British Rail railbuses
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox train
British Rail produced a variety of railbuses, both as a means of acquiring new rolling stock cheaply, and to provide economical services on lightly used lines.
Terminology
Template:Unreferenced section Railbuses are a very lightweight type of railcar designed specifically for passenger transport on little-used railway lines. As the name suggests, they share many aspects of their construction with a bus, usually having a bus body, or a modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed wheelbase, rather than bogies. Some units were equipped for operation as diesel multiple units.
First generation
In the late 1950s, British Rail tested a series of small railbuses, produced by a variety of manufacturers, for about £12,500 each<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (£261,000 at 2014 prices).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These proved to be very economical (on test the Wickham bus was about Template:Convert),<ref>Railway Magazine November 1958 p. 800</ref> but were somewhat unreliable. Most of the lines they worked on were closed following the Beeching Cuts and, being non-standard, they were all withdrawn in the mid-1960s, so they were never classified under the TOPS system.
In addition to those railbuses, BR ordered three for departmental (non-revenue earning) service. The full list of passenger and departmental units is set out below.
| Lot No. | Manufacturer | Diagram | Qty | Fleet numbers | Service life | Length over body | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30483 | Bristol / Eastern Coach Works | 610 | 2 | Sc79958–79959 | 1958–1966 | Template:Convert | 56 | |
| 30482 | Waggon- und Maschinenbau GmbH Donauwörth railbus | 611 | 5 | E79960–79964 | 1958–1967 | Template:Convert | 56 | |
| 30481 | D Wickham & Co | 612 | 5 | Sc79965–79969 | 1958–1966 | Template:Convert | 48 | |
| 30480 | Park Royal Vehicles | 613 | 5 | Sc79970, 79974 M79971–79973 |
1958–1968 | Template:Convert | 50 | |
| 30479 | AC Cars | 614 | 5 | W79975–79978 Sc79979 |
1958–1968 | Template:Convert | 46 | |
| D Wickham & Co | 1 | RDB999507 Elliot | 1958–1997 | |||||
| Drewry Car Co. | 2 | RDB998900-998901 | 1950–1990 |
Engines:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 79958/59, Gardner 6HLW of Template:Convert at 1,700 rpm
- 79960–62/64, Büssing, Template:Convert at 1,900 rpm
- 79963, AEC A220X
- 79965–69, Meadows 6HDT500 of Template:Convert at 1,800 rpm
- 79970–74, AEC, Template:Convert
- 79975–79, AEC, Template:Convert
Leyland Experimental Vehicles
British Rail returned to the idea of railbuses from the mid-1970s, and prototype four-wheel vehicles were developed jointly by British Leyland and the British Rail Research Division. These were named Leyland Experimental Vehicles (LEVs) and consisted of double-ended Leyland National bodyshells (chosen for their strength and cost-effective manufacturing) mounted on top of simple 2-axled railway chassis, which were a derivative of those used on the HSFV.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref>
The LEVs spent a substantial amount of time abroad in the hope of attracting export orders, however none were ever made. Domestically, the LEVs were the predecessors of the Pacer DMUs, of which the Class 140 is its closest relative.
In total, five LEVs were built, which are listed below:
| Photo | Identity | Built | Design | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:LEV1 at Weybourne Station.jpg | LEV1
No. RDB 975874 |
1978: Leyland/BREL Derby | Template:Cvt long.
2 doors (front right and back left). |
It was built at Railway Technical Centre in Derby as an unpowered trailer and used for testing on the West Coast Mainline at speeds of up to Template:Convert. In 1979, it was converted to a self-propelled vehicle using a Leyland 510 diesel engine and was then tested at Old Dalby Test Track.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":2" /> In January 1980, it was shipped to the US and was tested on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Attleboro and the Boston and Maine Railroad between Lowell and Concord.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> After returning to the UK, it was then tested in passenger service, primarily in East Anglia. It carried its last passengers in July 1983 and was withdrawn in 1987, when it was given to the National Railway Museum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2004, it moved to North Norfolk Railway and was restored, returning to passenger service in 2010. In 2012, it was moved to Wensleydale Railway via Locomotion Museum, Shildon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It stayed there until 2024, when it was moved back to Shildon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| LEV2/R3 (for USA) | 1980: Leyland/Wickham | Template:Cvt long.
