Class 108 Derby 2,3 & 4-car DMUs

Numbering

Cab types: 1 - two character box under windscreen, 2 - four character box on roof dome.

TOPS Numbering
In 1973 the introduction of TOPS gave the vehicles the following classifications:

DMBS vehicles became Class 108/2
DMC(L) vehicles became Class 108/1
DTC(L) vehicles became Class 142
TBS(L) vehicles became Class 167
TS(L) vehicles became Class 161

Later all cars became simply Class 108.

In 1983 to avoid duplication with loco numbers, DMU vehicles in the 50XXX and 56XXX number series were renumbered to the 53XXX and 54XXX series respectively.

Modifications created alternative diagrams / design codes:

Original Set Formations

In later years, 4-car sets were reformed into 3-car units by removing the TS vehicle, the TS was then available to be inserted in a power twin. This was done during the 1980s producing 3-car sets for LMR depots such as Buxton (BX) and Chester (CH).

Worksplates

Worksplates were carried on the vehicle solebars to identify the builder and lot number. Many of the worksplate images on the website are from the collections of Simeon Gaskell, John Horne and Tony Spencer.

Driving Instructions

Many earlier DMU types had a booklet from the 33003 series issued specifically for them, none have been found for these vehicles.

This March 1961 editon covered all Blue Square vehicles - BR 33003-92. A companion to this was a "Preparation and Disposal" booklet BR 33003/211.

In 1968 the booklets were replaced by a three part set for Blue Square vehicles Mechanical Transmission):
BR 33003/247 1 - General Data And Equipment
BR 33003/248 2 - Driving Instructions Including Standard Preparation and Disposal Duties
BR 33003/249 3 - Fault Finding Data and Charts

In the early seventies the 33003 series was replaced by the more generic 33056 series of drivers manuals, no longer specific to any coupling code.