1. Operations

2. Original TOPS classes

3. Preservation

4. In fiction

5. References
    Sources 

6. External links

The British Rail Classes 101 and 102 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham, England from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. These classes proved to be some of the most successful and longest-lived of BR's First Generation DMUs, second in longevity only to the Class 121, with the final five units being withdrawn on 24 December 2003. In 2000, the Class 101s were withdrawn from ScotRail.

The oldest set was, by then, just over 47 years old.

Operations

Class 101 DMUs were used across much of the British Rail network (with the notable exceptions of the Southern Region and the Western Region - apart from some inter-regional workings). Notable concentration of services included:

• East of Scotland (to/from Edinburgh Waverley)
• West Midlands
• Teesside
• Tyneside
• West Yorkshire

Original TOPS classes

When TOPS was originally introduced only the Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) and the Driving Motor Composite (with Lavatory) (DMCL) were classified as Class 101 (AEC engines) or Class 102 (Leyland engines). The Driving Trailer Composite (with Lavatory) (DTCL) were either Class 144 or Class 147. The Trailer Seconds (with Lavatory) (TSL) were Class 162, the Trailer Brake Second (with Lavatory) (TBSL) were Class 168 and the Trailer Composite (with Lavatory) (TCL) were Class 171.

Later all the cars were reclassified, becoming Class 101.

Preservation

The Class 101 was one of the largest classes of first-generation DMUs and, partly thanks to their relatively late withdrawal from revenue-earning service, numerous vehicles have been preserved on heritage railways, including the Great Central Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. There are only three centre cars preserved: at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Mid-Norfolk Railway. No Trailer Brake Seconds were saved.

In fiction

The Class 101 DMUs were the basis for the character Daisy the Diesel Railcar in The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spinoff television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, although Daisy is a single car.

References

• The Railcar Association

Sources

• {{cite book|title=Multiple Unit Pocket Book|series=British Railways Pocket Book No.2|edition=Summer/Autumn 1987|year=1987|first=Peter|last=Fox|publisher=Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.|isbn=0906579740|oclc=613347580|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book |first1=Peter |last1=Fox |first2=Neil |last2=Webster |year=July 1982 |title=Multiple Unit Pocket Book |location=Sheffield |publisher=Platform 5 Publications |isbn=0-906579-26-0}}
• {{cite book |title=A Pictorial Record of British Railways Diesel Multiple Units |first=Brian |last=Golding}}
• {{cite book |title=British Rail Fleet Survey 8: Diesel Multiple Units—The First Generation |first=Brian |last=Haresnape}}
• {{cite book |title=Motive Power Recognition: 3 DMUs |first=Colin J. |last=Marsden }}
• {{cite book |title=British Railway Pictorial: First Generation DMUs |first=Kevin |last=Robertson}}

External links

• 950
• 950 BC
• 950s
• 950s BC
• 950s BCE
• 951
• 951 BC
• 952
• 952 area code
• 952 BC
• 953
• 953 BC
• 954
• 954 BC
• 955
• 955 BC
• 95.5 KLOS
• 956
• 9560 BC
• 956 BC
• 957
• 957 BC
• 958
• 958 BC
• 959