British Rail Class 104 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 104
Class 104, nos. 50517 and 50455, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway, on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit has been returned to service, and is preserved on the Churnet Valley Railway.
In service	1957–1993
Manufacturer	Birmingham RC&W
Constructed	1957–1959
Number built	71 DMBS, 52 DMCL, 15 DTCL, 56 TCL, 26 TBSL, 26 TSL. Total: 302 cars
Formation	2 car sets: DMBS-DTCL 3 car sets: DMBS-TCL-DMCL 4 cars sets:DMCL-TSL-TBSL-DMCL
Capacity	DMBS: 52, DMCL/DTCL: 12F 51S, TCL: 12F 54, TBSL: 51, TSL: 69
Operator(s)	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight	DMCL/DMBS: 31 long tons (31.5 t), TBSL: 25 long tons (25.4 t), DTCL/TCL/TSL: 24 long tons (24.4 t)
Prime mover(s)	Two B.U.T. (Leyland) 6-cylinder diesels of 150 bhp each
Power output	300 bhp (220 kW)
Transmission	Mechanical: 4 speed epicyclic gearbox
Braking system(s)	Vacuum
Safety system(s)	Automatic Warning System
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 104 was a type of train known as a diesel multiple unit. This means it was a train that could run on its own, powered by diesel engines, without needing a separate locomotive. These trains were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company between 1957 and 1959.

Meet the Class 104 Trains

The Class 104 trains were designed to carry passengers across different parts of Britain. They were a common sight on many railway lines for several decades.

Where Did They Go?

The first Class 104 trains were used in the London Midland Region. Most of these trains worked in the North West of England. Some also served the Tyneside area. However, these Tyneside trains were no longer needed after the Tyne and Wear Metro opened in 1980.

In the mid-1980s, some Class 104 units moved to Scotland. One special train was even painted in a unique maroon and white colour scheme. This train ran services to Oban and became famous as the "Mexican Bean." Later, some Class 104 trains also spent time working in London. The very last ones were still running there in the early 1990s.

When Were They Retired?

The Class 104 trains slowly started to be taken out of service from the early 1980s. The last of these trains were officially retired in 1995.

Images for kids

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  BR Blue-liveried Class 104 in the snow, Buxton (Derbyshire) 24 December 1978

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  Class 104 at Castleton station 29 September 1982

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  Unit EXP.DM.352. at its home depot of Longsight Diesel TMD, Manchester, 15 January 1984