British Rail Class 253
Encyclopedia
Class 253, Class 254 and Class 255 are classifications that have in the past been applied to InterCity 125
high speed trains in Great Britain.
rolling stock was considered to be diesel-electric multiple units, with semi-fixed formations of power cars and intermediate passenger-carrying trailer cars. They were all numbered in the 4xxxx carriage series set aside for HST and Advanced Passenger Train
vehicles. Numbers followed those allocated to the prototype Class 252
unit, so power cars were numbered from 43002 upwards. Class 253 were Western Region 2+7 (two power cars and seven coaches) sets operating out of London Paddington, Class 254 Eastern Region and Scottish Region
2+8 sets (with a second buffet car) operating out of London King's Cross.
However, because two power cars carried the same 'set number', problems arose when for servicing reasons different units were used on a train, which would then display a different number at each end. For this reason, British Rail abolished the initial numbering system and all individual power cars became identified as such, using the format 43 xxx - this number was previously carried in small digits in the bodysides, prefixed by a 'W', 'E' or 'Sc' to identify the region, thus the power cars were reclassified as Class 43
diesel locomotives and the trailer cars as hauled Mark 3
carriages, collectively known as an InterCity 125
. Despite this change in designation, no power car or carriage was renumbered.
after the introduction of their new 'Voyager' trains (Classes 220
and 221
). These formations would have had power cars sandwiching one Trailer First, a Trailer Buffet, two Trailer Seconds and a Trailer Guard Second, and were intended for use on Virgin CrossCountry's planned services between Blackpool
, Manchester
and Birmingham
, and Paddington to Birmingham via Swindon
. These plans came to naught as the Strategic Rail Authority
planned to transfer most of the stock to Midland Mainline
for their London-Manchester 'Rio' services.
The 197 power cars produced are numbered 43002-43198. 43001 was applied to the second of the two prototype power cars, while the first of the pair (now preserved at York), became 43000 - unusual because BR TOPS
classification numbered its locomotives from 001 upwards (this was because it was not, at the time, classified as a locomotive).
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
high speed trains in Great Britain.
Class 253 and 254
When built, from 1976, the InterCity 125InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
rolling stock was considered to be diesel-electric multiple units, with semi-fixed formations of power cars and intermediate passenger-carrying trailer cars. They were all numbered in the 4xxxx carriage series set aside for HST and Advanced Passenger Train
Advanced Passenger Train
The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....
vehicles. Numbers followed those allocated to the prototype Class 252
British Rail Class 252
Class 252 was the classification allocated to the prototype High Speed Train unit, numbered 252001.-History:When originally built, in 1972, the prototype High Speed Train units were considered to be formed of two locomotives at either end of a rake of carriages...
unit, so power cars were numbered from 43002 upwards. Class 253 were Western Region 2+7 (two power cars and seven coaches) sets operating out of London Paddington, Class 254 Eastern Region and Scottish Region
Scottish Region of British Railways
The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland...
2+8 sets (with a second buffet car) operating out of London King's Cross.
However, because two power cars carried the same 'set number', problems arose when for servicing reasons different units were used on a train, which would then display a different number at each end. For this reason, British Rail abolished the initial numbering system and all individual power cars became identified as such, using the format 43 xxx - this number was previously carried in small digits in the bodysides, prefixed by a 'W', 'E' or 'Sc' to identify the region, thus the power cars were reclassified as Class 43
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
diesel locomotives and the trailer cars as hauled Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
carriages, collectively known as an InterCity 125
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
. Despite this change in designation, no power car or carriage was renumbered.
| Class | Operator | Number | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit Numbers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 253 | BR Western Region | 27 | 1975-1977 | 9 | 253001-253027 |
| 13 | 1978-1979 | 253028-253040 | |||
| BR Cross Country | 18 | 1981-1982 | 253041-253058 | ||
| Class 254 | BR Eastern Region BR Scottish Region Scottish Region of British Railways The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland... |
32 | 1977-1979 | 10 | 254001-254032 |
| 4 | 1982 | 254033-254037 |
Class 255
In 2002, Class 255 was allocated for the reformation of some HST power cars and trailers into semi-fixed formation trains, to be known as Virgin Challenger units, for use by Virgin TrainsVirgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
after the introduction of their new 'Voyager' trains (Classes 220
British Rail Class 220
The Class 220 Voyager are a class of diesel-electric high-speed multiple-unit trains built by Bombardier Transportation in 2000 and 2001....
and 221
British Rail Class 221
The Class 221 Super Voyager is a class of British diesel-electric multiple-unit express trains built by Bombardier Transportation between 2001 and 2002, entering service on 12 April 2002....
). These formations would have had power cars sandwiching one Trailer First, a Trailer Buffet, two Trailer Seconds and a Trailer Guard Second, and were intended for use on Virgin CrossCountry's planned services between Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and Paddington to Birmingham via Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. These plans came to naught as the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
planned to transfer most of the stock to Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline was a British train operating company owned by the National Express Group and based in Derby. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007....
for their London-Manchester 'Rio' services.
| Class | Operator | Number | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit Numbers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 255 | Virgin Cross Country | 14 (planned) | 2002 (planned refurbishment) | 2+5 | 255001-255014 |
Formation
The vehicle types used to form High Speed Trains are listed below:| Number Range | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 400xx | Trailer Buffet (TRSB) | Renumbered 404xx in 1983; some converted to 402xx series |
| 403xx | Trailer Buffet (TRUB) | All converted to 407xx series (first class) |
| 405xx | Trailer Kitchen (TRUK) | All withdrawn and converted for other uses |
| 41xxx | Trailer First (TF) | Majority in service, some converted or scrapped |
| 42xxx | Trailer Second (TS) | Majority in service, some converted or scrapped |
| 43002-43198 British Rail Class 43 (HST) The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982.... |
Driving Motor (Brake) (DM or DMB) | Majority in service, three scrapped after accidents |
| 44000-44101 | Trailer Guard Second (TGS) | Majority in service, some converted |
The 197 power cars produced are numbered 43002-43198. 43001 was applied to the second of the two prototype power cars, while the first of the pair (now preserved at York), became 43000 - unusual because BR TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
classification numbered its locomotives from 001 upwards (this was because it was not, at the time, classified as a locomotive).