British Rail Class 128

British Rail Class 128 was a class of diesel multiple unit, built for British Rail. Introduced in 1959, ten of the class were built by Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, each with two 230 hp British United Traction - Albion engines.[7] The class was built specifically for parcels, fitted out with parcel racks and bike storage at each end, and did not feature any passenger accommodation. The last members of the class were withdrawn in 1990 and broken up the following year, and none were preserved.

British Rail Class 128
M55989 Post Office motor parcels van at Manchester Victoria, 1982
In service	1959–1990
Manufacturer	Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Order no.	30551 (55991-55996) 30552 (55987-55990)[1]
Family name	First generation
Replaced	Steam locomotives and carriages
Constructed	1959-1960[2]
Entered service	1959[3]
Scrapped	1971-1991
Number built	10
Number scrapped	All
Formation	Single car: DMPMV[2]
Diagram	DX501 or BR643 DX502 or BR644[4]
Fleet numbers	55987-55996[5]
Capacity	Luggage space only[3]
Operator(s)	British Rail
Depot(s)	Reading Tyseley[2] Coldham Lane
Line(s) served	Western Region (1960-1988) London Midland Region Eastern Region (1988-1990)
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel[4]
Car length	64 ft 6 ^1⁄8 in (19.663 m) (over body)[4]
Width	9 ft (2.7 m) (over body at waist)[4]
Height	12 ft 8 ^1⁄4 in (3.867 m) (over vents)[4]
Floor height	4 ft 3 ^7⁄16 in (1.307 m)[4]
Doors	Slam for cab, sliding for luggage[3]
Wheelbase	46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres) 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (bogies)[4]
Maximum speed	70 mph (110 km/h)[4]
Weight	41.5 tonnes (40.8 long tons; 45.7 short tons) (Diagram DX501) 40.5 tonnes (39.9 long tons; 44.6 short tons) (Diagram DX502)[4]
Prime mover(s)	2 × 230 hp (170 kW) Leyland Albion RE901[4][6]
Engine type	Diesel
Cylinder count	6 (horizontal)[4]
Power output	460 hp (340 kW)[3]
Transmission	Mechanical[4]
Train heating	Oil burning air heater[4]
UIC classification	Bo'Bo'
Bogies	Derby[6]
Braking system(s)	Vacuum[4]
Safety system(s)	AWS[4]
Coupling system	Screw[4]
Multiple working	■ Blue Square[4]
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Numbering

Table of orders and numbers

Lot No.	Type	Diagram	Qty	Fleet numbers	Notes
30551	Gangwayed Motor Parcels Van	643 or DX501	6	W55991–W55996	Worked on the Western Region
30552	Non-gangwayed Motor Parcels Van	644 or DX502	4	M55987–M55990	Worked on the London Midland Region

Livery

Royal Mail Livery, 1990

Models

Heljan produce a few 00 scale and 0 scale models in BR green and blue and Royal Mail Post Office Red liveries.

References

1. Longworth 2015, p. 366
2. Fox 1987, p. 40
3. "Class 128". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.
4. Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DX501, DX502.
5. "Class 128 Gloucester RC&W Parcel DMU Cars: Numbering". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
6. "Class 128 Gloucester RC&W Parcel DMU Cars: Description". Railcar.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
7. Ian Allan ABC of British Railways locomotives, winter 1962/3 edition, page 289

Sources

• Fox, Peter (1987). Multiple Unit Pocket Book. British Railways Pocket Book No.2 (Summer/Autumn 1987 ed.). Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Longworth, Hugh (2015). British Railways Electric Multiple Units to 1975. Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860936688. OCLC 923205678.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• Class info from railcar.co.uk