British Rail Class 126
The British Rail Class 126 diesel multiple unit was built by BR Swindon Works in 1959/60 to work services from Glasgow to Ayrshire and comprised 22 3-car sets and were a development of the earlier Swindon-built trainsets that had been introduced in 1955 to work the Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen St services. These vehicles formed the first Inter City service to be operated by diesel units in Great Britain.
| British Rail Class 126 | |
|---|---|
Class 126 at Glasgow Central in March 1982 | |
| In service | 1959–1983 |
| Manufacturer | BR |
| Built at | Swindon Works |
| Family name | First generation |
| Replaced | Steam locomotives and carriages |
| Constructed | 1959–1960 |
| Entered service | 1959 |
| Number built | 132 vehicles |
| Number preserved | 4 vehicles |
| Formation | 3-car |
| Operators | British Rail |
| Depots | Ayr |
| Lines served | Glasgow - Ayr - Girvan - Stranraer |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 64 ft 6 in (19.66 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.899 m) |
| Doors | Slam |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
| Weight | 38 long tons (39 t; 43 short tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | 150-horsepower (110 kW) BUT (AEC), 2 per power car |
| Cylinder count | 6 |
| Power output | 300 hp (220 kW) |
| Transmission | 4 speed mechanical |
| Multiple working | White Circle |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The introduction of these early diesel multiple units originated in a British Transport Commission report of 1952 that suggested the trial use of diesel railcars. BR's Swindon Works were chosen to design and build express units for the ex-North British Railway Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street route.
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