Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMUs
Refurbishment
The Class, as a whole, was not included in the mainstream 1970s refurbishment scheme (commonly associated with the white/blue stripe livery) but a handful of sets were treated in different ways.
It is commonly quoted that that high cost of asbestos removal was a big factor in more cars not being refurbished. The vehicles that did has this removed are noted in the asbestos section.
On the Western Region one power car (in 1976) and one centre car (in 1983) (both batch one vehicles) were treated, on the Scottish Region all seven batch two sets were done (1977-1980), minus one power car already withdrawn. On the London Midland Region three sets were treated (one each in 1977, 1978 and 1983) and a handful of others vehicles had some upgrades (such as fluorescent lights), all of these were batch one vehicles. No batch three vehicles were treated.
Most of the fluorescent lighting was of the standard single row type fitted to other types of refurbished vehicles but the WR power car and one LMR set had experimental types in two rows.
Western Region
Only one WR power car was refurbished as a prototype - DMSL W50674 - circa June 1976. This first part of this internal photograph album titled "Part Refurbished Class 120 Prototype 1 and 'CIBA Geigy' ceiling" records the work.
Negative D766/3381/1
The ends of centre car W59278 and a DMBC, presumably long term partner W50723. The paint date on the underframe is 17/12/75. The exhausts have a grille over them to prevent anyone touching them, in particular anyone climbing up the steps from track level to reset the "butterfly" or to split the gangways.
Negative D766/3381/2
The ends of centre car W59278 and DMS W50674. The paint date on the buffet underframe is 18/12/75, the power car has a works date of June 1976. Note the exhaust is painted rail blue and only has a grille over the lower part, unlike the DMBC in the first image. The four sets of four studs to the left of the exhaust once held footsteps, normally the bottom one would be left in place. Also note the two different bottoms to the water filler pipes, the one on the buffet signifies that it is for drinking water.
Negative D766/3381/3
The number one engine under W50674, which was the first of the class to be fitted with Leyland 680s.
Negative D766/3381/4
The revised engine mounts (with the rubber triangle) at the fluid flywheel end of the engine that were intended to reduce vibration being transmitted into the vehicle.
Negative D766/3381/5
The number two engine under W50674, a Leyland 680. The orange sticker on the left rocker cover reads "Completed and Tested".
Negative D766/3381/6
The number two engine and other underframe equipment on W50674. The large spring to the left side is for adjusting the tension on the dynamo belts, they connected to the output side of the gearbox.
Negative D766/3381/7
A heater outlet into a cab on W50674. This is the non-drivers side door, the grille being on the bulkhead to the passenger saloon. The electrical box partly seen contains AWS equipment.
Negative D766/3381/8
The two controls in the cab for the Smiths heaters on the vehicle. These are the self-contained individual type, the other was a 'through' type using relays to control all the heaters in a formation. This version was also know as the clockwork type, since when the black switch in the centre was rotated it ticked as it slowly rotated back, activating the heater start events at timed intervals.
Negative D766/3381/9
The drivers compartment of W50674. Note the 'Loudaphone' handset for talking to the guard in the foreground. The two sliding knobs above it control the cab heating (hot/cold and direction). Below the ashtray are the horn lever end and wiper control.
Negative D766/3381/10
One of the seats in the "front row" behind the cab. The seat has been recovered in a blue/green moquette with vinyl armrests and a plain blue cloth side panel. The lower half of the partition has had a dark blue vinyl applied. The bottom of the partition appears to have extra toe room extending a few inches into the cab (presumably into the boxed section seen in the seventh image).
Negative D766/3381/11
A heater thermostat on a wall in a passenger saloon, which would control the heaters and reduce the overheating of the saloons that the vehicle were known for. Vinyl has been fitted behind the luggage racks to protect the formica. There would probably have been a small reading lamp fitted on this portion of luggage rack, no longer needed with the fluorescent lighting.
