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:
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.
Met-Camm ex-buffet SC59578 during its time in Scotland when it was based at Dundee, seen at Edinburgh Waverley on 27/8/79. Basil Hancock.
A Met-Camm and a Cravens DMU (54447 and presumably 53377) at Doncaster on 27 August 1985. Robert28194.
A GRC&W Cross-Country DMU, a Tyseley set number in the cab window, with a suburban triple set on the rear, is seen from Locke King Road Bridge at Weybridge on 27 August 1966. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Fairlie (High) station on 27 August 1977 Class 107 DMU sets 131 and 138 are working the 17.55 Largs to Glasgow train. On the left is a crane used for transferring nuclear fuel flasks from road to rail (it was labelled safe working load 53t 6cwt). This work would later be transferred to Hunterston Causeway Sidings on the low level branch. Tom Burnham.