Bogies & Power

Standard BR swing bolster bogies are fitted to our 104s. Power cars have 21" vacuum cylinders incorporated (the dome shaped tank in the image on the left) while the trailer cars have smaller 18" versions. These are used in the standard DMU Gresham & Craven braking system with each wheel having two brake blocks (that's 48 in a 3-car set). Driving vehicles also have a handbrake and a speedometer at the cab end. The bogies are fitted with Timken roller bearings. The vacuum is produced by two exhausters on each power car (one per engine).

Standard B.U.T engines and transmission are fitted, with our vehicles having 2 common Leyland 680 engines per power-car. These then drive a flywheel, 4-speed gearbox and final drive mounted on the inside axles. Each engine also powered an exhauster (described above) and compressor, as there are air systems that work at 90 psi. Trailer cars and some power cars (such as

M50517) are fitted with Dynamos which charge the batteries after a certain speed while some power cars such as M50455 have alternators driven directly off the engine. The 90psi air supply is piped between vehicles as is the vacuum system. Along with the jumper cables there are seven connections to break plus the coupling when splitting vehicles.