Off The Rails: British Rail Class 128
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- Опубліковано 7 гру 2023
- Off the Rails: A series diving into the history of lost & forgotten parts of British Rail.
A specially built, rather than converted series of DMUs with the sole purpose of transport mail.
NOTE: Whilst I make every attempt to locate the source of the videos used in my videos, many are taken from other websites or UA-cam videos were sources are not cited. If you are aware of the source then please do not hesitate to comment below.
Thanks for watching!
Here we go! 🎉
Eta. Disappointingly short, but still excellent. Thank you, whoever you are.
Thankyou! Sadly not much exists information wise on these, hence the run time.
But don't worry, I've got a great long length video in the works!
@JackStackhouse I'm not too worried, your videos are intermittent but excellent. In a sense that it how should things should be. The best sort of gratification is that which requires us to wait.
Powerful units. Not sure if fitted with sanders from new but that added to their ability to haul non powered rolling stock. Their light weight compared to locos allowed them to be used for moving freight across Barmouth bridge in the early 1980s when repairs caused a weight restriction to be put on the bridge. I have seen them move several Mk1 coaches when a 08 shunter was not available.
I’m a bit disappointed that they aren’t preserved, but at least their legacy is still alive in the model railway department.
Same, but I also feel they would see little use by many lines considering being non passenger stock!
@@JackStackhousebut the mlv has a lot more saved, so weird
The MLVs battery capability plus their links to the southern region probably played a big part in the 419s being preserved as it allows them to run/haul around 3rd rail stock without the need of a diesel loco
@@JackStackhouse The 128's didn't survive due to the usual problem- asbestos. Like a lot of 1950s trains, they were riddled with it, and while it had supposedly been removed, British Rail was taking no chances. A shame, as the 128's would have made ideal permanent way trains on heritage railways.
@JackStackhouse Parcel units are useful for heritage railways as the wide doors make it possible to get wheelchairs/pushchairs/mobility scooters in and the open space gives them somewhere to store them/allow people to travel on the train in their wheelchair. The bike storage is also helpful as many trains of that era lack space for bikes yet bike trials are a ideal pairing for heritage railways.
They can even be used as storage.
Always thought them quirky. Never seen one in service, but your opening sequence? The thrash sounded superb!
There were also three Cravens parcel single car DMUs built, class 129.
It's odd that gangways were an intrinsic part of so much BR diesel design, but had such a short life in practice. They acquired an uncompromising hockey mask appearance, that would have been designed out if the doors had never been part of the original spec.
Fascinating Train/Railway content, from a new Subscriber down under.
A very interesting if short video. Of personal interest to me as I am from Gloucester, where these were built at the Gloucester Railway Carriage and wagon works. I pass the site daily on my way to work. Although closed many years ago, much of the "wagon works" site and buildings survive, now an indoor karting centre.
Perhaps you may be able to research a follow up on livery details etc.
Thanks for another excellent video.
There's also the extinct Cravens version.
Good little video. I had no idea these existed i thought it was 100% loco hauled TPOs etc
On the Western, they were still in use in 1989 between Paddington and Reading.
i remember these running past southall in the 70s.pity the clowns at BR did not preserve any
Can someone make time fly, please!?
Shame no examples were preserved. Such a cool looking delivery loco.
Nice looking in the red I think.
There must be some in preservation somewhere?
You need a better source of information. The gangwayed were for use with full brakes and not the other Blue Square DMUs. Only the Swindon InterCity sets had end gangways. Very few Class 116 had been fitted with internal gangways by the time that this photo was taken in 1968 (the DMU the Class 128 is coupled to is a Class 130. That's a good decade before the gangways became useful for the purpose you've suggested.
The BUT 230hp engines on the 128 (which is what the Leyland Albion engines were badged under for 'British Unified Traction') ran under BRs Blue Square coupling code as seen in this document from April 1968
www.railcar.co.uk/books/driving-instructions/33003-series/247/33003-247.pdf
@@JackStackhouse they could operate with all Blue Square MU equipped DMUS, such as the Class 130, but the gangways were not fitted for that purpose.
Gangways were removed after a regional transfer. That would have cost money; to what practical purpose and benefit? Just more waste of money?
Drivers complained about draughts from gangway connections, hence a lot of them on locos (and multiple units) were sealed up.