DMU Operations: Eastern Region
Sudbury-Colchester
DMUs were first introduced when Sudbury was a through station on the Stour Valley route. Paytrain operation was introduced on 14 August 1966[1].
The through Stour Valley route closed on 6 March 1967 making Sudbury a terminus on an 11 mile branch from Marks Tey. DMUs used would be two-car sets allocated to Norwich, by the late 1980s Cambridge sets were used.
Eventually second generation units were introduced. In 1997 Great Eastern was using a Class 153 hired from Anglia, but that lease was cut short in September 1997, and in its place Bletchley bubbles were borrowed until another Class 153 was obtained for the summer 1998 timetable.
Sample Timetables
6 March 1967 to 5 May 1968
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was Table 43 (0.4 mb pdf).
1 May 1972 to 6 May 1973
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was Table 34 (0.5 mb pdf).
7 May 1973 to 5 May 1974
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was Table 34 (0.5 mb pdf).
23 June 1974 to 4 May 1975
This measured 4 1/8" x 3" when folded.
1 October 1979 until further notice
This measured 4 1/8" x 2 7/8" when folded.
12 May 1980 until further notice
This measured 4 1/8" x 2 7/8" when folded.
1 June 1981 until further notice
This measured 4 1/8" x 2 7/8" when folded.
Images
1st June 1968
A down train arrives at Subdury on the 1st June 1968. David Underwood.
circa April 1969
A Cravens / Met-Camm pairing in Sudbury station, the slide process date was April 1969. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th December 1969
Sudbury station in the snow on December 6, 1969. The train is the 13.57 to Colchester, and the DTCL closest is E56376. Tom Burnham.
February 1970
A Class 100/101 hybrid set waiting to depart Chappel and Wakes Colne for Colchester. The guard appears to have a ticket machine, and there are window bars on the Class 100 DMBS passenger doors. Note also the miss-matched headcode blinds, the right one being from a 4-character route indicator. The 101 DTC is in blue. 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
A rainy day in Sudbury as a Class 100/101 hybrid set awaits departure with a Colchester service in February 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
The guard walks back to his van at Bures station on the Marks Tey - Sudbury branch in February 1970. His train was a Class 101 DTC in plain blue and Class 100 DMBS in green. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
The guard waits for the photographer (John Vaughan) to take his shot at Bures station on the Marks Tey - Sudbury branch in February 1970. The train was a Class 101 DTC in plain blue and Class 100 DMBS in green. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
Passengers board the Sudbury service at Marks Tey in February 1970 formed of a Class 101/100 hybrid set. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
A Class 101/100 hybrid set at Marks Tey in February 1970 after arrival from Sudbury. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
A Class 101 (in blue) / Class 100 (in green) hybrid set about to depart from Marks Tey with a Sudbury service in February 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
February 1970
A Class 101/100 hybrid ready to depart from Sudbury station on the return journey to Marks Tey in February 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
1971
A Class 100 / Class 105 DMBS hybrid approaches Sudbury in 1971. John Law.
1971
A Class 100 DTC, paired with a Class 105 DMBS out of sight, in Sudbury station in 1971. John Law.
25th July 1971
Cravens DMBS E51278 at the Chappel & Wakes Colne stop of a Sudbury service on 25 July 1971. It is paired with Met-Camm DTCL E56380. Nicholas T Smith.
25th July 1971
A Class 101/105 hybrid (56380 + 51278) arrives at Chappel & Wakes Colne on its return from Sudbury on 25 July 1971. Nicholas T Smith.
4th August 1974
Norwich allocated DMU set 75 in Sudbury station on 4 August 1974. The visible vehicle is Class 100 DTCL E56316. Stuart Mackay Collection.
July 1976
A Class 105 awaits departure from Sudbury in July 1976. David Underwood.
2nd August 1976
Class 105 DMU set 54 arrives into Chappel & Wakes Colne station with a service from Sudbury on 2 August 1976. Alistair Ness.
Unknown date
Cravens DMU set 37 in Sudbury station, date unknown. The KDH Archive.
Unknown date
Norwich allocated Class 105 set 63, with DMBS E51268 closest, in Colchester station with a Sudbury service circa early 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
References
- ⋏ Sudbury railway station, Wikipedia, accessed 6 December 2022