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British Rail Class 109
Preserved unit 50416+56171
In service	1957–1971
Manufacturer	D. Wickham and Company
Family name	First generation
Replaced	Steam locomotives and carriages
Constructed	1957–1958
Number built	5 sets
Number preserved	1 set
Formation	2-car sets: DMBS-DTCL
Capacity	DMBS: 59 second, DTCL: 16 first, 50 second
Operators	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	57 ft 0 in (17.37 m)
Width	8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Height	12 ft 4+1⁄2 in (3.77 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight	DMBS: 27 long tons 0 cwt (60,500 lb or 27.4 t) DTCL: 37 long tons 10 cwt (84,000 lb or 38.1 t)
Prime mover(s)	2 x British United Traction Leyland
Engine type	6 cylinder horizontal
Power output	2 x 150 bhp (110 kW)
Transmission	fluid coupling and air operated 4-speed epicyclic gear box
UIC classification	1A′A1′+2′2′
Bogies	standard Derby 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) wheelbase
Braking system(s)	Vacuum
Coupling system	Screw-link; British Standard gangways
Multiple working	■ Blue Square
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 109 is a class of 2-car diesel multiple units built in 1957 by D Wickham & Co. Five two-car units were built featuring an unusual body design. The design, first used in 1936 for South American railways, aimed to minimise weight. It had no underframe, but the whole body was formed into a welded stress-bearing box girder made of 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) solid drawn steel tube. Aluminium was used for panels, luggage racks, window frames, vacuum pipes and fuel and vacuum tanks. The corrugated steel floor was filled with sprayed asbestos and covered with asbestos-filled flame-proofed hardboard and rubber sheet.

The units soon became non-standard and two were sold back to the manufacturer who exported them to Trinidad and Tobago. Another unit was converted into departmental service, and survived in BR ownership until the early 1980s.

Vehicle numbers

Further use

One two-car set (50416+56171) was extensively overhauled in 1967 at Doncaster, revamping the interiors and adding kitchen facilities to 50416. After repainting, the set was used as the ER General Managers special train, numbered 975005 / 975006.

Preservation

One two-car unit, (see above) the former departmental unit, formed of vehicles 50416 and 56171, has been preserved and restored to working condition at the Llangollen Railway. It was restored using lottery money.

References

1. Railway Magazine September 1957 pp. 606-608
2. "Numbering of the Class 109s". www.railcar.co.uk. The Railcar Association. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008.
3. "Non-passenger use of the Class 109s". www.railcar.co.uk. The Railcar Association. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008.
4. "Preservation of the Class 109s". www.railcar.co.uk. The Railcar Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008.

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20051029135601/http://www.railcar.co.uk/his100-109/109intro.htm

• British Rail diesel multiple units
• D. Wickham and Company rolling stock
• Train-related introductions in 1957