British Rail Class 116

The British Rail Class 116 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1957 to 1961.

British Rail Class 116
Class 116 near Kenilworth in 1976.
Interior.
In service1961–1990
ManufacturerDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Built atDerby
Family nameFirst generation
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Constructed1957–1961
Number built
  • DMBS: 108
  • DMS: 108
  • TC: 94
Number preserved
  • DMBS: 5
  • TC: 1
Number scrapped
  • DMBS: 103
  • DMS: 108
  • TC: 93
Formation2 or 3 cars per trainset
Capacity
  • DMBS: 85 second
  • DMS: 95 second
  • TC: 28 first, 74 second
Operator(s)British Rail
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 4 1⁄2 in (3.77 m)
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
WeightPower cars: 36 long tons 0 cwt (80,600 lb or 36.6 t),
Trailer cars: 28 long tons 10 cwt (63,800 lb or 29 t)
Prime mover(s)Two BUT of 150 hp (112 kW) per power car
Power output600 hp (447 kW) per set
Multiple working■ Blue Square
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Background and design

Introduced as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan in the mid 1950s, as with other first generation DMUs the 116 was intended to replace steam trains and reduce costs across the rail network.[1] Alongside Metro-Cammell, BR Derby had prior experience with DMUs, having developed a Lightweight Unit, and so was awarded a contract for a new design.[2] BR ordered the type in large numbers but Derby Works could not keep up with demand. Variants of the type, British Rail Class 117 and British Rail Class 118 were built by Pressed Steel and the BRC&W respectively under licence.[3] These units were originally ordered for use on suburban and local services in the Birmingham area, but many found their way to other areas such as South Wales.[4]

The type was powered by twin BUT six cylinder diesel engines, each producing 150bhp with mechanical transmission. The type came in two or three car formations; in a three car set, the trailer (centre carriage) was unpowered.[5] Built of an all steel construction, the 116 and its variants were classed as heavyweight DMUs but were capable of speeds of 70mph.[6]

Like other BR Derby output, the type underwent testing on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway which had been closed to passenger trains by the mid 1950s.[7]

The class were similar in design to the Class 114, sharing the same heavyweight steel chassis but were fitted out as high density sets, built for short distance, high capacity services, and so were built without gangways or toilets, although gangways were later fitted on some units. They were originally capable of accommodating 262 passengers. On introduction, they were heavily marketed based on their appeal to commuters, and offered cheap fares.[4][8]

Some sources claim that the Class 116 had issues such as poor ride and weak build quality, causing difficulties in later service.[9]

Table of order and numbers
Lot No.TypeDiagramQtyFleet numbersNotes
30211Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5534250050–50091
30212Trailer Composite (TC)5553259000–59031
30213Driving Motor Second (DMS)5544250092–50133
30363Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5535350818–50870
30364Driving Motor Second (DMS)5545350871–50923
30365Trailer Composite (TC)5555159326–59376
30446Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)5531351128–51140
30447Driving Motor Second (DMS)5541351141–51153
30448Trailer Composite (TC)5551159438–59448

Regular use

West Midlands

Introduced into service on 17 June, 1957, the 116 was used extensively around the commuter belts of Birmingham before being used on longer routes to Oxford and Worcester from spring, 1958.[10] The type was a familiar sight on the Cross City Line, the Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line and across the West Midlands for the next thirty years, including services between Leamington Spa and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Several units were painted in West Midlands PTE livery.[11] The 116s were refurbished several times in their lifetime, but with the electrification of the Cross City Line, the type was wound down in the area along with the Class 101, with which it worked in tandem with.[12] Withdrawal started from November 1992 and they were fully replaced by EMUs on 12 July 1993.[13]

From the mid 1960s, surplus units were transferred to the Eastern and Scottish Regions. The first three Class 116 units were transferred to Scotland in October 1966, initially on-loan to Hamilton depot, but the move became permanent in November, and by December that year eight units were based at Hamilton.[14]

