lavatory, and the other saloon having 24 first-class seats. All of the seats were arranged as 2+2. The cab was generously proportioned with the driver in a central position. It entered revenue-earning service in 1939 based at Bedford, and worked first on the Varsity Line between and , and then on – services. A second unit may have been intended, and the diagram was marked that two units should be constructed although the order was for the one unit that was actually built. 80000–80001–80002 was withdrawn on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, stored, and never re-entered passenger service. Conversion for Overhead line maintenance In 1949, British Railways converted the articulated unit to a two-car set for overhead line maintenance. The centre car was removed and the number of engines in the set reduced to two. The driving cabs were given flat ends. To enable engineering staff to work on the overhead cables the roofs of the two coaches were flattened, creating a work space long and wide. Between the two cars a manually-operated lift was installed that could be raised to above roof level. One coach was converted into a workshop with all passenger seats removed and workbench facilities installed. The other coach was converted into staff accommodation with lockers, cooking, washing facilities and a WC, and 12 seats with tables as a mess saloon. An old coach was converted to carry of overhead wire and attached to the unit as a trailer. Portable floodlights for night work were installed in the two coaches and in the trailer. The unit worked on the Manchester – Altrincham line. It was moved to Longsight Depot in 1959 and taken out of service shortly afterwards. It still existed in a derelict state as late as 1967. The design may be seen as a step in the development of post-war British Railways diesel multiple units (DMU) such as the Derby Lightweight units, at least as far the powertrain is concerned. Other single units An Armstrong Whitworth diesel-electric railcar operated a luxury 12-seat express service on the LMS for two weeks in 1933 between London and Castle Bromwich near Birmingham in connection with a British Industries Fair. This car, with body work by Cravens which incorporated a kitchen, was powered by a standard Armstrong-Saurer 250 bhp engine. Between 1936 and 1937, the LMS trialled two experimental railcars built by Armstrong Siddeley to