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
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.
July 4th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Firsby - Skegness; Crewe - Chester; Middlesbrough - Guisborough; Edinburgh - Bathgate; and Maerdy - Porth.
June 27th
New in the document archive are the Examination Schedules from Issue 3 of Standard Maintenance Instructions, the 1970s version of maintenance instructions.
Latest Images:
No details came with this images, showing a four-car North Eastern Region DMU. The DMBS has original Met-Camm style lining, and an NE prefix to the vehicle number which dates it to 1965 or later. The two Met-Camm centre cars, which include a buffet car, have the revised style of lining with two bands to match other types. On the rear is a Blue Square Derby Lightweight DMCL. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 DMU set L434 (presumably 51414 + 59479 + 51372) departs from an unknown station with an Oxford service. The set was refurbished in June 1978, and became P434 when it moved to Laira in November 1980, so with the bare trees this was likely taken in early 1980. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 107s (107737, presumably 51998 + 59782 + 52021 and 107726, presumably 52018 + 59803 + 51986) arrives at Leuchars with a Golf Open special in July 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Some passengers on a seaside camping trip board E50007 at Doncaster working the 09:51 Sheffield - Cleethorpes service on 10 June 1978. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Some kids seem to be hoping to ride in the cab of a Cravens DMU waiting to depart from Sudbury to Colchester circa early 1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
On This Day:
A Class 101 and a Class 105 form the 18:57 Carlisle - Newcastle service awaiting departure time in Carlisle on 27 August 1977. Closest is E56397, a long time ScR vehicle that had been transferred to South Gosforth three months prior. It has the Scottish style of painted window frames, unlike its partner. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The fourth of seven images showing a Cravens two-car DMU that tried to go under the Newport Street bridge at Bolton on two different lines. The culprit is thought to be M50807, the DMBS closest is unknown, taken on 27 August 1968. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.
The Branch Line Society "Forth and Clyde Wanderer" is seen at Gunnie on 27 August 1977. The car nearest the camera is 51464, new 1959. This Metro-Cammell car was always allocated to Scotland. This branch served a cement works. Jeremy Chapter.
101 365 (53239 + 59053 + 53245) at General Terminus (Glasgow) during a stop on the BLS "Strathclyde Wanderer" tour on August 27, 1983. Hamish Stevenson.
A Derby suburban triple DMU working the 8.0am Leamington Spa - Birmingham Moor Street service leaving Acocks Green on 27 August 1960. Micheal noted "recently repainted with lines and slightly more pleasing shade of green". Michael Mensing.