The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car, double-ended driving motor vehicles, nicknamed "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019. These were supplemented by nine single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 56291–56299 (some of which were later renumbered into the 54291–54299 block).
Construction + Table of orders and numbers Lot No. Type Diagram Qty Fleet numbers Notes 30419 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 539 20 55000–55019 30420 Driving Trailer Second (DTS) 538 9 56291–56299 Operation The Class 122s were built for use on the Western Region of British Railways, the initial allocations being: 81D Reading – three DMBS; 81C Southall – nine DMBS and six DTS; 84E Tyseley – eight DMBS and three DTS. Eleven DMBS and five DTS that were allocated to Tyseley depot passed to the London Midland Region when the regional boundaries were changed in 1963; some were subsequently also used in Scotland. They were used on a variety of lightly used lines, many of which were closed during the Beeching Axe in the 1960s including the ex-LSWR lines in West Devon and North Cornwall. Routes served included the Stourbridge Town and St Albans Abbey branch lines, as well as local services between Dundee and Arbroath. (The similar Pressed Steel Company built Class 121 single units were also used on the Western Region).
During the 1990s, refurbished Class 122 units were used on the Cornish branches between Liskeard and Looe and St Erth and St Ives.
Parcels conversion In 1968, three cars (55013–55015) were converted for use on the Scottish Region to carry parcels traffic and were reclassified Class 131, though the vehicles themselves were not renumbered. The converted vehicles were given the TOPS classification DXV.
Usage after passenger service Upon privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 122 fleet has been withdrawn from normal service. However several units were operated by EWS and Network Rail (previously Railtrack) in departmental service, reclassified as Class 960. Number Previous number Use Disposal/current use Date scrappedTDB 975023 55001 Route learning car PreservedTDB 975042 55019 Route learning car / SanditeStored on the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr railway in Cynheidre, Carmarthenshire, set 960 015 / 55019 has been preserved. TDB 975227 55017 Route learning car Vic Berry2/89975309 55008Route learning car Mayer Newman11/84TDB 975310 55010 Route learning car Mayer Newman 6/84TDB 975540 55016 Route learning car MC Metals 7/93TDB 975994 55014 Test & stores car Vic Berry 10/88975998 55013unknownMayer Newman3/82TDB 977177 55015 Route learning carMC Metals7/90TDB 97722355007Route learning carMC Metals6/9197794155012Route learnerLoadhaul then EWS. Stored non-operational at Thornaby TMD from 1998. Purchased privately for preservation in 2009
Preservation "Bubble Cars" have proved popular for preservation on heritage railways.
Vehicle no.Unit no.Vehicle typeLocationLiveryCommentsOriginal no.Departmental no.55000-122100DMBSSouth Devon RailwayBR Green-55001975023L101DMBSEast Lancashire RailwayBR Blue-55003-P103DMBSGloucestershire Warwickshire Railway used to be Mid Hants Railway.BR GreenFirst preserved DMMU to gain main line certification.55005-P105DMBSBattlefield RailwayBR Blue/Grey-55006-P106DMBSEcclesbourne Valley RailwayBR GreenCollided with the buffers at the Stourbridge Town terminus of the Stourbridge Town branch line on 21 April 1989 after the driver was distracted by trespassers. 55009-P109DMBSGreat Central RailwayBR GreenNon operational 55012977941DMBSWeardale RailwayBR GreenJoined the fleet on a permanent basis in December 2013 after visiting for contract repairs Took part in Railcar 50 in 2004. Required a modification back to single car unit after this D.M.B.S collided into the Stourbridge Town station buffer on 2 April 1977 due to the driver's fault while working on the Stourbridge Town branch line so the one end is not the end which was surviving from the beginning. The rear end was scrapped.55019975042960015DMBSLlanelli and Mynydd Mawr RailwayNetwork Rail YellowFormerly owned by Network Rail, W55019, 122 019; 8th and last Class 122 brought into preservation.
Models Dapol has released models of the Class 122 railcar in both O gauge and OO gauge in a variety of liveries.
In 2012, Dapol introduced a British N gauge model of the Class 122 in both BR blue and BR blue and grey liveries.
In 2025, Heljan announced they would release a TT scale model of the Class 122 in various liveries, due for release in 2026.
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
Entry at the Railcar Association for class 122