Class 122 (8 vehicles)
Built by Gloucester C&W, these vehicles are very similar to the Class 116 in construction, but are single units with two cabs. Initially in the 1990's, more Class 122s were preserved than Class 121s due to the latter’s extended use in departmental roles, along with the modifications that went with those roles - however the 121's later grew in number after they were finally withdrawn from traffic.
Despite being stripped for asbestos removal, five 122's were preserved in original condition as the class did not have the same refurbishment work as their Pressed Steel sisters, meaning much more original fittings were present. A further three 122's were later preserved after being released from departmental roles on the mainline, for which they were heavily modified.
They are very popular vehicles on heritage railways, with a healthy proportion of the class in operational condition. 55003 was even mainline registered for a short period.
More recently, some vehicles have been forcibly removed from traffic as one of the shortcomings of the standard Derby suburban specification (that these vehicles were built to) was a long-term weakness where the roof joins the body. After spending 20+ years in preservation, severe corrosion in this area and around the cabs generally meant more thorough bodywork was required to ensure their long term future.
Despite the challenges faced by ageing, in 2020 five of the eight strong class were operational.