Negative D766/3381/14
The shows the interior of DMSL W50674 with a replacement ceiling. The centre of the panels seem to be suffering from distortion, where the far panel meets the bulkhead the centre is fairly straight, where it joins the panel towards the camera is is fairly curved, the next join less so. The panels are recessed for the two rows of fluorescent lights, which are of a different type from those fitted to other refurbished types.
Negative D766/3381/16
The rear saloon of DMSL W50674 and the replacement ceiling. The bulkhead contain the oval mirrors common on Western Region DMUs, the notice with the arrow indicates the position of the emergency communication chain. Through the open sliding door is the rear vestibule with two toilets, one on either of the inward opening door to the next vehicle.
Negative D766/3381/17
A detail shot inside DMSL W50674 shows the lower portion of the replacement ceiling next to one of the passenger vestibules.
Negative D766/3381/18
The ceiling in one of the vestibules of DMSL W50674. These were build with a ceiling lower than the saloons, it was flat at the height of the top of the door runners. In this refurbishment this has been retained, but the tungsten lights replaced with two fluorescent lights.
Negative D766/3381/19
This is probably to show the new blue linoleum, but also shows the many floor hatches provided to give access to the underframe equipment.
Negative D766/3381/20
The interior looking from the rear of the vehicle looking towards the cab.
The next four images in the album lacked negative numbers, and may be 'generic' images added to show fan drive alterations done on W50674 but the images could be from another vehicle.
This shows the short cardan shaft that joins the "right-angle drive" on the rear of and driven by the engine to the fan on the radiator. The cup section at the fan end seems to be a revised arrangement with a rubber mount to reduce vibration and preventing the wear of the fan bearing that would produce a distinctive rattle noise. The castellated nuts on the fan are wired together in pairs, sometimes each would have a split pin instead.
The castellated nuts on this fan are wired together in pairs, in the previous image they each had a split pin instead.
An alternative fan drive view with the right angle drive just seen on the upper left with the belts that drive it.
A close up of the cardan shaft.
After a divider there were six more images showing a new ceiling in an Etches Park three-car set, this is thought to be the CIBA Giegy ceiling.
Centre car
Centre car 59282 was 'refurbished' in January 1983 when running between Class 119 power cars 51052 + 51080. Notes on the vehicle by John Tomlinson:
Original green stripy panelling on sides and ceiling
Brown panels behind luggage racks
Fluorescent lights (single row)
'Railair' stickers inside
Saloon end panels: brown (lower half), cream (upper half)
(one bay before luggage area)
and brown panels behind luggage area
Blue/green check seats
Original panels in vestibules
Wood effect formica end panels
Scottish Region
All seven ScR sets (minus one withdrawn power car) would be refurbished. These dates were compiled by John Tomlinson:
| Set | DMBF/C | TSBL | DMSL | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 51783 | 59683 | 51792 | 6/77 |
| 301 | 51787 | 59685 | 51789 | 10/77 |
| 302 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | 10/77 |
| 303 | 51786 | 59679 | 51791 | 6/78 |
| 304 | 51782 | 59681 | 51790 | 6/78 |
| 305 | 51785 | 59684 | 51793 | 11/79 |
| 306 | - | 59680 | 51794 | 1980 |
The work included repainting from plain blue livery to blue/grey.
ScR Refurbishment Album
This internal photograph album was titled "Refurbished Class 120 D.M.U. Pre-Production Sc.Region".
It shows Inverness set 300 formed 51783 + 59683 + 51793 circa June 1977. The exterior shots were taken in Wormit goods yard, as were some interior images, some as it crossed the Tay Bridge and one in Dundee West Sidings, so the unit could be in its way north after leaving works.
The prints in the book had changed colour with age - as seen in the second image below, I've colour corrected the individual print scans as best as possible.
An exterior view of 51792 + 59683 + 51783 in Wormit goods yard, looking north. Note the 'stretcher' window on the DMSL. The centre car has buffet markings and a red stripe.
The No.1 engine under Sc51783, the biggest change is probably a revised exhaust arrangement. To the left of the AEC engine the vertical plate is to prevent oil being sprayed from the fluid flywheel onto the exhaust.
