British Rail Class 151 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 151 |
|
|---|---|
| In service | 1985-1989 |
| Manufacturer | Metro Cammell |
| Number built | 2 |
| Formation | 3 cars per trainset |
| Operator(s) | Regional Railways |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | DMS/DMSL - 19.98 m /MS - 19.60 m |
| Width | 2.81 m |
| Height | 3.89 m |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight | Total - 96.9 tonnes |
| Coupling system | BSI Compact |
The British Rail Class 151 was a special type of train called a DMU built in the mid-1980s. It was a "prototype" train, which means it was built as a test model to try out new ideas and see if they worked well before building many more. Only two of these trains were ever made by a company called Metro Cammell.
Contents
What Was the British Rail Class 151?
The Class 151 was part of a big plan by British Rail to update its train fleet. In the 1980s, many older trains needed to be replaced. British Rail wanted new, modern trains that were faster, more comfortable, and cheaper to run.
Why Was It Built?
British Rail asked different companies to design and build new trains. The Class 151 was Metro Cammell's idea for a new type of DMU. A DMU is a train that has its own engine and doesn't need a separate locomotive to pull it. This makes them good for local and regional services.
The goal was to create a "Sprinter" train. This name was given to a new family of DMUs that would be quick and efficient. The Class 151 was one of the very first designs in this new Sprinter family.
What Made It Special?
The Class 151 trains were made up of three connected cars. Each train weighed about 96.9 tonnes in total. They were designed to travel at a top speed of 75 miles per hour (about 121 km/h).
Metro Cammell built only two of these prototype trains. They were numbered 151001 and 151002. These trains were meant to be tested thoroughly to see if their design was good enough for mass production.
What Happened to It?
The Class 151 trains were in service for a very short time, from 1985 to 1989. As prototypes, they were used on different railway lines to see how they performed in real-world conditions.
Even though they were built to test new ideas, the Class 151 trains faced some challenges. Other designs, like the Class 150 and Class 155, were chosen for wider use instead. This is common with prototypes; sometimes, the first ideas don't quite make it to full production.
After their testing period ended, the Class 151 trains were taken out of service. They helped engineers learn valuable lessons that were used to build the next generation of successful Sprinter trains for British Rail.
