Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs
Numbering
| Class | Type | Seating | Weight | Batch | New | Dia. | Design Code |
Lot. No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W50647 - 50695 | 120/2 | DMSL | 68 2nd | 36 tons 10 cwt | 1 | 1958 | 586 | DP204 | 30334 |
| W50696 - 50744 | 120/1 | DMBC | 18 1st + 16 2nd | 36 tons | 1 | 1958 | 587 | DQ303 | 30335 |
| W51573 - 51581 | 120/1 | DMBC | 18 1st + 16 2nd | 36 tons 7 cwt | 3 | 1961 | 636 | DQ304 | 30515 |
| W51582 - 51590 | 120/2 | DMSL | 68 2nd | 36 tons 10 cwt | 3 | 1961 | 637 | DP205 | 30516 |
| Sc51781 - 51787 | 120/1 | DMBC | 18 1st + 16 2nd | 36 tons 7 cwt | 2 | 1959 | 587 | DQ303 | 30559 |
| Sc51788 - 51794 | 120/2 | DMSL | 68 2nd | 36 tons 10 cwt | 2 | 1959 | 586 | DP204 | 30560 |
| W59255 - 59301 | 179 | TSLRB | 60 2nd | 31 tons | 1 | 1958 | 561 | DT217 | 30336 |
| W59579 - 59588 | 179 | TSL | 68 2nd | 30 tons 12 cwt | 3 | 1961 | 572 | DT210 | 30517 |
| Sc59679 - 59685 | 179 | TSLRB | 60 2nd | 30 tons 12 cwt | 2 | 1959 | 561 | DT217 | 30561 |
| DMBF conversions | DMBF | 18 1st | 2 | - | DQ101 | 30559 | |||
The vehicles numbered 50xxx were renumbered into the 53xxx series in 1983.
All the class numbers were later changed to just 120.
Note that batches one and three did not have matching quantities of centre cars. Batch one had 49 of each type of power car, but just 47 centre cars. Batch three had 9 of each power car type, but 10 centre cars.
Set Numbers
In late 1959 the Western Region allocated set numbers. Cross Country sets were generally 5XX, and carried a depot code prefix. The numbers were displayed on small rectangular plates fixed in clips to the solebars of the power cars only. An example, noted in 12/59 was: TYS 504 - 50661 / 59269 / 50710.
Detail of these and later set numbering can be found in an article on set numbering.
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.