British Rail Class 100 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 100 |
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Class 100, no. 56301 at County School Station on the Mid-Norfolk Railway on 17th December 2001. This unit was the first heritage DMU vehicle to enter preservation.
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| In service | 1956-1988 |
| Manufacturer | BREL |
| Number built | 1956-1958 |
| Formation | 1 cars per trainset |
| Operator(s) | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in |
| Height | 12 ft 8 1/2in |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (112 km/h) |
| Weight | 38 tons 5 cwt |
The British Rail Class 100 trains were a type of diesel multiple unit (DMU). A DMU is a train that has its own engine and can run by itself. These trains were built for British Rail between 1956 and 1958.
Contents
What was the Class 100?
The Class 100 was a special kind of train. It was designed to carry passengers on local journeys. These trains did not need a separate engine to pull them. Instead, each carriage had its own diesel engine. This made them very flexible for different routes.
Building and Design
The Class 100 trains were built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company Limited. This company worked with T.I. (Group Services) Ltd to design them. They were built to be strong and reliable. The trains were made to handle many different railway lines across Britain.
Life on the Tracks
These trains started running in 1956. They could travel at a top speed of 70 miles per hour (112 km/h). This was quite fast for local services at the time. The Class 100 trains served passengers for many years. They were a common sight on British railways. They helped people travel easily between towns and cities.
A Bit of History
The Class 100 trains were in service for a long time. They ran for over 30 years, until 1988. After they stopped regular service, some of these trains were saved. One special unit, number 56301, was the very first heritage DMU vehicle to be preserved. This means it was kept and looked after so people could see it in the future. You can sometimes see preserved Class 100 trains at special railway museums.
Images for kids
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Class 100, 56097/51118 at Swanwick Junction at the Midland Railway Centre
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Class 100, no. 56301 at County School Station on the Mid-Norfolk Railway on 17 December 2001. This unit was the first heritage DMU vehicle to enter preservation.
