Class 108 Derby 2,3 & 4-car DMUs
Refurbishment
The Class was included in the 1970s refurbishment scheme, with the first vehicles being done in 1975.
The cab fronts would be tidied up with the removal of two-character blinds, and on early refurbisments a small four-character headcode was added to the left cab window. The displaying of headcodes was abandoned in 1976.
Inside fluorescent tubes replaced the tungsten lighting, seats were retrimmed in a blue checked moquette in second and first in an orange or black.
On the side walls and the cab partitions the original formica was left, on areas such as the vestibules and ganwgays an orange formica was added.
Toilets would be upgraded giving them a more modern feel.
A total of 238 vehicles would be treated with the work being done at Doncaster, Swindon and Derby.
The white / blue stripe livery was applied to the first 163 vehicles, after mid-July this livery was abandoned and vehicles were turned out in blue/grey.
Refurbishment Album
British Rail produced an internal photograph album recording the refurbishment, the images shows Neville Hill allocated E50620 and presumably E56195 at their home depot. The overhaul dates painted on the vehicles is 20/7/77, the vehicles show some signs of use so I'm guessing these were taken in early August 1977.
Negative D4851-7
An exterior view of the driving trailer set.
Negative D4851-8
The front end of the DMBS with the West Yorkshire PTE logo.
Negative D4851-17
This is probably to show the chromed door/grab handles
Negative D4851-13
The centre of the number one (drivers) side of the DMBS. Note the experiment plate on the solebar just above the radiator.
Negative D4851-16
The centre of the number two (non-drivers) side of the DMBS.
Negative D4851-14
The inner ends, the DMBS on the left and DTCL on the right.
Negative D4851-2
The drivers compartment of the DMBS.
Negative D4851-5
New padding under the drivers desk on the DMBS.
Negative D4851-4
The area under the drivers desk in front of the drivers seat on the DMBS.
Negative D4851-3
The fire extinguisher and container of detonators behind the drivers seat on the DMBS.
Negative D4851-12
A heater outlet in a cab door way.
Negative D4851-6
A heater outlet beside a cab door way.
Negative D4851-24
The interior of the DMBS. It had the handles fitted to the seats, the accompanying DTC did not.
Negative D4851-21
The front (first class) saloon of the DTCL.
Negative D4851-20
The sink area of the DTCL toilet.
Negative D4851-18
The gangway from the DTCL into the DMBS.
Negative D4851-19
The rear saloon of the DTCL.
Negative D4851-22
The middle saloon of the DTCL.
The album also contained two generic images that were used in other examples of these refurbishment albums such as the Class 117s. They show revised engine mounts designed to cut down the vibration transmitted into the power cars.
Vehicle Details
The table below shows the Works date and location of the refurbishment and the livery applied for each vehicle. Information supplied by Eddie Knorn, extracted from the BR vehicle record cards.
