DMU Accidents
DMUs have had their fair share of mishaps through the years and this section is an attempt to document them.
If you have any notes or photographs please submit them to be added here. I would also welcome further information on any of the accidents featured here.
Many of the accident reports are available on-line at www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
1970s
circa early 1970s - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 115
Class 115 TS was withdrawn in September 1971 with accident damage, cause unknown, possibly a side-swipe.
circa Jan-70 - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 105
Class 105 DMSL 50817 suffered collision damage to the cab front, details unknown.
28/01/70 - Dowdyke Bank Level Crossing, between Spalding and Boston, ER
Collision involving Class 114 / Road Tanker
Info from Peter Mullen
A tanker traversing the crossing was struck by the DMU (50020 & 56020) travelling at 50mph. More Details.
17/07/70 - Kirkstall Junction, Leeds
Collision involving Class 108 / Loco-hauled freight
A Keighley to Leeds ECS working (a four-car DMU) hit the rear of the 16:57 Workington to Tinsley freight train. Leading car E50600 was extensively damaged, torn from its bogies and forced up against the underside of a road bridge. More details and accident report at http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6364.
circa 1970 - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 108
Class 108 DMBS M51921 was withdrawn for an unknown reason in October 1970.
Sanding down the drivers side of DMBS 51941 during a repaint in 2002 the first blue livery had the correct number. However further sanding revealed another set of white vinyl numbers but these comprised 51921. Further sanding found green paint next, again with 51921, and then another green layer with 51921.
It appears the drivers side was rebuilt using parts from 51921 - possibly much of the bodyside. On the bufferbeam of 51941 there were two large welds on the inside of the drivers-side buffers. Further sanding of the bodyside revealed that there had been extensive replacement of lower panels on the drivers side (there was only blue paint - no green underneath). It also carried a builders plate for lot 30660 (a DMC) on that side.
It may be that the two vehicles were in a sideswipe together and one good vehicle made from two? Any further information would be welcome.
19/10/70 - Near Glasgow Central, ScR
Collision involving Class 126 / EMU
Info from Peter Mullen
The 12:10 Glasgow Central to Gourock passed signals at danger and was in a sidelong collision with the late-running 12:00 Glasgow Central to Ayr DMU. More Details.
circa Dec-70 - Unknown, ScR
Collision involving Class 105
Cravens set Sc51494 + Sc56483 were both noted with badly damaged cabs, cause unknown. They would be withdrawn in January 1971.
09/12/70 - Chivers Occupational Crossing, between Lakenheath and Shippea Hill, ER
Collision involving Class 100
Info from Ian Simmons
A DMU hit a lorry on the crossing in thick fog, and the driver of the train - William "Billy" Watts (who lived in Cromer) - was killed. No accident report has been found for this accident but it is mentioned as item five in the accident report of the almost identical incident that occurred at the same location on 3 December 1976. Norwich allocated Class 100 DTC E56098 was withdrawn soon after in February 1972. Photographs show it had severe cab damage, and is likely the vehicle involved in the collision.
24/12/70 - Upper Denton Public Level Crossing, ER
Collision involving DMU / Car
Info from Peter Mullen
A car skidded on the crossing, coming to rest obstructing the railway line. With the driver and passenger well clear, it was struck by a DMU working the 19:55 Carlisle - Newcastle service formed of two two-car sets, derailing the leading bogie. More Details.
10/03/71 - Hibaldstow
Collision involving Class 114 / Oil Train
Info from Andrew Parr
E50048 + E56048 collided with a derailed oil train at Hibaldstow. E50048 is seen at Doncaster Carr soon after, image by Andrew Parr.
circa early 1971 - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 115
Allerton based Class 115 power car M51857 was seen on Longsight depot with collision damage to the left side and missing a bogie. It would be returned to traffic.
09/05/71 - Bescar Lane, LMR
Fire involving Class 110
An electrical fire gutting the leading car and the leading end of the adjacent trailer car sustained similar damage. More Details.
09/05/71 - Meols Cop depot, Southport
Fire involving Class 108
Class 108 DMBS 51423 is thought to have suffered fire damage while at Meols cop depot.
c. early June 1971 - Dundee, ScR
Collision involving Class 101
Info from Railway Observer p285 August 1971
Sc50345 was involved in a collision at Dundee, details unknown. The damaged vehicle was noted at Leith Central depot on 9/6/71.
15/3/72 - Whittlesea, ER
Collision involving Class 101 / Parcels Train
Info from Peter Mullen, Ipswich Transport Society
A communication failure saw a DMU formed of 56364 + 51207 run into the back of a Parcels Train during 'Time Interval Working'. 56364 was the damaged vehicle. More Details.
