Western Region class 149 DMU

[1018509]

Did the class 149 the driving trailer of the class 117 genre ever have the inter-car connections fitted at a later date like the class 117's did, I imagine not but don't know?

The class 149's were often coupled to a class 121 where I lived (West Drayton - Uxbridge, Vine Street) although you would occasionally see them made into a 4 car unit coupled to a three car 117 or, occasionally, as a replacement driving motor car on a class 117 on the Paddington - Slough run.

 

[315801]

I've got to admit I am confused because I have never heard of the class 149.

 

[Class15]

I've got to admit I am confused because I have never heard of the class 149.

Same lol

 

[Clarence Yard]

Trailer cars originally had different class designations but they didn’t last very long.

 

[Class15]

Just did some research, now know what the 149 is, but have absolutely no idea about your question

 

[Doomotron]

According to Wikipedia the Class 149 is the 121, so the OP needs to give far more context.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is this any help?

56281 Details

The history of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs / railcars) in Britain.

www.railcar.co.uk

 

[Class15]

Right, looks like they were basically 121s without 1 driving cab, and it doesn’t seem like they had gangways

Is this any help?

56281 Details

The history of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs / railcars) in Britain.

www.railcar.co.uk

Doesn’t give detail on the back of the unit so wouldn’t answer the OPs question sadly

 

[Ashley Hill]

Well it doesn’t show a corridor connection.

 

[Class15]

Well it doesn’t show a corridor connection.

Oh yes, my mistake, that’s quite right

 

[JonathanH]

56287 and 56289 later (as 54287 and 54289) got corridor connections. The original use of these coaches was to augment services otherwise formed of single car units, but this pair got incorporated into formed units in their final days.

 

[delt1c]

56287 and 56289 later (as 54287 and 54289) got corridor connections. The original use of these coaches was to augment services otherwise formed of single car units, but this pair got incorporated into formed units in their final days.

Must have very underpowered as a replacement for a power car , this would have meant only 1 power car for a 3 car formation.
I remember there were also a few DTS built to strengthen the 122’s

 

[JonathanH]

Must have very underpowered as a replacement for a power car , this would have meant only 1 power car for a 3 car formation.

Generally paired up as trailer cars in power-trailer combinations, which were fine for the branches.

I travelled on 55021-55029-54280 in 1990 (two singles cars and one of these trailers with no gangway) on the Windsor branch, and 54287-53155 in 1992 on the Henley branch.

53155 was also fairly uncommon in being a 101 power brake car with first class fitted at the driving end. I guess that L211 was formed up of these two vehicles to maintain capacity.

I think that NSE Thames & Chiltern took whatever they could get their hands on to keep the service going in the final years.

 

[1018509]

Thanks for all the info. Heljan are producing O gauge classes 149, 150, 121, 122 and 2 and 3 car 117 DMU's. These formed the backbone of my train spotting youth and I went on several Western Region Sunday mystery tours on these DMU's. They used to couple together loads of them into quite long trains and I got as far as York and Manchester, but most were to the South coast and West country.

Such innocent days then when railways were fun.

 

[Bevan Price]

Derived from post #7. the following reference lists all the early TOPS Class numbers for DMUs.
Classes 140 - 150 were for unpowered driving trailers.
Classes 160 - 190 were for unpowered (non-driving) trailer coaches.
This system was abandoned after a few years, and coaches adopted the same TOPS class as the power cars.

TOPS Codes

The history of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs / railcars) in Britain.

www.railcar.co.uk

The source does not clearly explain differences between some of the powered coaches.
Unless specified otherwise, all had mechanical transmission.
"Met Camm units":
Class 101 had B.U.T. (A.E.C.) engines.
Class 102 had B.U.T. (Leyland) engines, and was later included within Class 101.
Class 111 had Rolls Royce engines
Cravens:
Class 105 had AEC engines
Class 106 had Leyland engines
Class 112 had Rolls Royce engines
Class 113 had Rolls Royce engines with hydraulic transmission.
Birmingham RCW:
Class 104 had Leyland engines
Class 110 had Rolls Royce engines

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I travelled on 55021-55029-54280 in 1990 (two singles cars and one of these trailers with no gangway)

Likewise back in 1981, exact date(?) notes long since lost, but I did take a pic as my intended ride arrived in to Slough Up bay before joining same. W55029 (L129) at country end and W5xxxx at London end. Guess such pairings would stay together until either/or needed heavy overhaul?