British Rail Class 950

British Rail Class 950
Class 950 at Upton in January 2014
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Built atHolgate Road Works, York
Family nameSprinter
Constructed1987
Number built1
Number in service1
Formation2 cars: DM-DM
Fleet numbers
  • Unit: 950001
  • Vehicles: 999600 and 999601[1]
OperatorsNetwork Rail
DepotsRailway Technical Centre (Derby)[1]
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[2]
Car length19.930 m (65 ft 4.6 in)[2]
Width2.816 m (9 ft 2.9 in)[2]
Height3.774 m (12 ft 4.6 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Prime mover(s)2 × Cummins NT855-R5 (one per vehicle)[2]
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[3]
Displacement14 L (855 cu in) per engine[3]
Power output213 kW (286 hp) per engine
TransmissionVoith T 211 r (hydrokinetic)
UIC classification2′B′+B′2′
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 950 is a diesel multiple unit that was purpose-built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works for the British Rail Research Division for use as a track assessment unit. It is currently operated by Network Rail.

Description

Cab of vehicle 999600, showing the video camera and laser measurement equipment.

It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1 Sprinters.[4] It was originally classified as a Class 150, but was reclassified into the departmental series. As part of the privatisation of British Rail, it passed to Railtrack in 1994 and then Network Rail in 2002. The unit is formed of two driving motor vehicles, numbered 999600 and 999601.

Current operations

The unit is currently painted in a plain overall yellow livery with Network Rail branding. It mostly works on branch lines, where the track quality is not good enough for larger and heavier track assessment stock. It is able to operate over most railway lines around Great Britain. The unit is based at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby.

Fleet details

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos. Notes
950 Network Rail 1 1987 2 950001

References

  1. ^ a b Fox, Peter; Hughes, Barry (1994). DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock. British Railways Pocket Book No.3 (7th ed.). Platform 5. p. 50-51. ISBN 978-1-8725-2459-7. OL 12078214M. Wikidata Q112224435.
  2. ^ a b c d Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP238 & DP239. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  3. ^ a b Marine Engine General Data Sheet N/NT/NTA 855-M (PDF). Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 18 February 2002. p. 1. DS-4962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Sprinter track recorder handed-over to BR". The Railway Magazine. No. 1041. January 1988. p. 9.

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