2 doors (front left and back right). |
It was exported to the US for use by MBTA on a new passenger route to Concord, New Hampshire, which it started running on 1 December 1980. On 15 December of the same year, it struck a car at a level crossing, killing two occupants of the car.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> After a period in storage, it was sold to Boston and Maine Railroad in May 1983 for use as a track inspection vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It was then sold to Steamtown National Historic Site for use as a shuttle, but was damaged by a derailment and sold for scrap.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was bought and repaired by Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad and was used for passenger excursions. In 2001, it was sold to Connecticut Trolley Museum, however by 2021 it had been scrapped.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| File:NIR RB3 Ballymena Geograph-2091774.jpg | RB003/R3 (for BR)
No. RDB 977020 |
1981: Leyland/BREL Derby | Template:Cvt long.
2 doors (front right and back left). |
In 1981, it was shown to the press as a 'pre-production' unit of the then-envisioned future export railbuses.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It was then used for demonstrations in the Bristol area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was sold to Northern Ireland Railways in August 1982 and re-gauged for use on the Portrush branch. It proved to have insufficient passenger capacity, so was taken out of passenger service and used for track inspection duties. In July 1990, it operated the 'Cavan Coup' railtour from Belfast to Kingscourt via Drogheda. After being withdrawn in December 1992, it was first preserved at Ulster Transport Museum before going to Downpatrick and County Down Railway in 2001. In 2024 it was given to Gwendraeth Valley Railway, where it will be re-gauged again and repaired.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| RB002
'The Denmark' |
1984: Leyland/BREL Derby | 2 doors (front left and back left). | Between 1984 and 1986, it toured several countries as a demonstration vehicle, visiting Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref> It returned to the UK, having gained its nickname, and was used as a classroom and office by BREL for some time.<ref name=":4" /> It was then preserved at Riverstown Old Corn Railway, near Dundalk, which is thought to have happened in 1999. The site is now home to Carlingford Brewing Company, but, as of 2019, it remains there, albeit in poor condition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| File:RB004 at TSR.JPG | RB004 | 1984: Leyland/BREL Derby | 6 doors (front, middle and back on both sides). | It was first shipped to the US as a demonstration vehicle and was used for trials in the following locations: a preserved railway in Newport, Long Island Rail Road, the International Exhibition on Transportation Systems in Washington,Template:Efn New Orleans, SEPTA Regional Rail and Cleveland.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was then sent back to the UK and put into storage before later being used as a classroom by BREL in York. It was first preserved at Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and then moved to Telford Steam Railway in 2004 and Aln Valley Railway in 2010. In 2011 it was purchased by Railbus Trust and visited Midland Railway – Butterley and Llangollen Railway before moving permanently to Waverley Route Heritage Association in 2012.<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Routes
.JPG){kind=link}
Lines regularly served by railbuses include:
Scotland
- Ayr – Dalmellington 1959–1964<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Craigendoran – Arrochar 1959<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>–1964<ref name=":0" />
- Darvel 1959–1964<ref name=":0" />
- Devon Valley 1959–1964<ref name=":0" />
- Falkirk – Grangemouth 1967–1968<ref name=":0" />
- Gleneagles – Crieff / Comrie 1958<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>–1964<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kilmarnock – Ardrossan / Ayr 1962-1964<ref name=":0" />
- Larbert – Alloa 1967–1968<ref name=":0" />
- Lugton – Beith 1959–1962<ref name=":0" />
- Speyside 1958–1965<ref name=":0" />
East Anglia
- Cambridge to Mildenhall railway
- Witham-Braintree branch line<ref name=":0" />
- Witham-Maldon branch line<ref name=":0" />
- Saffron Walden Railway<ref>BR Atlas and Gazetteer p. 11 D4</ref>
