GENERAL MANAGER
EASTERN REGION
LIVERPOOL STREET STATION
LONDON, E.C.2
W 8935/21 23rd March 1956
J.W. Watkins, Esq.,
General Manager,
London Midland Region, EUSTON. CO/345.5.14
CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPLE UNITS DIESEL CARS,
DERBY C.& W. WORKS.
Thank you for your letter of 5th March. From what you say I image it may be
quite some time before production can commence, but this may perhaps turn
out to be a blessing in disguise.
You probably know that after the first 57' light alloy cars were turned out
at Derby I asked for further building for this Region to be of the 63'6"
type, believing that construction would still be in alloy and that the
power/weight ration, using 150 h.p. engines, would be about the same as we
had expected in 57' cars with 125 h.p. engines. It was not until towards the
end of last year that I became aware of the intention to go over to steel
construction at Derby, using alloy for body panelling, and I now learn that
the weight of the 63'6" two-car unit, to be produced at Derby, will be
around 63 1/2 tons.
In the meantime, we have of course taken delivery of some Metropolitan-Cammel
57' cars of steel construction, and if my first Derby indent is executed as
planned I shall have the following units in the Region :-
