...
driving trailers and have a cab at one end. This allows mail trains to be propelled at low speed, with the locomotive at the rear of the train being driven from the PCV.
Forty-two PCVs were converted by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
from 1994 to 1996. The rebuilding work including removal of the windows and slam-doors, the fitting of roller shutter
Roller shutter
A roller shutter, roller door or sectional overhead door is a type of door or window shutter consisting of many horizontal slats hinged together. The door is raised to open it and lowered to close it. On large doors, the action may be motorized. It provides protection against wind and rain...
doors, and modernisation of the cab. The vehicles were given the TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
code NAA and numbered 94300–94327 and 94331–94345. The first two vehicles converted were prototypes, and were extensively tested to iron out any problems. The subsequent 40 vehicles incorporated modifications as a result of this testing. At the same time these vehicles were converted, the Class 47/7
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
locomotives that hauled mail trains were modified to be able to work in push-pull
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
mode with the PCVs.
When first converted the vehicles were used by the Rail Express Systems
Rail Express Systems
Upon the sectorisation of British Rail during the 1980s the Parcels Sector was created. In 1991 this was rebranded Rail Express Systems. The Rail Express Systems launch event was held at Crewe Diesel Depot in October 1991. For this event examples of Class 08, 47, 86 & 90 locomotives were painted...
parcels sector of 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...
. They were painted in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes. PCVs were marshalled at either end of mail trains that worked into London termini, which removed the need for the locomotive to run round the train at its destination. Trains were propelled only at low speed, not for long distances.
In 1996 Rail Express Systems was sold to EWS
EWS
DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...
, who continued to operate mail trains on behalf of Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
. PCVs were used on trains between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. PCVs were also used on Travelling Post Office trains from London to Plymouth, Newcastle, Norwich, Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
and Glasgow.
The two prototype PCVs, nos. 94300/1, were non-standard. Consequently, they were used as standard mail coaches on a new high-speed mail train from Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, painted in EWS maroon/gold livery and renumbered 95300/1.
In early 2004, EWS lost the contract to transport mail. As a result, all PCVs except 95300/1 have been withdrawn from service, pending new traffic, sale or scrapping.
Fleet details
The table below shows details of the fleet, including numbering and disposition.| Key: | In service | Withdrawn | Preserved | Renumbered | Scrapped |
|---|
| PCV no. | Former no. | Former vehicle type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94300 | 75114 | DTCOL | Push-pull equipment removed. Renumbered to 95300 |
| 94301 | 75102 | DTCOL | Push-pull equipment removed. Renumbered to 95301 |
| 94302 | 75124 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94303 | 75131 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94304 | 75107 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94305 | 75104 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94306 | 75112 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94307 | 75127 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94308 | 75125 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94309 | 75130 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94310 | 75119 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94311 | 75105 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94312 | 75126 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94313 | 75129 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94314 | 75109 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94315 | 75132 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham (08/2006) |
| 94316 | 75108 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94317 | 75117 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94318 | 75115 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94319 | 75128 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94320 | 75120 | DTCOL | Preserved on Mid-Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway.... |
| 94321 | 75122 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94322 | 75111 | DTCOL | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94323 | 75110 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94324 | 75103 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94325 | 75113 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94326 | 75123 | DTCOL | Withdrawn |
| 94327 | 75116 | DTCOL | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94331 | 75022 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94332 | 75011 | DTBSO | Withdrawn |
| 94333 | 75016 | DTBSO | Withdrawn |
| 94334 | 75017 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94335 | 75032 | DTBSO | Withdrawn |
| 94336 | 75031 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94337 | 75029 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94338 | 75008 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94339 | 75024 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94340 | 75012 | DTBSO | Scrapped by C F Booth C F Booth C F Booth Ltd is a business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, dealing in recycling and scrap metal. Their main site is Clarence Metal Works adjacent to the Rotherham Ring Road, although there are, or have been, a number of other associated sites and businesses including a rail served... , Rotherham |
| 94341 | 75007 | DTBSO | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94342 | 75005 | DTBSO | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 94343 | 75027 | DTBSO | Withdrawn |
| 94344 | 75014 | DTBSO | Withdrawn |
| 94345 | 75004 | DTBSO | Scrapped by TJ Thompson, Stockton |
| 95300 | 94300 | Prototype PCV | Withdrawn |
| 95301 | 94301 | Prototype PCV | Withdrawn |
See also
- Cab car - a passenger car with a train control cab used in push-pullPush-pull trainPush–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
service.