Operations
The vehicles were converted in two batches. Numbers 9701–9710 were converted in 1979 for use on the newly introduced Glasgow-Edinburgh InterCity ScotRail push-pull service with specially modified Class 47/7 locomotives. A further four, nos. 9711–9714 were converted in the period 1985–1986. The fourteenth DBSO, no. 9714 was a replacement for no. 9706, which was derailed and damaged beyond repair in the Polmont rail crash after it hit a cow.
When first introduced, the DBSO fleet had half-cabs and retained their end gangways. They were later rebuilt to have full-width cabs, with the removal of the end gangways.
In the late 1980s, with the introduction of Class 158 diesel multiple units on the Glasgow-Edinburgh corridor, the DBSO fleet was transferred en-masse, and converted to use the TDM system used by the AC electric locomotives used on the London Liverpool Street-Norwich services on the newly electrified Great Eastern Main Line. The Mk. 2E/2F coaching stock used on the route was based at Norwich Crown Point and rakes were marshalled into semi-permanent formations (numbered AR01-AR13). Traction was provided by Class 86/2 electric locomotives.
Following privatisation of the British Rail, the London-Norwich route became part of the Anglia Railways franchise. From 1997 onwards, a new livery of turquoise with a white stripe was introduced onto all Anglia stock. However, rake AR01, containing DBSO 9710 retained its old InterCity livery. on the Anglia services they were originally attached to the first class coaches but this was changed and they were attached to the standard class coaches as the seating in the DBSO was standard class.
In April 2004, the Anglia franchise became part of the new 'one' franchise. The thirteen surviving DBSOs were still in service, although they were gradually replaced by Driving Van Trailers (DVT) cascaded from Virgin Trains. One DBSO, no. 9710, had the new 'one' Anglia livery applied by means of adhesive vinyls, whilst retaining the InterCity livery underneath.
However, many of the new Mark 3 sets being received by Anglia were not originally accompanied by DVTs. For this reason a small number of DBSOs were retained until enough DVTs had been received. The last DBSOs were withdrawn from mainline service in December 2006. Some vehicles may see further use by charter operators. DBSO 9713 has been preserved for further use on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
In February 2007, Network Rail took delivery of five DBSOs, nos. 9701, 9702, 9703, 9708 and 9714. These have been converted to allow test-trains to run in push-pull mode, therefore eliminating the need to operate two locomotives (one at each end of the train).
ex Riviera/Anglia MK2 driving trailer 9712 was sold to Northern Ireland Railways for use on the ex Gatwick set to convert it to push-pull operation using 111 class locomotives. It is registered as 8918 on NIR. The vehicle was delivered to Belfast on June 26, 2009, almost 14 months late on its contracted delivery date. The ex-Gatwick coaches were stopped on June 19th (before it was delivered) and have now been withdrawn.
Read more about this topic: Driving Brake Standard Open
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