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 10th
Two documents on electrical systems have been added to the Training Manual section, one on Auxiliary Circuits (1.5mb PDF), and one on Alternators (3.3mb PDF).
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.
Latest Images:
3M00 the 1455 Leeds to Heysham parcels is passing Wortley Junction Leeds, on the rear is a Derby Works built Driver Trailer Composite which I believe is M79604 (but not certain) it is on it's way from overhaul at Derby C&W back to Carlisle. Keith Long.
No E51440 in the yard at Leeds Neville Hill 55H, the DMU had been involved in the accident at Leeds East on 10th August 1961 when a light engine collided with the 2.40pm Leeds to Scarborough train. Keith Long.
55994 stabled in the Wall Siding at Leeds station while in an empty stock movement from Neville Hill Depot to Leeds PCD where it would be loaded and work an overnight mail train. Keith Long.
55931 and 54901 stabled in the Wall Siding at Leeds station while leading an empty stock movement from Neville Hill Depot to Leeds PCD where they would be loaded with mail and work overnight trains. Keith Long.
Stabled in the Wall Siding at Leeds station are 55931, 54901, 55994, 55930 and 54900 they were working an empty stock move from Neville Hill depot to the Leeds PCD where they would be loaded with mail for overnight trains. Keith Long.
On This Day:
Class 108 DMBS 53934 + 53630 in the yard at Snailwell on 17th October 1991. Nicholas Youngman.
Class 117 DMU set L417, presumed 51354 + 59506 + 51396, at Brook Crossing with the 08.20 Reading to Gatwick on 17 October 1993. Rob Paterson.
Class 108 DMU on the Stockport-Stalybridge shuttle, in one of the bay platforms at Stockport station. 17th October 1985. Paul James.
An un-named Railway Society of Scotland railtour on 17th October 1970, taken at Partick Central. Stuart Rankin.
Class 121 977860, set number 960 012, is seen at Gerrards Cross on route learning duty, 17.10.1999. Andy Cole.