British Rail Class 108

The British Rail Class 108 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1958 to 1961, with a final production quantity of 333 vehicles.

Overview

The 108 was formed as a 2-, 3-, or 4-car unit. Its aluminium body led the type to be classed as a lightweight unit. These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic. They were replaced on regional services by the new Sprinter derivative units, or by Turbo units on services around London. The final units lasted in traffic until October 1993, although many saw further use in departmental service, as sandite or route-learner units. Good condition on withdrawal and lack of asbestos have ensured that many of this class are now used on preserved railway lines.

Orders + LotNo. Car type Qty Fleet No. Notes 30406 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 26 50599–50624 ER power-trailer and power-twin sets 30407 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 5 50625–50629 LMR power-trailer sets 30408 Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) 17 50630–50646 ER power-twin and four-car sets 30409 Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) 21 56190–56210 ER Driving-trailer sets 30410 Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) 5 56211–56215 LMR Driving-trailer sets 30411 Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) 6 59380–59385 ER four-car sets 30412 Trailer Brake Second with lavatory (TBSL) 6 59245–59250 ER four-car sets 30460 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 12 50924–50935 LMR power-twin sets 30461 Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) 12 51561–51572 LMR power-twin sets 30465 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 50 50938–50987 LMR power-trailer sets 30466 Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) 50 56221–56270 LMR Driving-trailer sets 30493 Trailer Second with lavatory (TSL) 5 59386–59390 ER (power-twin to) three-car sets 30498 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 9 51416–51424 LMR power-trailer sets 30499 Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) 9 56271–56279 LMR power-trailer sets 30601 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 50 51901–51950 LMR power-trailer and power-twin sets 30602 Driving Trailer Composite with lavatory (DTCL) 21 56484–56504 LMR Driving-trailer sets 30660 Driving Motor Composite with lavatory (DMCL) 29 52037–52065 LMR power-twin sets

Accidents and incidents On 19 October 1987, after the Glanrhyd Bridge over the River Towy at Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, was washed away by floodwater, a passenger train operated by a Class 108 unit fell into the river. Four people were killed. On 22 August 1990, a two-car Class 108 unit overran a signal and was in a head-on collision with a three-car unit majority-composed of Class 108 cars at Hyde Junction, Greater Manchester. Twenty-eight people were injured. The accident report noted the poor structural condition of the Class 108 vehicles compared to that of the Class 101 vehicle involved in the accident, and called for the 108 class to be withdrawn "as quickly as is practicable".

Preservation

Many vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways. None are currently certified for use on the main line – although the Swanage Railway's set was hauled from the railway to Eastleigh and back, for overhaul – and is believed to be the first class 108 to have been seen on main lines for a very long time.

+ Set numberVehicle numbersLiveryLocationNotesDMBSTCLDMCL-50599--BR BlueEcclesbourne Valley RailwayOperational-506195938751566BR GreenDean Forest RailwayOperational-50628--BR GreenKeith and Dufftown RailwayOperational-52044 (DMCL)-50632BR Blue and GreyPontypool and Blaenavon RailwayScrapped-50926-50645BR Blue and GreyGreat Central RailwayUnder Restoration-50928-51565BR GreenKeighley and Worth Valley RailwayUnder restoration-50933-52064BR GreenSevern Valley RailwayOperational-50971-51571BR GreenKent and East Sussex RailwayOperational-50980-52054BR GreenWeardale RailwayOperational-51922-51562BR Green (51922) and BR Blue (51562)National Railway MuseumStatic Display---51567BR Blue and GreyEcclesbourne Valley RailwayStored-56274(DTCL)-51572United Steel Red and Grey / BR GreenWensleydale RailwayStored-51907-56490(DTCL)BR Blue and GreyLlangollen RailwayOperational-51909-56271(DTCL)BR GreenEast Somerset RailwayOperational-51914-56492(DTCL)BR GreenDean Forest RailwayOperational-51919-52048BR BlueGarw Valley RailwayOperational-51933-56504(DTCL)BR GreenSwanage RailwayOperational-51937-56484(DTCL)BR White Stripe/ Blue and GreyPoulton & Wyre RailwayUnder Restoration-51941--BR GreenSevern Valley RailwayOperational-51942-56270(DTCL)Network South East/BR Blue and GreyMid-Norfolk RailwayStored-51947--BR Blue and GreyBodmin and Wenford RailwayStored as a source for spare parts-51950-52062Chocolate and CreamTelford Steam RailwayOperational---52044BR Blue and GreyPontypool and Blaenavon RailwayOperational---52053BR GreenKeith and Dufftown RailwayOperational--59245(TBSL)54207(DTCL)Blood and Custard Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation SocietyOperational---56208(DTCL)BR GreenSevern Valley RailwayOperational-51618(Class 127)-56223(DTCL)BR GreenEast Anglian Railway MuseumOperational---56224(DTCL)BR GreenKeith and Dufftown RailwayOperational---56279(DTCL)BR GreenLavender LineOperational---56491(DTCL)BR GreenKeith and Dufftown RailwayOperational---56495(DTCL)BR GreenKirklees Light RailwayStatic Display--59250(TBSL)-BR GreenSevern Valley RailwayOperational

Model railways In 2007, Bachmann introduced OO gauge models of the Class 108 in BR green, BR blue and grey, and Network SouthEast liveries.

References

General references

British Rail Class 108

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