LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Kings Norton Locomotives: mrkn1179

A British Railways Diesel Multiple Unit Inter-City set passes through Kings Norton on the down fast line circa 1964. The station is intact with the buildings on the island platforms still in use. The gas lamp seen suspended above the stepway was supplied with gas via the frame on the right and was controlled by the two sets of chains seen hanging down. Classified under TOPS as Class 123, they were built by British Rail at Swindon Works in 1963, and designed like all Swindon DMU units as inter-city sets. Ten of the four-car sets were built and introduced in 1963. The units bear a visible similarity to the British Rail Class 309, however there is no 'relation' here as the two types were built by different manufacturers for different markets. The Class 123's structure and internal construction have much more in common with British Rail Mark 1 coaching stock than they do with other DMU classes. The carriage's underframes are longer and the end gangways are built to a different style. It was also unusual for a first-generation DMU to sport a front end gangway. None of these units survive today.

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