British Rail Class 901 facts for kids

901001 at RVE Derby on 28th September 2007

Class 960, no. 960001 at Norwich on 31st January 2004. This unit was later reclassified as Class 901 unit no. 901001.

The Class 901 is a special type of train used for railway work, not for carrying passengers. These trains were originally regular passenger trains known as the Class 101 diesel units. They were later changed to help maintain the railway lines.

In early 2004, their owner, Network Rail, gave them the new name "Class 901." Before that, they were part of the Class 960 series of special work trains.

What Are Departmental Trains?

Departmental trains are like special tools on wheels. Instead of taking people from one place to another, they do important jobs for the railway company. These jobs can include checking the tracks, carrying equipment, or even helping to fix problems on the line.

The Class 901 trains are a great example of how old passenger trains can get a new life. They are now used to keep the railway network safe and running smoothly.

From Passenger to Special Work Train

The trains that became Class 901s started their lives as British Rail Class 101 units. The Class 101s were very common passenger trains in the UK for many years. They were known for their strong design and were used all over the country.

Over time, newer passenger trains were built. This meant that some of the older Class 101s were no longer needed for passenger services. Instead of being scrapped, some were chosen for a new purpose. They were converted into "departmental" units. This means they were changed to perform special tasks for the railway.

The Role of Network Rail

Network Rail is the company responsible for managing and maintaining most of the railway infrastructure in Great Britain. This includes the tracks, signals, bridges, tunnels, and many stations. To do this huge job, Network Rail uses many different types of special trains and equipment.

The Class 901 units are part of Network Rail's fleet of vehicles. They help the company ensure that the railway lines are safe for all the passenger and freight trains that use them every day.

Images for kids

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  101680 in old Regional Railways livery at Sheffield in 1998

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  Class 101 in Strathclyde PTE livery at Glasgow Central.

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  A pair of Class 101s at Newcastle Central

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  Class 101 at Bradford Interchange alongside a Class 150

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  NSE 101 L832 Sarah at Reading

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  First North Western 101685 at Manchester Piccadilly on 24 December 2003, the last day of service