08/05/72 - Chester General Station, LMR
Collision and Fire involving Class 108 / Class 24
An oil train ran away and crashed in the station. More Details.
unknown - Unknown, WR
Fire involving Class 117
A Class 117 DMS was photographed on fire with the fire brigade in attendance, no other details known (circa early/mid-1970s).
18th May 1973 - Reading, WR
Collision involving Class 117
Info from Railway Observer p244 July 1973
W51350, part of set RGD458, was badly damaged in a collision at Reading.
30/8/73 - Shields Jct (Glasgow), ScR
Collision involving Class 126 / EMU
Info from Bill Read
21:35 Wemyss Bay to Glasgow Central passed a signal at danger at Shields Junction at ran into the back of the 21:10 Ayr to Glasgow Central, formed Sc51017/Sc59398/Sc51023 & Sc51033/Sc59406/Sc51011. Serious damage, 5 fatalities and many injuries. The leading car of the Class 303 EMU, SC75857, impacted with the rear car of the DMU, SC51011, at 65 mph as the DMU was pulling away from a signal stop at about 15 mph. The EMU drove beneath the DMU, a fire broke out and both cars were consumed. Apart from some damage to the rear of SC59406, the other cars suffered only minor damage. The EMU had passed a red signal.
27/09/73 - Naworth
Collision involving Class 108 / Tree
Info from Railway Observer p434 December 1973
E50642 was badly damaged when it hit a fallen tree at Naworth.
27/11/73 - Near Whitehaven, LMR
Collision involving Class 108 / Freight
Info from Peter Mullen.
Irregular blockworking allowed a DMU to run into the back of a freight train. Image shows 50961 stripped at Carlisle a few months later David Mant. More Details.
circa Dec-73 - Unknown, ScR
Collision involving Class 101
Sc56395 sustained collision damage to the drivers side of the cab, details of incident unknown.
27/12/73 - Lower Darwen, LMR
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from Peter Mullen
A DMU was wrongly diverted through catch points. More Details.
23/1/74 - Pontypool Rd, WR
Derailment involving Class 120 / Class 121
Info from Peter Mullen
A Cardiff to Crewe train became derailed on catch points near Pontypool Road while working wrong line to pass a failed freight train. More Details.
11 June 1974 - St Albans City, LMR
Collision involving Class 127
A Class 127 hit the buffers in St Albans City station.
11/6/74 - Pollokshields East Jct, ScR
Collision involving Class 116 / EMU
Info from Bill Read and Peter Mullen
A Class 116 bound for Glasgow was in a sidelong collision on crossover with a Class 311 EMU. More Details.
circa June 1974 - Unknown
Collision involving Class 104
Info from SLS Journal p272 September 1974
Details of incident unknown. Class 104 DMBS M50438 was withdrawn from Newton Heath on 14/7/74 with collision damage.
circa October 1974 - Unknown
Collision involving Class 101
SC50745 suffered collision damage. Details of the incident are unknown.
6/10/74 - Hitchin, ER
Collision involving DMU / Crane
A DMU hit a travelling crane
5/11/74 - Cropredy
Derailment involving Class 117
Info from Peter Mullen
The 6:54 Leamington Spa to Oxford derailed at Cropredy, after a length of rail had fractured under a preceding freight train. More Details.
16/12/74 - Hull Paragon
Collision involving Class 104
Info from Yorkshire Post
A Class 104 crashed into the buffers in Hull Paragon station.
Unknown - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 115
M51679 was noted in Derby C&W Works with side-swipe damage to the cab end of the no.1 side. Cause/date unknown.
Unknown - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 108
M51905 was noted in Derby C&W Works with side-swipe damage to the cab end of the no.1 side. Cause/date unknown.
Date unknown - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 120
M50650 was noted with collision damage to its cab circa early/mid-1970s, details of the incident are unknown.
11/01/75 - Location unknown
Fire involving Class 127
M51629 suffered fire damage while leading an eight-car formation on the 17:16 Luton to St.Pancras football special.
27/06/75 - Lichfield City station
Collision involving Class 116
Class 116 DMBS 50085 was damaged in a shunting accident at Lichfield City station and was withdrawn soon afterwards.
circa mid-1975 - Unknown
Fire involving Class 120
A Class 120 DMBC was noted in Swindon Works in September 1975 with fire damage, details of the incident unknown.
18/10/75 - North Berwick, ScR
Collision involving DMU / buffers
Info from Railway Observer p408 December 1975
The twin DMU on the 12:18 Edinburgh - North Berwick hit the buffers at North Berwick station, the force of the collision pushing the leading vehicle partly onto the concourse where it became embedded under the station roof. Only one passenger on the busy train was injured. The return 13:05 ex-North Berwick cancelled but all other services ran as normal for the remainder of the day using the western end of the single platform station. The damaged DMU was removed on the 19th and normal services resumed on the 20th.
