Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs
Orders
British Railways placed the order with British United Traction (BUT) in May 1956 for the equipment required for the 98 power cars and 47 trailers of the first batch[1]. The order, along with equipment ordered by Cravens for 66 power cars and the three parcels cars, was valued at £830,000.
The first batch was ordered for inclusion in the Western Region's West Country dieselisation scheme, which it hoped to complete by the end of 1959. At the time the sets were expected to work between Bristol & South Devon.
In early 1959 the British Transport Commission placed an order with BUT for the equipment for the second batch, the seven ScR sets, along with equipment for Class 108s and 115s being built at Derby.[2]
The third batch were announced in mid-1958 as being ordered from Pressed Steel. They were part of an order of 48 vehicles, 14 becoming the Class 121 bubble cars and 6 their matching driving trailers (quantities later ammended). The remainder were to be for three car sets formed of 9 motor brake open seconds, 9 motor open seconds with lavatories, and 10 trailer open seconds with buffets.[3]
On 5/7/59 the centre cars were amended, they would no longer have buffets and would now have a lavatory. Two subsequent ammendments dated 7/8/59 and 1/3/60 changed them to a 'Western Region Design' and the builder to Swindon Works.
References
- ⋏ p392 May 18, 1958 Railway Gazette
- ⋏ p201 February 13, 1959 Railway Gazette
- ⋏ p57 July 11, 1958 Railway Gazette