Британдық дизельді пойыз 104 класы

British diesel multiple unit train

The British Rail Class 104 diesel multiple units were built by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company from 1957 to 1959. A product of British Rail's Modernisation Plan of 1954, the 104s were designed for general branch line and commuter routes. The first units ordered were for the London Midland Region, with the majority of the class for use in North West of England. The Class 110 was a re engineered version of the 104 with more powerful engines, but did not last as long in service. The 104s had asbestos insulation removed during the 1970s.

The 104 was introduced on 17 June 1957. The type was seen regularly on services from Manchester to Buxton, Marple, New Mills and Blackpool. The 104 was ideal for these routes as the lightweight chassis were well suited to the hilly lines in the northwest of England. A regular sight in the Greater Manchester area for over 30 years, the 104s were replaced by Sprinters by 1990, with the last running on 4 May 1990. One unit was repainted in a unique maroon and white livery for services to Oban – it became known as the "Mexican Bean". The 104s were withdrawn from Scotland in April 1989 and were replaced by Sprinter DMUs.

Other vehicles spent time in London and the last vehicles could be found on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. They were withdrawn in 1995.

LotNo. Car type Qty Fleetnumbers Service30290 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 4 50420–50423 L. M. R. three car sets30291 Driving Motor Lavatory Composite (DMCL) 4 50424–50427 L. M. R. three car sets30292 Trailer Lavatory Composite (TCL) 4 59132–59135 L. M. R. three car sets30293 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 52 50428–50479 L. M. R. three car sets30294 Driving Motor Lavatory Composite (DMCL) 52 50480–50531 L. M. R. three car sets30295 Trailer Lavatory Composite (TCL) 52 59136–59187 L. M. R. three car sets30296 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 10 50532–50541 L. M. R. two car sets30297 Driving Trailer Lavatory Composite (DTCL) 10 56175–56784 L. M. R. two car sets30298 Driving Motor Lavatory Composite (DMCL) 42 50542–50583 N. E. R. four car sets30299 Trailer Second Lavatory (TSL) 21 59188–59208 N. E. R. four car sets30300 Trailer Brake Second Lavatory (TBSL) 21 59209–59229 N. E. R. four car sets30301 Driving Motor Lavatory Composite (DMCL) 10 50584–50593 L. M. R. three car sets30302 Trailer Second Lavatory (TSL) 5 59230–59234 N. E. R. four car sets30303 Trailer Brake Second Lavatory (TBSL) 5 59240–59244 N. E. R. four car sets30404 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 5 50594–50598 N. E. R. two car sets30405 Driving Trailer Lavatory Composite (DTCL) 5 56185–56189 N. E. R. two car sets

On 18 January 1986, a Class 104 unit (vehicles 53433 & 53482) suffered a brake failure, ran past three signals at danger and collided with Class 47 locomotive 47 111 near Forty four people were injured.

A number of Class 104s were used following their withdrawal from passenger services. The last two London Midland DTCL vehicles to survive, M54182 & M54183, were converted in 1987/1988 into loco hauled Sandite cars and renumbered ADB977554/ADB977555 respectively. Used until 1994, M54183 was scrapped in February 1994 while M54182 was stored at Buxton until June 2000 and was saved for preservation. Other Sandite cars included 53472, 53478 & 53530 which were used in Scotland until April 1989. 12 vehicles were preserved in 1992 in a bulk tender from British Rail who at the time were reluctant to sell individual vehicles or sets. The line is geographically appropriate to the Class, being close to Manchester, and lines that the Class 104's served for most of their lives. During their time at the Churnet Valley Railway a small restoration team returned a 2 car set to service between 1997 & 2004. Between 2005 & 2010 attention turned to the rebuild of unique Trailer Composite Lavatory (TCL) M59137 to strengthen the 2 car set to 3 cars, however limited resources put the restoration on hold. Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) ADB977554 was also cosmetically restored into BR Blue livery in 2008 and performed demonstration sandite trains that year with Class 37 Diesel 37075.

The Llangollen Railway received three vehicles in 1994 on a long term loan basis. A 2 car set (M50454/M50528) was quickly returned to service in 1994 and has operated in service every season bar one since. The railway also have a "spare" power car (M50447) which was used as a mess coach and workshop between 1994 & 2011 before being selected itself for a restoration to operating condition, which is currently ongoing.

The North Norfolk Railway received DTCL 56182 in February 2015 from the Churnet Valley Railway for restoration back to original condition. It was then joined by 50479 in October 2020 from the Telford Steam Railway for restoration but is currently stored until 56182 is completed. 50479 will receive a rolling restoration, so it can be used to haul 56182 at special events, of body and interior to bring it up to a fully restored condition. Once restoration of both vehicles are complete they will run in a as delivered 2 car power trailer formation.

The Telford Steam Railway was home to the remaining four vehicles (also on long term loan), which arrived between 1999 and 2001 from Oswestry, Crewe and Meadowhall. The other two vehicles, E59228 & E53556, are in poor condition and have not run in preservation. E53556 left for the East Lanchshire Railway in November 2017 to be scrapped. M50479 left in October 2020 for the North Norfolk Railway after the loan was terminated. It will be restored after M56182. E59228 left in October 2020 for the East Lancashire Railway where it will be stored for the foreseeable future after the loan terminated in 2017.