It shows the No.2 engine under one of the power cars probably to show the revised exhaust arrangement.
The rear end of Sc51783 (still fitted with a tablet catcher on the van door), the exhaust silencer on the rear end, and the gangway through to 59683 on the right. Note the 'squared' and oval buffer. The various bits of text tell us the C1 completion date and buckeye exam being 11th June 1977, the work being done at 7076 (Glasgow Works).
The connection between Sc59683 (left) and Sc51792 (right). While most of the steps up the end of the centre car have been removed (leaving the studs behind), the stepboard above the gangway is still in place, unusual for this era.
A Smiths heater under a power car, the inward opening door above tells us it is DMBF Sc51783. Note the flat plate in front of the "Ozonair" air intake filter to prevent damage.
A Smiths heater and battery box, the sparsity of underframe equipment tells us it is centre car Sc59693. Note the battery rating - 280 AH (amp hours) is painted on the solebar.
The centre section of centre car Sc59683. The major underframe items, from left to right, are battery box, vacuum reservoir, the box with grilles I think has to do with refrigeration for the buffet. The J Stone box is the dynamo regulator, the plain box to the right is the lighting relays, and the two small boxes above the dynamo contain fuse.
The drivers compartment of power car Sc51792.
The interior of centre car Sc59683 looking towards the buffet end. The fluorescent lighting used was the standard type added to other refurbished classes.
The interior of DMBF Sc51783, with the cab behind the photographer looking towards the van end. The door divides the first class into non-smoking and smoking compartments.
The buffet area of centre car Sc59683. The scene out the staff door window shows it was taken crossing the Tay Bridge on the approach to Dundee. The lowered ceiling just before the sliding door to the gangway hides a water tank.
The interior of centre car Sc59683 from the buffet end to the toilet end.
The front saloon of DMSL Sc51792. Note the stretcher windows, with hooks on the luggage racks to keep them open. Only the front saloon of this vehicle had curtains, for privacy if a patient on a stretcher was brought in?
The toilet end of either centre car Sc59683 or DMSL Sc51792, the seat numbering on the wall (numbers 3 and 4) suggest the former as the power car numbering would likely start at the cab? Through the sliding door with the window were two toilets, one on either side, in-between them was the door to the next vehicle.
Vehicle Interior Notes
John Tomlinson made notes on vehicle interiors, his notes for two former ScR sets were:
| Cardiff set C615 (former ScR vehicles) - surveyed April 1983 | |
|---|---|
| W51781 | Non-smoking front 1st class saloon and 2nd class Three lamps on front and 'Central Wales' headlamp |
| W59682 | All non-smoking, no seats opposite buffet area |
| W51788 | Non-smoking in front saloon |
| All | Blue sets in 2nd, brown in 1st Cream interior panels Brown window frames Brown 'lumpy' panelling behind luggage rack Blue 'lumpy' panelling one end panels behind cab Cream panels by vestibules Orange panels in vestibules |
| Ex-ScR vehicles 51783 + 59683 + 51792 - surveyed November 1983 | |
|---|---|
| 51783 | Non-smoking - front section of ex-1st The front three rows of seats in first were low-backed Orange panels on cab parition 'Left Hand' guards van (corridor on right) |
| 59683 | All non-smoking Loo end parition blue with blue door Cream panels around loos with orange door to gangway Blue panels all round buffet Buffet end vestibule orange including sliding door |
| 51792 | Non-smoking in front and back saloon Partitions blue at front with wood effect formica on door to cab, back end (to loos) was blue |
| All | Blue sets in 2nd, blue in ex-1st Cream interior panels Cream panels by vestibules (unless otherwise stated) Orange panels in vestibules |
London Midland Region
The final section in the "Part Refurbished Class 120 Prototype 1 and 'CIBA Geicy' ceiling" photo album (in the Western Region section at the top of the page) shows a Etches Park set (50692 + 59301 + 50708) and this is thought to be the 'CIBA Geigy' ceiling.
