British Rail Class 123


The Class 123 was a design of Diesel Multiple Unit built for British Rail in 1963. They were the last first generation DMUs built for British Railways and were built at Swindon Works, and designed like all Swindon units as inter-city sets. Ten of the four-car sets were built and introduced in 1963. The units bear a visible similarity to the British Rail Class 309; however, there is no 'relation' here as the two types were built by different manufacturers for different markets.

Details

Swindon-built DMUs, including the Class 123 and 124, had a structure and internal construction with much more in common with BR coaching stock than they do with many DMU classes. The carriage underframes were longer and the units were provided with Mk1-style "Pullman" gangways instead of the "British Standard Gangways" fitted to most contemporary DMUs of the period. It was also unusual for a first-generation DMU to sport a front end gangway. None of these units survive today.
Lot No.TypeDiagramQtyFleet numbersNotes
30703Driving Motor Brake Open Second 5661052086–5209532 seats, 2 lavatories
30704Driving Motor Corridor Second 5741052096–521057 compartments, 2 lavatories
30705Trailer Corridor Composite 5671059818–598274 first class and 3 second class compartments: 24 & 24 seats; 2 lavatories
30706Trailer Open Second with lavatory 568559235–5923964 seats, 2 lavatories
30707Trailer Buffet Second 569559828–5983232 seats, 8 seats in buffet area, 1 staff lavatory

Operational history

They were originally intended for use on services from the South Coast to Wales, but only briefly used on services from Portsmouth to Cardiff and Bristol. When introduced they were concentrated on services between Swansea, Cardiff, Birmingham, Derby and Crewe and between Cardiff and Bristol. They were displaced in 1970 to outer suburban services from London Paddington to Oxford and Newbury, without the buffet cars.
All were stored in April 1977 but reprieved later that year for services from Hull to Doncaster, Sheffield, Manchester and occasionally to Leeds. All were withdrawn in 1984 and stored at Hull Botanic Gardens TMD.
Nine 2-car sets composed of a class 123 DMBSL and class 124 DMC were formed at Hull in 1984 in case introduction of the class 141 'Pacer' units was delayed, but they were never used in service.

Further Use

One of the buffet cars, 59831 was rebuilt as a Class 309 AC EMU griddle car, and renumbered 69108. It replaced a griddle car that had developed an underframe fault. Buffet car 59828 was converted to departmental dormitory coach in 1970 and used on the rail profiler train, then converted to a stores coach and used until 1987.
After withdrawal, the Leyland Albion engines were removed and used as spares for the class 115 DMU.