British Rail Class 122 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 122 |
|
|---|---|
Class 122, No. 55006, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit is painted in original BR Green livery, and is preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
|
|
| In service | 1958- |
| Manufacturer | Gloucester RC&W |
| Family name | Bubble Car |
| Number built | 20 |
| Formation | 1 car per trainset |
| Operator(s) | British Rail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 64 ft 6 in |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in |
| Height | 12 ft 8 1/8 in |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (112 km/h) |
| Weight | 36 tons 10 cwt |
The British Rail Class 122 was a special type of train used in the United Kingdom. These trains were called diesel multiple units, or DMUs for short. They were built in 1958 by a company called Gloucester RC&W. People often called them "Bubble Cars" because of their unique shape.
Contents
What Are Bubble Cars?
The Class 122 trains were known as "Bubble Cars." This nickname came from their rounded, bubble-like front windows. They were quite small trains. Each train was made up of just one car.
Why Were They Built?
These single-car trains were designed for specific jobs. They were perfect for railway lines that were not very busy. They could carry passengers on routes where larger trains were not needed. This helped save money and made travel more efficient.
How Many Were Made?
Gloucester RC&W built 20 of these single-car trains. They were numbered from 55000 to 55019. Each of these was a driving motor vehicle. This means it had an engine and could be driven on its own.
Trailer Vehicles
Besides the main "Bubble Cars," ten trailer vehicles were also built. These trailers did not have their own engines. They were meant to be pulled by the motor cars. Their original numbers were 56290-299. Later, these numbers were changed to 54290-299.
Life of the Class 122
The Class 122 trains began their service in 1958. They worked for British Rail, the main railway company at the time. They were used on many different local lines across the country.
Speed and Power
These trains could reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour (112 km/h). This was quite fast for a local train. They were powered by diesel engines. This meant they did not need overhead electric lines or a separate locomotive.
Where Did They Operate?
The Class 122s were very versatile. They could be seen on branch lines. These are smaller railway lines that connect to main routes. They also worked on suburban routes around big cities. Their small size made them easy to turn around at the end of a line.
Legacy and Preservation
Many Class 122 "Bubble Cars" served for a long time. Some were even used into the 1990s. After their main railway service, some were bought by heritage railways.
Preserved Trains
Today, a few of these original "Bubble Cars" are still around. They have been carefully restored. You can sometimes see them running on special railway lines. These lines are often run by volunteers. They help people experience what train travel was like in the past.