12/03/76 - Cardiff Canton depot
Fire involving Class 123
Info from Railway Observer p174 May 1976
W52101 was badly damaged by fire at Canton depot. It subsequently was moved to Swindon Works.
26/05/76 - Watford, LMR
Collision involving Class 105 / Class 85 / Brute
On the early hours a BRUTE fell off the platform which derailed M56147 which was then hit by 85 022 travelling light engine causing serious damage to the DTC.
25/06/76 - Luton, LMR
Collision involving Class 127 / Class 127
Info from Robert Frise and Bill Read
An empty stock Class 127 unit was struck on a crossover by another Class 127 unit which had passed two red signals. The latter was deflected towards the Down fast line where it was struck a glancing blow by an express passenger train hauled by a Class 45 locomotive. Minor injuries. More Details.
17/08/76 - Edinburgh Waverley
Derailment involving Class 101
Class 101 DMSL SC51540 became derailed in Edinburgh Waverley.
20/08/76 - Hillington East
Derailment involving Class 126
Info from Railway Observer p346 October 1976
The trailing bogie of Sc51020 was derailed as it passed Hillington East as the leading vehicle on the 18:35 Glasgow Central - Ayr. A defective axle caused a wheel to collapse, the vehicle had emerged from Glasgow Works just six days earlier.
11/11/76 - Melton Lane Signal Box
Collision involving Class 101 / Brake van
51238 + 56073 collided with a brake van that was left on the Up Slow line at Melton Lane Signal Box while working the 10:15 Hull - Goole service. The signalman had not realised that the brake van and a number of wagons had been left on the Up Slow as part of a shunt and he accepted the passenger train in error.
3/12/76 - Chivers Occupational Crossing, between Lakenheath and Shippea Hill, ER
Collision involving Class 104 / Lorry
Info from Peter Mullen
A DMU hit a lorry on a crossing. This was a repeat of an accident that happened at the same location on 09/12/70. More Details.
31/12/76 - Bathgate Jct., ScR
Fire involving Class 101
The 08.04 Perth - Edinburgh DMU caught fire at Bathgate Jct, SC51540 was completely gutted and later withdrawn. Could the fire be as a result of underframe damage it sustained in a derailment a few months earlier - maybe something was missed when inspected?
09/02/77 - Perth, ScR
Fire involving DMU
Info from p258 May 1977 Railway Magazine
One coach of a three-car DMU was set alight in Perth station by local vandals causing £30,000 of damage.
16/02/77 - Darlington, ER
Collision involving Class 101 / Deltic
Info from Jerry Glover and James Howie
50213 was struck by Deltic 55008 at Darlington on 16th February 1977 after the failure of the train brakes on the express. Full details in the accident report on Railways Archive (pdf). It is seen at NH on 27/06/81. Jerry Glover.
02/04/77 - Stourbridge Town
Collision involving Class 122
Info from Martin Baumann
M55012 ran through the buffers and wall at Stourbridge Town after suffering a brake failure. It came to rest with the front third of the vehicle overhanging the street below, the bogie becoming detached and falling onto the road.
05/04/77 - Lochside
Fire involving Class 126
Sc51028 caught fire at Lochside whilst working the 16:35 Glasgow Central - Girvan, resulting it being withdrawn.
30/6/77 - Newcastle Station, ER
Collision involving Class 101 / Buffer-stop
Info from Peter Mullen
A 2-car Class 101 travelling under clear signals was running into unoccupied Nº3 Bay Platform when it failed to stop and collided with the buffer-stop. More Details.
circa autumn 1977 - Unknown location
Collision involving Class 128
Class 128 DMPV sustained collision damage, details unknown. It lingered at Allerton for several years afterwards.
4th September 1977 - Cowlairs Carriage Sidings, ScR
Fire involving Class 101
Info from Railway Observer p353 October 1977
Class 101 DMBS 51447 was badly damaged in a fire at Cowlairs Carriage Sidings.
5/9/77 - Farnley Junction, ER
Collision involving Class 124 / Class 47
Info from Bill Read
Class 124 in collision with 47 402, stationary at head of mail train. E51959-E59773-E51969-E51965. Both drivers killed. 9 passengers needed hospital treatment. E51959 suffered extensive damage and twisting of the underframe. The whole of the cab on 47 402 was destroyed. The accident was caused by a replacement relay being wired with incorrect polarity, causing the points to move out of correspondence.
