#3345
British Rail Class 501
🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by British Rail· from 1957· class of 57 British 3-car electric multiple units
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6 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Class-501-train-B2-headcode: No machine-readable author provided. Spsmiler assumed (based on copyright claims).· Public domain
- 2. Class-501-train-B1-headcode: No machine-readable author provided. Spsmiler assumed (based on copyright claims).· Public domain
- 3. Class-501-train-B4-headcode: No machine-readable author provided. Spsmiler assumed (based on copyright claims).· Public domain
- 4. Class 501 M61144, M70144, M75144 (8202977627): Hugh Llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 5. Class 501 units at Broad Street in 1981 (2): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 6. Class 501 units at Broad Street in 1981: The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
what is it?
The British Rail Class 501 electric multiple units were built in 1955/56 for use on the former LNWR/LMS suburban electric network of the London Midland Region. A total of 57 three-car units were built.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 69 years ago, in 1957.
- 552 kW is about 6 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 18 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 55.2 m long: about 12 cars parked nose to tail.
- Seats 256: 5 full city buses (~50 seats each).
- Served for 28 years (1957–1985).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1957
- in service from
- 1957
- retired
- 1985
- status
- retired
- number built
- 57
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- builders
- British Rail
- operators
- British Rail
- top speed
- 113 km/h
- power
- 552 kW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- 630 V DC third rail and fourth rail
- wheel arrangement
- Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2'
- formation
- Power car + trailer + driving trailer, DMBS+TS, Trailer Second+DTBS
- length
- 55.2 m
- weight
- 106 t
- capacity
- 256 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4970828, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 501 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.