Scotland

The Scottish 116 units were put to work immediately. They worked out of Glasgow Central to East Kilbride, Barrhead, Kilmarnock, Kilmacolm, sometimes reaching Largs and Edinburgh via Shotts. The class was repainted in Trans Clyde livery, and were used on longer routes between Glasgow and Ayr.[15]

Hamilton Depot closed in August 1982 and so the class 116 fleet was reallocated to Eastfield. In theory the units were out-based at Corkerhill, continuing to work services out of Glasgow Central. After electrification, the 116's were phased out of use. The last 116 unit left service in Scotland in March 1987, being returned to the Birmingham area in favour of the Class 107 which returned to service after an overhaul of the fleet.[16]

South Wales

The 116 was extensively used in South Wales, being introduced on 2 December 1957 in the Cardiff Valley region. They were housed at Carton depot. Just as in the Birmingham region, the new trains were heavily advertised.[17] The units were used for the next 30 years almost exclusively in the South Wales area, but did occasionally work services to Bristol and Bath.[18]

With the introduction of Sprinters, the 116 became obsolete and were slowly withdrawn from service in favor of British Rail Class 150s starting in 1987. The final 116s were withdrawn from Wales on 18 September 1992.[19]

Eastern Region

The Eastern region based 116 units were based at Stratford, running services to and from Liverpool Street. A delay in introducing new trains to the London region from the Chiltern area saw the 116 pressed into service to fill the gap.[20]

Later use

The 116 fleet and its variants were extensively refurbished in the late 1970s. The carriages were renovated with new interiors including gangways, improved lighting and improvements to the onboard heating. The work was awarded to BR Swindon.[21] The type was subsequently seen in use everywhere from Tyneside to Devon.[22]

The 116 units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic along with other first generation types. The age of the trains along with concerns about the asbestos used during the initial building and subsequent renovations were the reasons given.[23] They were gradually replaced on regional services by the new "Sprinter" derivative units, or by Class 323 electric multiple units on services around Birmingham, with several units still being used until the final day of diesel running before electrification.[24] The remaining units in use were transferred to Tyseley depot to partially replace the retired 114 and their workings in Lincolnshire.[25]

The final units lasted in traffic until around June of 1995.[26] However, a few saw further use in departmental service, as sandite or route-learner units. Several of this class have been saved for preservation.[27]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 16 November 1960, W50083/W59033/W50125 which was operating a journey from Neath to Treherbert when the leading car, W50125 was struck by a runaway coal train headed by ex-GWR pannier tank 9737, on the single line track at Pontrhydyfen Junction. The driver was killed.[28]
  • On 11 June 1974, Set 152 was involved in a fatal accident at Pollokshield East when it was in collision with Class 311 EMU no 108. The cab end of SC50874 was severely damaged, and was never repaired, with the vehicle officially withdrawn 16/2/76.[29]
  • In early hours of 3 August 1983, Set 116391 was being returned from a Works visit, conveyed on the rear of a parcels train from London, when it derailed and caught fire at Portobello on the East Coast Main Line. As the vehicles were asbestos contaminated the unit was withdrawn in October 1983 and eventually disposed of by burial in Paterson’s Tip, Mount Vernon in July 1984.[30]

Pacer Substitution

Several units were allocated to Heaton TMD in the late 1980s to carry out Pacer replacement services during the latter's troubled introduction period. During this time, the individual cars were often mixed into hybrid sets with, for example, class 119 vehicles.[31] Services worked included Bishop Auckland to Saltburn.

Parcels use

Three units were converted to carry parcels traffic and reclassified as Class 130, though the individual coaches were not renumbered. The units involved were:

  • 50819 + 50872
  • 50862 + 50915
  • 51137 + 51150
  • W50915 reverted to standard Class 116 configuration in 1977 and transferred to Tyseley

To provide extra capacity, they worked with modified General Utility Vans (GUV) as centre trailers.

