#3332

British Rail Class 103

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Park Royal Vehicles· from 1957· class of 20 two-car diesel multiple units

9 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 103 Park Royal DMU, WSR Minehead, December 1980 Slides275 (9972219346): Gillett's Crossing from Bristol, United Kingdom· CC BY 2.0
2. Class 103 at Barmouth in July 1980: The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Class 103 unit at Blue Anchor Bay in July 1976: The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
4. Class 103 units at Harlech in July 1980 (1): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
5. Class 103 units at Harlech in July 1980 (2): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
6. Class 103 units at Harlech in July 1980 (3): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
7. Park Royal Class 103: Johnragla· CC BY-SA 3.0
8. Renishaw Golf Course (3163063327): Phil Sangwell from United Kingdom· CC BY 2.0
9. Towyn c197x (49402782927): Kevin Prince· CC BY-SA 2.0

what is it?

The British Rail Class 103 diesel multiple units were built by Park Royal Vehicles with diesel engines by British United Traction (BUT). Ordered in the first half of 1955, 20 of these sets were built by Park Royal at the Crossley Motors works in Stockport of the ACV Group. They consisted of a power car and a driving trailer.

who runs it

British Rail London Midland Region of British Railways

base stats

speed 113 km/htop speed
power 112 kWpower output
weight 33.5 tin working order
seats 68passengers
built 20made in total

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.
Weighs about as much as 6 African elephants (~6 t each).
17.4 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
Served for 26 years (1957–1983).

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: 1983
status: retired
number built: 20
kind: multiple unit
traction: diesel
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Park Royal Vehicles
operators: British Rail, London Midland Region of British Railways
top speed: 113 km/h
power: 112 kW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
formation: 2 car sets: DMBS-DTCL
length: 17.4 m
weight: 33.5 t
capacity: 68 passengers

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q4970700, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 103 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.