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:
- Nottingham - Derby
- Nottingham - Lincoln
- Nottingham - Leicester
- Leicester - Burton-on-Trent
- Leicester - Nuneaton - Birmingham New Street
- Birmingham - Derby
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:
Sample Timetables
14th April to 8th June 1958
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded
9th June to 14th September 1958
Cover only shown
2nd October 1961 to 17th June 1962
Cover only shown
18th June to 9th September 1962
Cover only shown
10th September to 16th June 1963
Cover only shown
6 March 1967 to 5 May 1968
Cover only shown
Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
June 1959
A BRC&W triple DMU set is seen heading for Birmingham at Wigston (Leicester). Michael Mensing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1966
M50791 is in need of a good wash, seen on the rear of a Leicester service at Stockingford late in 1966. Michael Mensing.
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.
October 1966
DMBS M50763 at the front of a Cravens triple set heading for Leicester at Shustoke in October 1966. Michael Mensing.
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.
2nd March 1968
A Cravens DMU arriving into Whitacre Station on 2nd March 1968 looking toward Leicester from the island platform. Bryan Jeyes.
2nd March 1968
A Leicester bound three-car Cravens DMU in Castle Bromwich station looking toward Birmingham on 2 March 1968. Bryan Jeyes.
July 1970
Swindon Cross-Country set EP487 in Birmingham New Street in July 1970. Peak D172 is in an adjacent platform. Mel Smith.
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.
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.
summer 1975
A Class 120 DMU with a Class 100 DMBS standing in for its DMBC, taken at Nuneaton Midland Junction circa summer 1975. The set number appears to be EP579. Derby Etches Park had two of these Gloucesters from Tyseley From June to September 1975 - 51112 and 51119. See also images 28251 + 28546 for views from the other end. Phillip Malin.
3rd September 1975
A Class 120 with a Class 101 on the rear near Croft on 3 September 1975. The closest vehicle with Leicester on the destination blind is noted as M50730, the set number looks like EP581. Phillip Malin.
May 1977
With the waterworks pumping station dominating the background a Class 120 DMU is seen at Whitacre in May 1977. Leicester is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
25th May 1977
Tyseley set TS548 is seen passing the site of Whitacre station with the 6.14pm Leicester - Birmingham New Street on 25 May 1977. It is a hybrid set, the centre car is a Class 117, Tyseley received two of these from Cardiff Canton a few weeks previous - 59492 and 59502. The power cars are Class 116s, closest is thought to be 50904 which also moved from Canton with the centre cars. Michael Mensing.
28th August 1977
A class 116 dmu (set TS540, presumably 50832 + 59029 + 50885) has just left Nuneaton Trent Valley station and approaches the site of Nuneaton Abbey Street station (closed 1968) 28/8/1977 with a Leicester to Birmingham New Street service. The end cottage on the left bears evidence that the occupants were supporters of the notorious career criminal George Davis who was wrongly imprisoned for an offence but ended up committing numerous crimes! Stephen Burdett.
1978
M51138 is at the front of set TS546 (presumably with 59448 + 51151) when seen at East Whitacre in 1978. Michael Mensing.
1978
A Swindon Cross-Country set seen East of Whitacre in mid-1978. Michael Mensing.
28th April 1979
Cravens set TY404 (M50766 leading) is seen operating the 3.37pm (approx) Leicester - Birmingham New Street at Nuneaton on April 28th, 1979, with a Class 100 DMBS on the rear. Michael Mensing.
9th May 1981
Class 116 set TS543 (50842 presumably leading) departs from Leicester London Road with a Birmingham New Street service on 9 May 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Tyseley DMU set T332 at Water Orton on 28 March 1988. Class 116 DMBS 53865 leads, still carrying an E prefix from a previous allocation to Stratford almost two years previous. The centre car is presumably Class 127 TSL 59598 and the rear DMBS Class 116 53073. Leicester is on the destination blind and the former set number board in the cab window now has the date 4/4/88 and MIDLINE chalked on it. Stuart Mackay Collection.
14th July 1984
Abbey Junction (Nuneaton) is the venue for this Cross Country Class 120 DMU, 53708 leading, working a Leicester to Birmingham service on the 14th July 1984. Mike Dean.
References
- ⋏ Diesel Railcars - Allocation of Vehicles, Appendix B, 11 March 1958 minutes of the Diesel Trains Committee
- ⋏ p137 May 1958 Railway Observer (Railway Correspondence and Travel Society)