British Rail Class 501
| British Rail Class 501 | |
|---|---|
 A northbound Class 501 train calls at Harrow & Wealdstone. The B2 headcode signifies that this train worked the Broad Street-Watford via Primrose Hill (and vice versa) service. | |
| In service | 1957-1985 |
| Manufacturer | British Railways |
| Built at | Eastleigh Works |
| Replaced | LNWR electric units |
| Entered service | 1957-58 |
| Refurbished | 1980 |
| Number built | 57 trainsets |
| Number preserved | 2 cars (1 DMBS, 1 DTBS) |
| Number scrapped | 56 sets |
| Formation | Power car + trailer + driving trailer DMBS+TS+DTBS |
| Diagram | EB201 (DMBS) EH213 (TS) EG201 (DTBS) |
| Fleet numbers | 501133-501189 (sets) 61133-61189 (DMBS) 70133-70189 (TS) 75133-75189 (DTBS) |
| Capacity | 256 seats (total, as built) 242 seats (total, 1980-) 74 seats (DMBS) 108 seats (TS, as built) 94 seats (TS, 1980-) 74 seats (DTBS) |
| Operator | British Rail |
| Depot | Croxley Green |
| Lines served | Watford DC Line North London Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Train length | 181 ft 9 in (55.40 m) |
| Car length | 57 ft 5 in (17.50 m) (DMBS, DTBS) 57 ft 1 in (17.40 m) (TS) |
| Width | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m) |
| Floor height | 3 ft 9 in (1,140 mm) |
| Doors | Slam |
| Articulated sections | 3 |
| Wheelbase | 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m) (bogie centres, per car) |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Weight | 106 t (104 long tons; 117 short tons) (total) 47 t (46 long tons; 52 short tons) (DMBS) 29 t (29 long tons; 32 short tons) (TS) 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons) (DTBS) |
| Traction motors | 4 × 185 hp (138 kW) GEC |
| Power output | 740 hp (550 kW) |
| HVAC | Electric |
| Electric systems | 630 V DC third rail and fourth rail |
| Current collection | Contact shoe |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2' |
| Bogies | Mk2 |
| Braking system | Air (EP/Auto) |
| Safety system | Window bars |
| Coupling system | Screw |
| Multiple working | Within class only |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Ten cars converted to Classes 97/7 and 936 de-icing vehicles in 1984, for departmental use | |
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.