DMU Class 126 aids rescue

On a bright cold February morning at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway I was kindly invited to the first DMU training day of the year for SRPS volunteer drivers and guards using the only surviving 'Swindon' Inter-City DMU Class 126 3-car set in service in Scotland. I joined the DMU at the Kinneil Halt on its second uphill journey this was my first ever trip in this lovely restored DMU Class 126. Also traveling with us was a SPCA Animal Rescue Officer responding to emergency call made by the DMU train crew that a badly injured badger was spotted on the railways enbankment possibly hit by a road vehicle the DMU halted fairly close to the railway enbankment making easier access to the poor injured animal.

All cars of this class were designed and built at BR's Swindon Works, and so were generally known as "Swindons".
The class was built especially for Scottish Region services, and some units exceeded 2 million miles in service. The first batch of 64 cars went into service on the Edinburgh - Glasgow via Falkirk services in 1957, and the second, of 68 cars, entered service on the Glasgow - Ayr - Stranraer route in 1959. These services remained operated exclusively by the class until 1971 in the case of the Edinburgh - Glasgow services, and 1982 in Ayrshire.