British Rail Class 114

The British Rail Class 114 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from September 1956 to July 1957. Forty-nine 2-car units were built, numbered E50001-49 for driving motors (later renumbered 53001-49) and E56001-49 for driving trailers (later renumbered 54001-49). The units were used in the early days out of 40A Lincoln TMD (LN) on services all over the county, although a small number were transferred to 41A Sheffield (Darnall) during 1959/60.

British Rail Class 114
114 T231 at Blaenau Ffestiniog in BR blue and grey
In service	1960–2002
Manufacturer	BR Derby
Family name	First generation
Replaced	Steam locomotives and carriages
Constructed	1956–1957
Number built	50 sets (100 cars)
Number preserved	2 sets (4 cars)
Formation	DMBS+DTCL
Capacity	DMBS: 62 second DTCL: 12 first, 62 second
Operator(s)	British Rail
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 4 ^1⁄2 in (3.77 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Multiple working	■ Blue Square
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The vehicles were the first type to be built at Derby with the longer 63 1/2ft underframe, and the first Derby vehicles to be built from steel. This design would be re-used in the 116 and 117. The type was classed a heavyweight unit; with their original 150 hp BUT engines, they were found to be underpowered for the local scheduled services, and lost time especially when towing a van (which was a regular occurrence in that area). The most problematic stretch was the 1 in 122 for just under a mile near Ancaster which reduced these units to 45 mph even on full power. As a result of this, several 3-car formations were put together using two power cars and one trailer. The type was re-engined with Leyland Albion 230bhp motors.[1]

These were used in the main on Grantham - Boston/Skegness and Lincoln - Cleethorpes workings during 1957, and would be a familiar sight in the Lincolnshire area until the early 1990s.[2]

Formations

Formations noted in Railway Observer magazine were E50008/E50007/E56007, E50011/E50012/E56012, E50038/E50039/E56015 and E50015/E50035/E56035. Spare trailers were stored at various locations - E56016/25/40 at Blankney & Metheringham, E56010/39 at Bardney and E56004/20/22/37/38/44/45 near Sleaford South Junction.

E50029/30/31/32/33/34 and their respective trailers were transferred to Stratford between February and April 1957 in exchange for Derby 2-car lightweight units, but between June and October the 114s moved back to Lincoln.

History

E50049/E56049 was introduced with 230 hp versions of the power unit, which proved to have a much more acceptable power to weight ratio, and during 1959 and 1960 all the class were fitted with these more powerful engines and settled down to work most Lincolnshire local services (with regular visits to South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire) for over 25 years. One of the class (one of the cars 50040) along with another 3-car unit was on one of the last passenger service from Louth to Grimsby on 20 December 1980. Other services where Cleethorpes to Barton-upon-Humber, Cleethorpes to Sheffield via Retford, and Peterborough to Grimsby via Boston, Willoughby and Louth.[3]

The units were rarely seen outside of their normal working area, but in June 1957 E50029/E56029 worked a special excursion from Ipswich to Chessington South.[4]

Later in their life, they were moved to the Tyseley TMD (TS) West Midlands, but still came back to the Lincolnshire area on a regular basis.[5]

Accidents and incidents

• On 25 January 1963, a set working the Grantham - Lincoln Central service collided with the rear (tender) of a stationary Class B1 steam locomotive near Bracebridge Gas Sidings Signalbox near Lincoln. Two people were killed and three injured.[6]
• On 12 February 1968, the 06:48 Sheffield - Cleethorpes was hit in the rear by a coal train ran. The Class 114 had a parcel van as a tail load which took the force of the impact, but the rear cab was still severely crushed.
• On 28 November 1969, 50031 + 56031 ran through level crossing gates at Great Coates level crossing near Grimsby, striking a Dodge articulated lorry and carrying it 46 feet into the station. 3 people needed hospital treatment. The driver had run a red signal.[7]
• On 28 January 1970, 56020 & 50020, travelling at 50mph, struck a tanker traversing Dowdyke Bank level crossing between Spalding & Boston.[8]
• On 9 December 1983, 53049 + 54049 working the 17:32 Cleethorpes - Sheffield collided with the 15:02 Drax - Lindsey (900-tons of empty oil tanks hauled by 47299) at Wrawby junction, a convergence of lines just outside Barnetby, Lincolnshire. One passenger was killed.[9]
• On the 26th July 1986, 53016 + 54034, coupled to Class 105 54434 + 51278, collided with a van that had driven onto Lockington Level Crossing against flashing lights. 54434 derailed and ran down the embankment, turning 180 degrees before coming to rest on its side. All vehicles were badly damaged. Nine people were killed.[10]

Prototype unit

In addition to the 49 production units, a fiftieth two-car unit (cars 50000 and 56000) was built to test the Rolls Royce engine type and hydraulic transmission later used on the Class 127 units. Initially the unit underwent trials on the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith railway in early 1957, but was subsequently also allocated to Lincoln and worked the same diagrams as the other 49. The unit was withdrawn in October 1967 as it was deemed to be non-standard, thus never received an official TOPS class designation.[11]