Midlands
- Bedford – Northampton / Hitchin 1958–1959<ref name=":0" />
- Millers Dale – Buxton 1966–1967<ref name=":0" />
Western
- Bodmin – Wadebridge 1964<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>–1967<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kemble – Cirencester Town and Kemble-Tetbury 1959<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>–1964<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Yeovil Junction – Yeovil Town 1964<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>–1966<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – Pen Mill 1966<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Preservation
A number of the BR railbuses, both first and second generation examples have survived into preservation, as follows:
| Vehicle no. | Builder | Year built | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | ||||
| 79960 | Waggon- und Maschinenbau GmbH Donauwörth | 1958 | Ribble Steam Railway | Formerly North Norfolk Railway |
| 79962 | Waggon- und Maschinenbau GmbH Donauwörth | 1958 | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | — |
| 79963 | Waggon- und Maschinenbau GmbH Donauwörth | 1958 | East Anglian Railway Museum | Formerly North Norfolk Railway, now on loan |
| 79964 | Waggon- und Maschinenbau GmbH Donauwörth | 1958 | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | — |
| 79976 | AC Cars | 1958 | Great Central Railway | Purchased in 1968 without its engine and moved to Bristol and then Bleadon and Uphill museum.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Since then it has moved to Bodmin & Wenford Railway, County School railway station, Colne Valley Railway and then Great Central Railway, before moving to Nemesis Rail where it is stored as a sheeted-over carcass.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 79978 | AC Cars | 1958 | Swindon & Cricklade Railway | Sold to North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1968<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was at the Kent & East Sussex Railway from 1979 to 1984, then moved to the Colne Valley Railway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2019, it moved to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. |
| RDB999507 | Wickham | 1958 | Previously Middleton Railway – moved to Lavender Line 2009 | Elliot High-speed track-recording unit |
| RDB998901 | Drewry Car Company | 1950 | Middleton Railway | Overhead-line inspection car |
| Second generation | ||||
| RDB975874 | Leyland/BREL Derby | 1978 | Wensleydale Railway | LEV 1 |
| LEV2 | Leyland/BREL Derby | 1980 | Connecticut Trolley Museum | Was subject to a project to repatriate to the UK but has been reported as scrapped in August 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| RDB977020 | Leyland/BREL Derby | 1980 | Downpatrick and County Down Railway in Northern Ireland | LEV3 aka RB3. Has been regauged to 5'3” |
| RB002 | Leyland/BREL Derby | 198? | Riverstown Old Corn Railway? near Dundalk, Ireland | RB002 aka The Denmark |
| RB004 | Leyland/BREL Derby | 1984 | Currently at the Whitrope Siding (arrived 31 May 2012) | Owned by Northumbria Rail Ltd. and The Railbus Trust. Moved from Telford Steam Railway to Llangollen Railway 20 May 2011 and then to Midland Railway Centre 19 August 2011 |
Additionally, AC Cars railbus 79979 was preserved. It was the first of the railbuses to be delivered and spent all its working life in Scotland. In 1968, it was moved to Craigentinny where the chassis was scrapped, and it was used as a battery store. It was moved to make way for the TMD in 1977 and the grounded body sold to the Strathspey Railway in 1977.<ref name=":1" /> It was scrapped by MC Metals, Glasgow, in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- British Rail Class 139
- Pacerailer - prototype railbus built 1960s, by a private company.
- Pacer (British Rail)
References
External links
- AC Cars Railbus
- EM2 Locomotive Society – owners of Drewry railcar DB998901. Template:Webarchive
- Old Dalby Test Track site – Pictures of the Drewry car RDB998901 in action at BR's test track Template:Webarchive
- Wickham Railbus Group – owners of Wickham railbus DB999507.
- Train Testing site – Pictures of the testing and travels of the early railbuses
- Train Testing site – Pictures of LEV1 in the US
- departmentals.com
- The Railbus Trust – Working to protect the future of Single Car Railbuses and Second Generation DMU prototypes.
{{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}}