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BR Derby Class 125 DMU - by Kier Hardy
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BR Derby Class 125 DMU - Unit #2
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BR Derby Class 125 DMU - by John Harvey
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In 1958 BR Derby works built twenty 3-car DMU sets for the ex-Great Eastern suburban services
to Hertfordshire and Essex, otherwise known as Lea Valley sets and later Class 125. With their
Rolls Royce engines and hydraulic transmission they matched the performance of the electric
multiple units working out of Liverpool Street station. When these routes all became electrified,
the 20 sets were transferred in the late 1960s to operate the peak-hour inner suburban services
from Kings Cross and Broad Street. The units were allocated to Stratford depot throughout their
lives, being maintained and serviced there even after transfer. When the ex-Great Northern
electrification was completed in 1976, these units were withdrawn, being non-standard orange
star coupling code and unable to work with other DMUs.
The power cars (DMS E50988-E51007 & DMBS E51154-E51173) were identical below the solebar (with
the exception of access footsteps). Their outward appearance was very similar to the Class 116
3-car units, the main difference being the control systems and lack of first class accomodation.
This type of DMU has been on the 'to do list' for Hornsey Broadway for quite some time, with
initial conversions on the Lima Class 117 model being considered. However for this project, a
Bachmann Class 117 has been the donor model with everything except the battery boxes being
removed and new components scratchbuilt to suit the configuration of the Class 125. The units
had a much larger radiator and were similar to the semi-automatic St Pancras Class 127 DMUs.
Bodywise, the DMS & DMBS required very little modification, with just the cab roof and headcode
box being cut off and replaced with a destination box from a Dapol Class 122. The centre car
required the most amount of work, with the lavatory and seating bay configurations being removed
and replaced with other parts from the Dapol body.
Modified interiors with partitions.
Views showing the inner ends of the TS (E59449-E59468) featuring the lighting switch and control
lever on one end, and the standard emergency communication layout on the other end. Kaydee
number 5 buckeye couplings have been used to couple the units together - a standard used on all
other DMUs and coaching stock on the layout which makes for easy separation and maintenance.
Class 125 Rolls Royce powered diesel hydraulic 3-car unit.
A Class 125 DMU on the fly-over at Hornsey Broadway, whilst a Cravens Class 105 DMU heads
north on the Down Fast line below.
Reinforcing the North London flavour with a pair of Class 125 DMUs, one heading to its
home depot of Stratford for servicing whilst another is seen coasting over the
flyover on a inner suburban service.
The new additions to the fleet are seen here during the last stages of detail work and
are ready for painting, showing the alternative bufferbeam pipe arrangement. I don't
remember the first set taking as long, and that involved a lot of reasearch.
Two views showing each side of the Class 125 powercars, with the set which was completed
last year being used as a guide for what to make and fit for this second unit. The new
underframe parts are mostly strene with brass wire and tube.
I've gone around the edges of the glazing on the 2 powercars with a fine point marker pen
which improves the look of the aperture and window, shown here with the centre car still to
do. The difference is obvious, so I'll have to revisit the first set to improve the glazing.
DMS E51005 lasted into the early 1970s with a small yellow warning panel, so it was
decided (there's peer pressure for you) to model this particular powercar for a bit of
variety. The chassis on E51005 will be swapped with the other DMC so that the bufferbeam
arrangement matches the photographs of this unit.
A 6-car 'rush hour' formation heading for Kings Cross.
Class 125 DMU at Hornsey Broadway, converted from the Lima Class 117 model by John Harvey.
Some more of the unit during conversion. A class 125 DMU starts to take shape, and this
view shows some of the splicing taking place to get the right bodyside configuration
using the old Lima high-density model as a basis of the conversion.
Showing the front end modifications, with reprofiled and filled destination box, and a
2-character headcode display. It will portray one of the Kings Cross suburban hydraulic
units.
