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DMU Operations: London Midland Region


Leicester - Birmingham

DMUs were introduced to the services on 14 April 1958 along with several other lines as part of the Derby-Nottingham-Leicester scheme.

Derby-Nottingham-Leicester scheme

The nineteen three-car Cravens (Class 105) sets were built for this services, and two three-car Met-Camms were transferred from the Birmingham Part 1 scheme for the launch of the services[1]. Originally used in other places first, all were reallocated to Toton depot (18A) for the launch.

The services included at the launch were:

Sets were stabled at Nottingham and Leicester with one stayed overnight at Saltley carriage sheds. Trains running between Leicester & Birmingham displayed B7 on the route indicator and those on the Birmingham - Derby line B8 & B9.[2]

A folded leaflet was made available to the public promoting the new trains these services:

Nottingham Diesel Trains front Nottingham Diesel Trains inner-left Nottingham Diesel Trains inner-right Nottingham Diesel Trains rear

Sample Timetables

14th April to 8th June 1958

This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded

April 1958 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover April 1958 Leicester - Birmingham timetable outside April 1958 Leicester - Birmingham timetable inside

9th June to 14th September 1958

Cover only shown

June 1958 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover

2nd October 1961 to 17th June 1962

Cover only shown

October 1961 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover

18th June to 9th September 1962

Cover only shown

June 1962 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover

10th September to 16th June 1963

Cover only shown

September 1962 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover

6 March 1967 to 5 May 1968

Cover only shown

March 1967 Leicester - Birmingham timetable cover

Images

Class 105 DMU at Birmingham New Street

Unknown date

Taken in the un-rebuilt Birmingham New Street, with a 3-car Cravens set showing Leicester on it's destination blind. Date unknown, these services were introduced in April 1958. Photo by David McIntosh. Ian McDonald Collection.

Class 104 DMU at Birmingham New Street

14th April 1958

Just a few weeks old, BRC&W DMBS M50478 is at the front of the 6.15pm to Leicester (LR) getting ready for departure on April 14, 1958. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Birmingham New Street

9th May 1958

Standing under the vast roof of Birmingham New street (Midland side) is a Cravens, future class 105, DMU the driver of which is in a uniform of jacket over overalls and peaked cap, in those days it was possible for train crew to get steam or diesel to drive. This class of DMU were very common on the Birmingham - Nuneaton - Leicester service. Sharing the Midland side of New Street is Fowler compound 41157. This loco, a 4-4-0 was built by the North British Locomotive Company in September 1925, at the time of this photo it was a 17F Trafford Park engine. The photograph was taken 9th May 1958 giving 41157 another 2 years of life, she was withdrawn May 1960. Image taken by Peter Shoesmith. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.

Class 108 DMU at Birmingham New Street

December 1958

A two-car (later) Derby Lightweight in Birmingham New Street with a Leicester service in December 1958. A Cravens set is behind. Michael Mensing.

Class 108 DMU at Birmingham New Street

14th February 1959

A (blue square) Derby Lightweight set in platform 8 of Birmingham New Street with the 3.15pm to Leicester service on 14th February 1959. Michael Mensing.

Class 104 DMU at Wigston

June 1959

A BRC&W triple DMU set is seen heading for Birmingham at Wigston (Leicester). Michael Mensing.

Class 108 DMU at Birmingham New Street

January 1961

With Leicester on the destination blind a (blue square) Derby Lightweight twin is seen in Birmingham New Street station in January 1961. Closest seems to be M56268 which was allocated to Toton at the time. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Croft

21st September 1961

M56146 leads a two-car Cravens set, which has just passed another of the same type, with a Leicester service at Croft on September 21st, 1961. Michael Mensing.

Class 104 DMU at Croft

21st September 1961

A BRC&W triple DMU at Croft, between Nuneaton and Leicester, on 21 September 1961. M50493 leads with four crew members in the cab, it was allocated to Toton at the time. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Arley and Fillongley

7th April 1963

On Sunday 7th April 1963 a Cravens triple DMU working the 9.35am Leicester to Birmingham service passes through Arley and Fillongley station which had closed in November 1960. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Stockingford

late 1965

M50796 leads a three-car Cravens set near the west side of Stockingford tunnel (Arley / Ausley area) with a Leicester service in late 1965. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Stockingford

1966

M50791 is in need of a good wash, seen on the rear of a Leicester service at Stockingford late in 1966. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Arley and Fillongley

9th July 1966

The 10.15am Birmingham New Street - Leicester London Road service is seen approaching Arley and Fillongley on 9 July 1966 formed of a three-car Cravens DMU. The centre car is one of the TCL conversions (from a TSL) and has a 1 on the closest door. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Shustoke

October 1966

DMBS M50763 at the front of a Cravens triple set heading for Leicester at Shustoke in October 1966. Michael Mensing.

Class 105 DMU at Stockingford

2nd March 1968

A Cravens DMU departs from Stockingford Station on the Leicester to Birmingham line looking toward Birmingham on 2nd March 1968. Bryan Jeyes.

Class 105 DMU at Whitacre

2nd March 1968

A Cravens DMU arriving into Whitacre Station on 2nd March 1968 looking toward Leicester from the island platform. Bryan Jeyes.

Class 105 DMU at Castle Bromwich

2nd March 1968

A Leicester bound three-car Cravens DMU in Castle Bromwich station looking toward Birmingham on 2 March 1968. Bryan Jeyes.

Class 120 DMU at Birmingham New Street

July 1970

Swindon Cross-Country set EP487 in Birmingham New Street in July 1970. Peak D172 is in an adjacent platform. Mel Smith.

Class 104 DMU at Leicester

circa early/mid-1970s

Class 104 DMU set EP474 departs from Leicester passing London Road Junction with Birmingham on the destination blind. Circa early/mid-1970s. Phillip Malin.

Class 116 DMU at Shenstone

7th May 1974

Two Class 116 DMUs are seen at Shenstone with a Birmingham New Street bound service on 7 May 1974. Closest is set TY509, DMBS M50072 leading, presumably with M59009 + M50105. Michael Mensing.


References

  1. Diesel Railcars - Allocation of Vehicles, Appendix B, 11 March 1958 minutes of the Diesel Trains Committee
  2. p137 May 1958 Railway Observer (Railway Correspondence and Travel Society)