Class 103 (3 vehicles)

Three of the 20 two car sets built by Park Royal Vehicles Limited in 1957 were saved for preservation during the 1970's after they were all withdrawn from BR. Much like the Class 100's, these were a design built privately for BR which had standard mechanical equipment underneath but sadly still fared badly due to their small fleet size making them earlier targets when BR were able to reduce their overall fleet size.

The earlier disposals could have led to the class becoming extinct, but luckily the early West Somerset Railway took two sets in as local units capable of running regular off-peak services for them. A further set that had seen departmental use was also preserved on the Battlefield Line to be used as hauled coaching stock.

Commercial use with little to no maintenance or overhaul work was made of all six vehicles during the late 1970's, 1980's & early 1990's before all were withdrawn that decade, worn out and with asbestos contamination maintaining a large barrier to restoration work. None have operated in passenger service since.

The West Somerset Railway scrapped one of their two sets but stripped the asbestos from their remaining example. An abortive restoration followed before it was relocated to the Helston Railway where it has returned to some form of use as a static buffet, but with the bodywork and mechanics now in a very poor state.

The Battlefield set was split up wiuth both cars leaving a nomadic life of mainly storage. The powercar was eventually scrapped leaving just the trailer, which was asbestos stripped (losing all of its fittings in the process) and a restoration started. It remains in a very incomplete condition however.

Unfortunately the Class 103 is now one of the highest risk DMU classes of being lost, owing to the condition and situations of all of the surviving examples. It is derely hoped that fortunes improve and that one set survives into the future to be restored.

Number Type Location
     
50413 DMBS Helston Railway
     
56160 DTCL Private Site: Denbigh
56169 DTCL Helston Railway

 

Now Scrapped

 

Number Type Last Location
     
50397 DMBS Private Site: Swansea
50414 DMBS West Somerset Railway
56168 DTCL West Somerset Railway