British Rail Class 502
The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple-unit passenger train, originally built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at its Derby Works. Introduced in 1940 and withdrawn by 1980, they spent the whole of their working lives on the electrified railway lines north of Liverpool.
| British Rail Class 502 | |
|---|---|
Class 502 at Sandhills in 1979 | |
| In service | 1939–1980 |
| Manufacturer | LMS |
| Built at | Derby Works |
| Replaced | LYR electric units |
| Constructed | 1939-41 |
| Entered service | 1939-41 |
| Refurbished | c. 1968 (TC rebuilt as TS or DTC) |
| Number built | 152 cars (total) 59 (DMBS) 50 (TS) 9 (TC) 34 (DTC) |
| Number preserved | 2 cars (1 DMBS, 1 DTC) |
| Number scrapped | 150 cars |
| Formation | 3 or 2 cars: MBSO+TSO+DTCO MBSO+TSO MBSO+TCO |
| Diagram | EB202 or LMS345 (DMBS) EE207 or LMS393 (DTS) EH202 or LMS379 (TS) |
| Fleet numbers | 28311-28369 (DMBS) 29545-29594 (TS) 29812-29820 (TC) 29866-29899 (DTC) |
| Capacity | 88S (DMBS) 102S (TS) 53F/29S (TC, as built) 82 (TS, rebuilt TC) 47F/29S (DTC, rebuilt TC) 53F/29S (DTC) |
| Operators | LMS British Rail |
| Depots | Meols Cop Hall Road Kirkdale |
| Lines served | Northern Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 66 ft 6 in (20.27 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (over body) |
| Height | 11 ft 7+1⁄16 in (3.53 m) (over vents) |
| Floor height | 3 ft 10+3⁄16 in (1.17 m) |
| Doors | Bi-parting sliding |
| Wheelbase | 49 ft 0 in (14.94 m) (bogie centres, per car) |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Weight | 41 long tons (42 t; 46 short tons) (DMBS) 24 long tons (24 t; 27 short tons) (TS) 24 long tons (24 t; 27 short tons) (TC) 25 long tons (25 t; 28 short tons) (DTC) |
| Traction motors | 4 × EE |
| Power output | 4 × 235 hp (175 kW)/ traction motor total 940 hp (700 kW) |
| HVAC | Electric |
| Electric system(s) | 630 V DC Third rail |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
| UIC classification | Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′ Bo′Bo′+2′2′ |
| Braking system(s) | Air (EP) |
| Coupling system | Screw |
| Multiple working | Within type |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The trains were designed to replace older electric trains built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on the lines from Liverpool Exchange railway station to Southport and Ormskirk. These lines were electrified with a direct current (DC) third rail. The Class 502s entered service between 1940 and 1943. They were DC-only and operated as both three-car and two-car sets, which could be coupled together to form five-car or six-car sets for use on the busier services.