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 24th
Two new operation/timetable pages have been started: Walsall - Dudley; and Glasgow - Ardrossan.
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.
Latest Images:
A two car 101 passes Royal Elizabeth Yard, Dalmeny heading westwards on an unrecorded date in 1991 with what is thought to be either a driver training or route learning run. John Clark.
The 09.12 Edinburgh - Perth leaves Falkirk Grahamston in the autumn of 1976. John Clark.
A Blue Square Derby Lightweight DMU formed of M56267 and presumably M50984 pass Craigentinny Sidings on 10 July 1960. The set was on loan from the LMR to Leith Central at the time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A Cravens DMU arrives at Wakefield Kirkgate station with a service to Sheffield sometime in 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 116 DMU set C320 (presumably 53922 + 59035 + 53869) at Barry Junction with the 17:33 Rhymney - Barry Island service on 26 August 1983. Stuart Mackay Collection.
On This Day:
The interior of DMS 53170 (part of unit 101 692) forming the 13.31 Paisley Canal - G'gow Central, seen on the Central station approaches on 25/10/95. Leonard Rogers.
A Southminster to Wickford DMU passes the G.E.R. goods shed at Battlesbridge 25/10/77. The goods shed lasted into the 80s and was demolished in connection with the electrification of the line. Sparegang.
Class 101 Set 79 (54342 + 51184) on a 09XX Norwich - Lowestoft service approaches Lowestoft at 10:30 on Tuesday 25th October 1988. Colin Brooks.
The final months for the Cravens Class 105 DMUs in London with 53362-54126 on depot at Stratford TMD on 25th October 1985, standing between part of the former steam motive power depot and the diesel depot replacement, with a class 37 just visible inside. Gordon Edgar.
NSE liveried class 117 DMU set no. L402 (51377 + 59487 + 51335) stands at Clydach-on-Tawe on the freight only branch from Felin Fran East Junction on 25.10.1986. The DMU was working the Monmouthshire Railway Society "Cynheidre Curler" railtour along with sister set L414 visiting freight branches in the Western Valleys of South Wales. The... Adrian Nicholls.