UTA MPD - History

History

The new railcars were to operate on the former ‘broad gauge’ lines of the NCC which not only covered suburban services in and around Belfast, but also the 152-kilometre (94 mi) long main line from that city to Derry.

The "new" trains, just as with the earlier MEDs, were converted from existing locomotive-hauled stock. These became known as Multi-purpose Diesel (MPD) railcars and were built between 1957 and 1962. The first 10 power cars being intended for the Derry line trains, with the others being for the Belfast local services. The power cars were originally fitted with a 275 h.p. Leyland engine, mounted beneath the chassis and driving both axles on the rear bogie through a torque converter. However problems were encountered with these engines and, in the mid - 1960s, it was decided to re - engine 12 cars with 260 h.p. AEC engines and a further 17 with 275 h.p. engines from Rolls Royce.

The Belfast - Derry express services, for which the first 10 MPDs were built, called for a high power / weight ratio and, on occasion, saw the five-coach train formation made up of four power cars with a restaurant car. On local services the power cars operated with trailers.

The loss of one of the power cars came about when No. 58 suffered a collision with a motor vehicle on a level crossing in July 1958, the MPD was written off, after just six weeks in service.