The History of First Generation DMUs
The Railcar website provides information on the British Railways first generation DMUs (a.k.a. diesel multiple units / railcars) introduced in the 1950s.
The content of this website
The six key sections of the website are:
- Types - looks at each type of DMU in detail
- Topics - features articles on different aspects of the vehicles and personal recollections
- Technology - describes the technical details of how they work
- Data - various lists of numerical details
- Images - galleries featuring DMUs
- In Print - details the books and other printed materials made available over the years that have relevance
Details of railcars in preservation can be found on The Railcar Association website.
Date on DMUs
Vehicle / Set Data
To view details of a particular vehicle or set enter the number below:
DMU Images Wanted!
Do you have photos of First Generation DMUs? The more images we have the better we can tell the DMU story and make it more useful to visitors. Images can be loaded directly onto the site - just register as a user and upload! Alternatively if you have images on flickr or another website I can do the uploads for you - just let me know.
Scope
This website contains details about the First Generation DMUs. This includes the 4-wheel diesel railbuses, ACV / BUT railcars, the Battery Multiple Unit (BMU) and Blue Pullmans. It covers the period from their introduction to British Railways in the 1950s till their withdrawal and disposal from main-line use, but NOT preservation.
Because of the vast amount of data that this covers and the amount of information I have still to process I cannot include the DEMUs introduced on the Southern Region in the same era, nor Second Generation or later types.
Updates
October 3rd
Added to the headcode pages are four more sections from Western Region working timetables.
September 5th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Sheffield - Doncaster; Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton High Level; Leeds - Barnsley; Glasgow - Hamilton Circle; and Paignton - Exmouth.
August 29th
A look at the Rocket 150 DMU Shuttles for the 1980 event at Rainhill.
August 22nd
Added to the headcode pages are some of those used on the Western Region.
August 15th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: March - Wisbech - Kings Lynn; Liverpool - Gateacre; Leeds - Bradford Forster Square; Edinburgh - Dunbar; and West Drayton - Uxbridge.
August 8th
Added to the document archive is a 1964 Scottish Region Fault Finding booklet.
August 1st
Added to the headcode pages are three more summaries of those used on the Eastern Region from September 1962. Also a Leeds Neville Hill destination blind from circa mid-1960s.
July 25th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Peterborough - Spalding; Nottingham - Sheffield; Darlington / Barnard Castle - Middleton-in-Teesdale; Fife Coast; and Brixham - Churston.
July 18th
New in the document archive are the Job Desciptions from Issue 3 of Standard Maintenance Instructions, the 1970s version of maintenance instructions.
July 11th
Added to the headcode pages are some of those used on the Eastern Region.
Latest Images:
28th September 1964, and a Metro-Cammell 3-car unit is making its way across the Forth Bridge above North Queensferry. Colin Kirkwood.
A DMU from Kilmacolm to Glasgow St Enoch is passing through Elderslie Station on 17 August 1963 and is made up of a Cravens and Metro Cammell unit. Colin Kirkwood.
A Diesel Pullman is captured leaving Bristol Temple Meads on 21 May 1962. These units always looked more attractive in their original 'Nanking Blue' colour. Colin Kirkwood.
Alloa on 18 October 1969 and a Metro Cammell (the DMBS was No SC51467) has just arrived after crossing the swing bridge from Throsk, as part of a railtour organised by the Rail Society of Scotland. The train then reversed and headed for Stirling. Colin Kirkwood.
SC51467 has arrived at Calder on the Rail Society of Scotland's railtour on 18 October 1969. The single line which is heading eastward was originally part of the Caley line to Airdrie, which used to be double track. The viaduct at Sheepford can be seen in the background. Colin Kirkwood.
On This Day:
M51577 facing a Class 110 at Leeds, 10/10/85. Malcolm Clements.
With the Humber Bridge under construction in the background, a Class 124 passes through Hessle with a Hull-Liverpool service on 10/10/1977. Graeme Phillips Collection.
Class 108 51941 faces Class 110 51823 at Leeds on 10/10/85. Malcolm Clements.
BRCW 4-car DMU (DMCL E50577 nearest camera) at Alexandra Dock, Hull, pictured during the RCTS (West Riding branch) 1Z02 "Hull Docks Rail Tour" - 10/10/1964. The DMC on the far end is E50589. Tour itinery at: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/641010rc.html © 2018 - 53A Models of Hull Collection. 53A Models of Hull Collection.
A couple of Derby suburban triple DMUs wait in Cardiff station with a Barry Island service. The KDH Archive.