BR Class 142
142 061
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Derby Litchurch
British Rail Class 142
1986
N/A
Cummins LTA10-R
Diesel-Hydrokinetic
In Service
Mid-Norfolk Railway
British Railways Class 142 Diesel Multiple Unit
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The British Railways Class 142 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) were built by British Rail Engineering Limited and Leyland Vehicles Limited at Derby Litchurch Lane Works between 1985 and 1987, with a total of 96 units (192 cars) produced.
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During their 35 years in service (1985–2020), the Class 142 units became widely unpopular with passengers due to their poor ride quality at speed, with every joint in the track often felt onboard. Starting in the early 1990s, the fleet underwent a mechanical upgrade as the original engines and transmissions began to fail. This included the installation of new, more powerful engines and associated transmissions.
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By mid-2020, all remaining 94 units were withdrawn from service, primarily because they did not comply with the Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) Technical Specification for Interoperability. Of the original 96 units, 26 units (52 cars) were preserved, while the remainder were scrapped.
142 061 (55711 & 55757)
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Diesel Multiple Unit 142 061 is formed of vehicles 55711, a Driving Motor Second, and 55757, a Driving Motor Second Lavatory.
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Following its withdrawal from mainline service in 2020, the unit was initially stored at Gascoigne Wood before being delivered to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in September 2020. It subsequently entered service in May 2021, becoming part of the MNR’s operational DMU fleet.