British Rail Class 155
The British Rail Class 155 "Super-Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit. These DMU's were built by British Leyland at Workington (using Leyland National bus components) in 1987 as part of British Rail's replacement of its ageing diesel fleet.
The 2 x 23m units were fitted with Cummins NT855-R5 285HP engines and Voith transmission.
However following a number of teething troubles they did not last long in their original form, and in 1991/1992 most were converted into the single car Class 153. Before the units were disbanded, they were largely based in the West Country, at Cardiff Canton and surrounding depots, and used on local and regional services in Wales and the South West, into Birmingham New Street station in Birmingham as well on the longer distance services. The units were equipped with a large parcels locker. This is because when the units were constructed in the 1980's, a large quantity of local parcels traffic was still conveyed by rail under the brand Red Star Parcels. This fell out of use in the period leading to rail privatisation, and the large areas are now used as luggage space (both on Class 153 descendants and the surviving 155 units). They are similar in interior to the Class 156 DMUs built at the same time, although operationally they have suffered more problems (the entire fleet was withdrawn in the late 1980s due to a fleetwide fault), which may be a factor as to why the 156 fleet survived longer in its original form than the 155s.
Seven further class 155 units, (155341-155347) were built in 1988 for West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) for MetroTrain services, and remain today in their original formation. Currently all are based at Neville Hill Railway Depot and operate services mainly on the Leeds-Manchester Victoria corridor.
As of January 2006 they are painted in the old carmine and cream WYPTE livery. They are expected to be refurbished and reliveried during 2006.
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