Negative D5939/1
The front first class saloon of M50708, looking to the rear of the vehicle. Other changes include the formica on the partition, seats recovered in orange, orange curtains, vinyl behind the luggage rack and new pelmets covering the curtain rails.
Negative D5939/2
This is the middle first class saloon of M50708, looking to the front of the vehicle.
Negative D5959/5
This is thought to be the second class saloon in DMBC M50708, looking to the rear of the vehicle.
Negative D5939/4
This is thought to be centre car M59301, taken in the middle saloon looking to the buffet end. The vehicle would also be fitted with B4 bogies.
Negative D5939/5
This is the buffet area of centre car M59301.
Negative D5939/6
This is the front saloon of DMSL M50692.
Two other sets would be refurbished, one having a Met-Camm centre car at the time. Some other vehicles would have a varying degree of work carried out.
| Depot | DMBC | TSBL | DMSL | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP | 50708 | 59301 | 50692 | c10/77 |
| EP | 50736 | 59300 | 50654 | c1978 |
| CH | 50732 | (59526) | 50686 | 8/83 |
| Part refubished: | ||||
| CH | 50733 | - | - | 9/83 |
| NH | 50726 | - | 50682 | 11/83 |
| EP | 50700 | - | 50662 | 12/83 |
| EP | 50699 | - | 50658 | 3/84 |
Some spotters books had 53689 + 59295 + 53704 marked as refurbished but when John Tomlinson viewed these in February 1986 there was no signs of this.
Vehicle Interior Notes
These notes were made by John Tomlinson on the vehicle interiors:
| LMR set 50692 + 59301 + 53708 - no survey date | |
|---|---|
| 50692 | |
| 59301 | B4 bogies |
| 53708 | Yellow first class stripe Brown ex-first class seats |
| All | Fluorescent lights (two rows of smaller type) Cream wall and end panels Orange vestibules Brown window frames Blue 2nd class seats with blue plastic headrests and armrests |
| LMR vehicles 50686 + 50732 - no survey date | |
|---|---|
| 50686 | Wood effect formica on end partitions Original panelling in vestibules Blue seats |
| 50732 | Original green stripy formica panels on walls (2nd class) Cream end panels, orange at front Orange formica around guard's van Orange vestibules Seats Blue in ex-1st |
| Both | Fluorescent lights Cream panels |
| LMR vehicles 50682 + 50726 - no survey date | |
|---|---|
| 50682 | Original green stripy formica panels on walls and ceiling Fluorescent lights Blue seats Original wood effect formica on end partitions except front saloon which had off-white at front and back Oval mirrors on rear partition Orange vestibules |
| 50726 | As above Ex-1st wall panels a speckly cream colour Blue seats in ex-1st |
| LMR vehicles 50662 + 50700 - no survey date | |
|---|---|
| 50662 | Original green stripy formica panels on walls Brown nobbly vinyl behind luggage racks |
| 50700 | Original green stripy formica panels on walls (2nd class) Original speckly formica in ex-first class walls Orange formica alongside guard's van Seats Blue in 2nd and ex-1st |
| Both | Fluorescent lights White ceiling Orange vestibules Wood effect formica on end partitions |
| LMR vehicles 50658 + 50699 - no survey date | |
|---|---|
| 50658 | Green panels |
| 50699 | New cream panels in 2nd class, ends and rear of ex-1st class Old cream panels front panels of ex-first Blue seats with blue PVC armrests in ex-first Brown painted window frames |
| Both | Fluorescent lights Orange Vestibules Brown knobbly stuff behind luggage racks Blue 2nd class seats |
| Misc LMR vehicles - no survey dates | |
|---|---|
| 53733 | Fluorescent lights Cream panels End panels - orange by cab, cream at back of passenger accomodation Seats Blue in 2nd and ex-1st |
| 53736 | Fluorescent lights Cream panels Seats Blue in 2nd and Brown in ex-1st |
Vehicle Details
The table below shows the Works date and the livery applied for each vehicle. Information supplied by Eddie Knorn, extracted from the BR vehicle record cards.