Preservation

5 vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways.

Vehicles Numbers Set Number Location Comments
DMBS TC DMS
51131 - - T326 Battlefield Railway
51138 - 51151 T333 Great Central Railway Nottingham 51138 was used as a sandite vehicle after retirement from normal service.
- 59003 - - Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
- 59004 - - Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
- 59444 - - Chasewater Railway

Preserved then scrapped

In addition, the following vehicles were previously preserved at the Swansea Vale Railway, but were scrapped in 2009 due to an arson attack.[32]

  • DMBS 51134/5
  • DMS 51147/8
  • TC 59445

References
  1. https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=23
  2. Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (June 1954). "B.R. Lightweight Diesel Trains". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 100 no. 638. Westminster: Tothill Press. p. 369.
  3. "Preserved Vehicles". preserved.railcar.co.uk.
  4. "Class 116 Derby 3 - car sets". Railcar.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  5. https://canonburyjct.smugmug.com/DMU-pre-digital/
  6. https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/description
  7. https://ecclesbourne150.org/the-british-railways-years/
  8. "Description of the Class". railcar.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  9. https://books.google.com/books?id=0rCIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT70&lpg=PT70&dq=br+class+116+paddington&source=bl&ots=fgSTtN-uQe&sig=ACfU3U1--uFNh8MbsCP8gofkuqWVEeRPOg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz5Lnj4-3pAhWBZM0KHZjVAnwQ6AEwGnoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=br%20class%20116%20paddington&f=false
  10. https://www.philt.org.uk/BR/BR-dmu/i-wjB9Hh5
  11. "Railways in Worcestershire". www.miac.org.uk.
  12. |
  13. "West Midlands Cross-City South: The Diesel Years".
  14. Webster, Gordon D. (2 June 2014). "Railways of Glasgow: Post-Beeching". The History Press – via Google Books.
  15. https://brdmus.livejournal.com/1936.html
  16. "scot-rail.co.uk » Class 116". www.scot-rail.co.uk.
  17. "BR dmu • First Generation - Phil Trotter". www.philt.org.uk.
  18. https://books.google.com/books?id=xLCIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT130&lpg=PT130&dq=br+class+116+wales&source=bl&ots=CAAqWOvaiU&sig=ACfU3U2tz98XVk8zvKkipw6tdBPzBSAhpw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-7IvVwuzpAhVXCs0KHfgPCu8Q6AEwCHoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=br%20class%20116%20wales&f=false
  19. "Class 116 DMU - South Wales". www.railcar.co.uk.
  20. Llewelyn, Hugh (15 August 2018). "London Traction". Amberley Publishing Limited – via Google Books.
  21. https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/refurbishment
  22. https://www.flickriver.com/groups/2721199@N25/pool/interesting/
  23. https://www.railexpress.co.uk/1013/a-fiery-end/
  24. Llewelyn, Hugh (15 February 2019). "Bristol Traction". Amberley Publishing Limited – via Google Books.
  25. https://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/31859588523
  26. https://books.google.com/books?id=KfowDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1956&lpg=PA1956&dq=br+class+116+withdrawal&source=bl&ots=Yc1hdo5RvC&sig=ACfU3U1PMhLMaYQJ3gQPkKvcnzLINd6D-A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwing46RyfDpAhXBGM0KHVzYDV0Q6AEwCXoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=br%20class%20116%20withdrawal&f=false
  27. "Class 116 DMU Decline". www.railcar.co.uk.
  28. "Pontrhydyfen: diagram of collision between freight and passenger train. 24 Nov 1960 - Various records relating to railway track alterations in West Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk.
  29. "Report on the Collision that occurred on 11th June 1974 at Pollokshields East Junction in the Scottish Region British Railways :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
  30. https://www.flickr.com/photos/30268259@N03/6892744433
  31. "DMU Image Search". www.railcar.co.uk.
  32. https://preserved.railcar.co.uk/55026.html

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


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