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
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.
June 6th
Added to the headcode pages are five more summaries of those used on the London Midland Region from the Western, Central, and North Western Lines.
May 30th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Long Melford - Bury St Edmunds; Liverpool - Wigan North Western; Monkseaton-Blyth / Newbiggin; Stirling - Dollar - Kinross; and Cardiff - Crewe.
May 23rd
Added to the document archive are the June 1975 amendments for Issue 2 of Standard Examination.
Latest Images:
Class 116 DMU set 385, 53090 closest, departs from Pollokshaws West station circa 1984. John Horne.
A Class 107 DMU in Kilwinning station with a Glasgow - Largs service circa early 1980s. John Horne.
A Class 107 DMU passes by Pollokshields station circa early 1980s. John Horne.
Class 116 DMU set 385 exits the sidings at East Kilbide, circa 1984. The closest car is easily identified as 53090, the only Scottish Class 116 vehicle with a top lamp. John Horne.
Class 101 DMU set L220 about to pass 08393 in Parkeston Yard while working a Harwich Town - Manningtree service on 5 Aprii 1992. Roger Geach.
On This Day:
A Class 114 DMU at Sheffield on 19 July 1985 with the 16:33 to Retford. Jonathan Hazan.
Cars E54365 E53164 are just about to enter Boldon Colliery station, Tyne & Wear, with the 07:39 Middlesbrough-Newcastle on 19/07/1983. Behind the train is a bridge carrying the line from Tyne Dock to Consett, which crossed the Newcastle-Sunderland line at what was known as Pontop Crossing - in this view, it is still protected by semaphore signals,... Graeme Phillips Collection.
Calling at Wymondham with a Norwich - Ely service is this 3 car BRCW unit. Signals abound and the sidings have some Presflows waiting for use. Taken by my wife Jean, on the platform clutching a huge camera case is the long-haired bearded me. 19/07/1979. Geoff Dowling.
A Wickham set is seen north of Ely, on the March route, with the 4.51pm Ely - Peterborough service, Sunday July 19th 1959. Michael Mensing.
Retro-green parcels set 55967 / 55966 at the Carlisle Upperby open day on 19/7/86. Jerry Glover.