Table of orders and numbers

Lot No.	Type	Diagram	Qty	Fleet numbers	Weight	Notes
30209	Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)	516	48	50001–50048	37 long tons 10 cwt (84,000 lb or 38.1 t)
30210	Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)	641	49	56001–56049	29 long tons 10 cwt (66,100 lb or 30 t)
30341	Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)	632	1	50000	41 long tons 3 cwt (92,200 lb or 41.8 t)
30342	Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL)	641	1	56000	31 long tons 3 cwt (69,800 lb or 31.6 t)
30459	Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)	516	1	50049	37 long tons 10 cwt (84,000 lb or 38.1 t)

Table of engines fitted

Vehicle number	Engine
50000	Two (2) Rolls-Royce 238 hp (177 kW) engines and torque converter drives
50001–50048	Two (2) Leyland 150 hp (112 kW) engines initially, but later were replaced by two 230 hp (172 kW) BUT engines.
50049	Two (2) Albion 230 hp (172 kW) engines

Withdrawal

The units were replaced by newer "Sprinter" units in the late 1980s. By 1992, only two units were still in service, based at Tyseley depot in Birmingham, and all were withdrawn by July of that year.[12] The final set, T027, was eventually preserved at Midland Railway Centre, Butterley.[13]

Non-passenger use

No. 55930 in Royal Mail livery

Five units were rebuilt as parcels units with roller-shutter doors in 1988. These were repainted in Royal Mail red livery, and were based at Cambridge depot. They were withdrawn in 1991. Four of the units were scrapped, whilst the fifth was rebuilt as a test train for the new ATP. This unit passed into EWS ownership with the privatisation of Britain's railways. It was then used in a new role of a route-learner unit, until it was withdrawn in 2002. It was eventually preserved in 2004.[14]

Parcels cars - converted in 1986

Original number	2nd TOPS number	Parcel number	Parcel number2
50010	53010	55930
50015	53015	55929
50018	53018	55928
50032	53032	55932
50040	53040	55931
56009	54009	54903
56015	54015	54904
56016	54016	54901
56034	54034	55933	54900
56036	54036	55932	54902

All were allocated to CA. Initially only the seats were removed, although later a more substantial conversion was carried out, including the fitting of roller shutter doors, with two sets of these on the DTCs where the vestibules/passenger doors had been.

Departmental

Original number	2nd TOPS number	Parcel number	Department number	Usage
50015	53015	55929	ADB977775	ATP Test Unit
50036	53036	-	977769	-
56015	54015	54904	977776	ATP Test Unit
56027	54027	-	977770	-

ADB 977775/6 were converted into an Automatic Train Protection demonstration train and fitted with both types of ATP systems from the BR pilot schemes c1991. Following the abandonment of ATP development, the unit found a new lease of life with EWS as a route learning and inspection saloon based initially at Margam South Wales.

Preservation

56006 at Kidderminster

Only two sets have been preserved on heritage railways.

Vehicles numbers		Set number	Location	Comments
DMBS	DTCL
50019	56006	T027	Midland Railway - Butterley	-
50015	56015	CA924	Midland Railway - Butterley	Rebuilt to parcels unit 55929+54904. Later rebuilt to test unit 977775+977776.
-	54047	TS022	Strathspey Railway	-

References

1. "56004_1980_04_Nottingham". 5 April 1980 – via Flickr.
2. "Dave F's photos - ongoing - more added each day". RMweb.
3. "Final ticket Louth to Grimsby". www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com.
4. Trains Illustrated magazine Vol X No 108, September 1957
5. "Untitled". www.petertandy.co.uk.
6. "Accident at Bracebridge Gas Sidings on 25th January 1963 :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
7. "Report on the Accident that occurred on 28th November 1969 at Great Coates Level Crossing near Grimsby in the Eastern Region British Railways :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
8. "Report on the Accident that occurred on 28th January 1970 at Dowdyke Bank Level Crossing between Spalding and Boston in the Eastern Region British Railways :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
9. "Accident report" (PDF). www.railwaysarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
10. "Report on the Derailment that occurred on 26th July 1986 at Lockington Level Crossing in the Eastern Region British Railways :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
11. "Rail express" (PDF). internationalmagazinecentre.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
12. "Class 114 DMU Operations". www.railcar.co.uk.
13. Limited, Alamy. "Stock Photo - British Rail Class 114 diesel multiple unit TO27 awaiting some restoration at the midland railway centre derbyshire england uk". Alamy.
14. "Diesel Multiple Units". www.igg.org.uk.

Sources

• Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs. Colin J. Marsden
• British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs. Kevin Robertson
• British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units- The First Generation. Brian Haresnape
• A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units. Brian Golding

External links

• Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group - owners of units 50019+56006 and 56015+50015.
• The Railcar Association