8/11/77 - Napsbury, LMR
Collision involving Class 127 / Class 127
Info from Peter Mullen
A set (5C26) travelling from Bedford to St. Pancras collided at about 40mph with the rear of a St. Albans to St. Pancras empty coaching stock train (2C65) which was standing at a signal. The collision resulted in the derailment of the two leading coaches of the passenger train as well as the rear coach of the empty stock train. The driver, guard and two passengers in the passenger train were injured and taken to hospital. Both trains were 4-car Class 127 DMUs comprising of vehicles 51626, 59609, 59643 and 51641 (5C26) and 51617, 59617, 59631 and 51601 (2C65) respectively. The accident was a result of the signalman forgetting about the stationary train at the St. Albans Up Slow Starting Signal and instructing the driver of the passenger train to pass the St. Albans Inner Home signal at Danger into an already occupied section.
1978 - Middlesbrough docks
Derailment involving Class 101
A Class 101 derailed alongside Middlesbrough docks and was assisted by the Thornaby steam crane.
early 1978 - Unknown location
Collision involving Class 115
Class 115 DMBS 51869 was noted at Derby Litchurch Lane with part of the cab missing, possibly collision damage, details unknown.
12/5/78 - Near Oyne, ScR
Derailment involving Class 120
Info from Alan Binns, Mike Cooper, Peter Mullen
A road vehicle hit a railway bridge on the Aberdeen - Inverness Line, knocking it out of alignment, which was then hit by Class 120 set 304 which derailed. The vehicles slid down the embankment, the DMBC on its side, and would be the only one to be withdrawn. More Details.
1978 - Unknown location
Collision involving Class 110
Info from Robert Frise
No details on what caused the damage to two Class 110 vehicles that appear to have been side-swiped. The DMC may be 51843. Pictured at Doncaster on June 17, 1978 by Robert Frise. More Details.
Date unknown - Southall Depot
Derailment involving Class 117
Info from Richard Himson
Class 117 set L431 derailed in Southall Depot. Photo by Richard Himson.
circa late 1970s - Prudhoe, ER
Collision involving Class 105
Info from Tim Gornall
A Class 105 (thought to be E56136) hit the buffer stop at Prudhoe. The unit had been put into the old coal siding opposite the signal box for some reason. However, the driver managed to hit the buffer stop and push it into the road. Unit was recovered the next morning.
14/2/79 - Chinley North Junction, LMR
Collision involving Class 108 / Class 40
Info from Bill Read
Class 108 in collision with locomotive 40 055 at the head of a stationary freight train. M51930-M52047. Driver seriously injured, 5 passengers and guard required hospital treatment. M51930 was derailed and suffered extensive damage to the cab and leading end of the car. There was little damage to the trailing car or to the locomotive. The DMU had been irregularly hand-signalled past a red signal.
12/03/79 - Sheffield
Collision involving Class 108 / Class 123
8:17 Chesterfield to Sheffield formed E52102/E59826/E52093 ran away at Heeley, entered Sheffield station at speed and collided with empty DMU M52043/M51923. The brakes on the 8:17 failed due to inadequate maintenance of brake cylinders at Hull Dairycoates.
17/3/79 - Charlestown (between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden)
Derailment involving DMU / Class 110
Info from Richard Greenwood and Philip Southwell
The last up Calder Valley Leeds - Manchester Vic train derailed due to snow and ice buildup interfering with the correct operation of a catchpoint 1/4 mile back from where the train came to rest. The passengers were rescued and accommodated at Todmorden Police Station until onward transport could be laid on.
16/4/79 - Paisley Gilmour Street, ScR
Collision involving Class 126 / EMU
Info from Bill Read
The 18:58 Ayr to Glasgow Central additional train formed Sc51031/Sc59412/Sc51014 & Sc51044/Sc59398/Sc51017 passed a signal at danger at Paisley Gilmour Street. Guard gave right away while signal at danger and the driver did not check. Train was in head on collision with the 19:40 Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay as it crossed the junction east of the station. Serious damage, 7 fatalities and many injuries. Both SC51031 and EMU SC75840 were extensively damaged. SC51031 rode up over the roof of the EMU and was cut up on site. The remaining DMU vehicles were all repairable.
17/05/79 - Sheffield
Derailment involving Class 114
Info from Andrew Walker
A Class 114 derailed at the south end of Sheffield station. Assistance was provided by the Tinsley breakdown crane.
Summer 1979 - York, ER
Split Points involving Class 108
Info from Peter Mullen
E50643 slipped the points just south of York station. More Details.
6/6/79 - Hopwood, LMR
Derailment involving Class 110
Info from Richard Greenwood
The derailment was caused by a derailment becoming detached. The driver was quoted as saying it had started making a loud knocking noise after he left Manchester Victoria and intended to drive the unit only as far as Rochdale where he would declare it a failure.