Class 141 diesel railbus

This class 141 vehicle is identical to 55513 except that it is fitted with a toilet. They have run as a pair since new.

When the class 141 was originally built it was fitted with a Leyland TL11 engine - which was the uprated and turbocharged version of the engines fitted in units like the class 108 and 104. These immediately began to be troublesome.
There was also trouble with the gearboxes which were manufactured by SCG and again were an updated version of the traditional design. In this case the automatic gear change gave problems - in particular with the electronics.
Brakes were another problem area as cables had been used which tended to stretch and give reduced efficiency.
The class 141 was also fitted with Westinghouse brakes and Tightlock couplers which were unique to the class.

A decision was taken to rework classes 141-144 and as an experiment 141113 ( which we now own) was fitted with a Cummins L10 engines and Voith hydraulic transmission. At the same time the whole of the class was modified to have the Davies and Metcalf air brake system with direct acting cylinders and the BSI couplers so that they could be used with the later classes 142-144.
The experiment was successful and all the 142/143 and 144 types were converted but yet 141113 remained the only member of the class to receive the uprated engines.
The unit became a depot favourite at Neville Hill in Leeds and was popular with the drivers due to its outstanding performance.
When the Aire Valley lines were electrified some of the class 141s were placed in store and the rest followed as more new trains became available. 113 was one of the last two ( 119 being the other).
It,too, went into store before passing into preservation.

141113 is not the only one of the class to have passed to new owners. Several are now in service in Iran and two have been exported to Holland (though are not in use). One Leyland engined example is preserved at the Colne Valley Railway and another is in use at the Weardale Railway. Weardale has a second unit which is being used for spares. Two of the 20-strong class have been scrapped.
The Llangollen Railcar Group bought this vehicle in 2001 and it took five years to bring it up to an acceptable standard for use. It is currently out-based and operating at the Midland Railway Centre-Butterley.