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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.


1980s


Damaged 121 DMU at Bristol Bath Road depot

circa early 1980 - Unknown, WR

Other involving Class 121

Incident details unknown. W55033 was noted with damage to the drivers side of no.2 end. Repairs saw the cab roof dome replaced with a Class 116/122 style dome.


Sideswiped DMU at Bristol

1980 - Bristol Marsh Junction

Collision involving Class 101

Info from John Savage

DMBS W51799 (of set B810) has been the subject of a shunting mishap also involving a 350hp shunter and BR Mark 1 sleeping car W2541, within Bristol Marsh Junction Depot on an unknown date in 1980.


Image on the WNXX forum.

05/07/80 - Birmingham New Street

Collision involving Class 116 / Class 47

M50115 (set TS519) collided with 47 337 at Birmingham New Street and would be withdrawn.


02/03/81 - Watford North Junction

Fire involving Class 115

Info from Railway Observer May 1981 p165

The fourth car of the eight-car 07:10 Marylebone - Aylesbury service burst into flames. It came to a halt near Watford North Junction after the communication cord was pulled. The driver managed to uncouple the rear set and the front three vehicles to prevent the fire from spreading from M51672 which was severely damaged.


Image in Railway Magazine July 1981 p335.

15/03/81 - Sough Tunnel, Darwen

Derailment involving Class 108

Info from Railway Magazine

The 07:40 Manchester - Blackburn service, formed of 52059 and 51945, derailed outside the north portal of Sough Tunnel, Darwen, caused by a landslide.


Class 114 after hitting pillar at Derby

27/11/81 - Derby

Collision involving Class 114 / Class 45

Info from Rail Enthusiast 4/82 p57, Michael Boot

The driver of E56040 had the low sun in his eyes and misread the signal and set off, hitting an incoming Class 45 with Mk1s in tow. The side-on collision caused it to derail and hit one of the Hulland Street bridge pillars.


11/12/81 - near Seer Green

Collision involving Class 115 / Class 115

A Class 115 ECS from Marylebone to Princes Risborough stopped at a fallen tree branch across the Chiltern main line in a cutting near Seer Green, and was hit by the Class 115 on the 07:31 from Marylebone to Banbury at about 30mph. The driver of the latter had been authorised to pass the Gerrards Cross signal at danger, and he and three passengers were killed. The two power cars that collided M51864/81 would be withdrawn.


18th December 1981 - Twyford

Collision involving Class 117

Class 117 set L423 led by 51403 on the 23:13 Henley - Twyfordran through the buffers at Twyford after a brake failure. It demolished the bufferstops at the end of the bay platform and landed partly in the station approach on top of a parked car. The scene was attended to the next day by the Old Oak Common breakdown train which rerailed the unit. 51403 would be withdrawn.


Image on facebook of the vehicles afterwards.

27/05/82 - Alvechurch

Collision involving Class 116 / Ballast train

Info from Martin Baumann, Bromsgrove Advertiser

The 12.24 Redditch - Barnt Green was hit by a ballast train as it arrived into Alvechurch station. Two of the Class 116 vehicles 50066 + 59024 would be withdrawn.


1st April 1983 - Bedford Carriage Sidings

Fire involving Class 127

M51595 and M51614 were gutted by fire at Bedford Carriage Sidings, the cause thought to be a smouldering cigarette end. Both were withdrawn.


Collision damaged 127 DMU at Luton

28/05/83 - Luton, LMR

Collision involving Class 127 / Class 47

Info from Eddie Knorn / Michael Boot

A stationary Class 127 was hit by 47 535 in Luton station, despite the severity of the damage there were no serious casualties. The rear half of DMBS 51620 was destroyed, as was one end of TSL 59605 - which had just been outshopped from Swindon after a C3 overhaul in January and painted into blue and grey for transfer to Tyseley. Both were withdrawn. The other two vehicles in the set were likely to be 59634 (also having a C3 at the same time as 59605) and 51624.


Derailed DMU at Midcalder Junction

circa 1983/4 - Midcalder Junction

Derailment involving Class 107

Info from David Keppie / John McGrevey

An empty stock Class 107/101/107 hybrid DMU was put into the Up Goods Loop on the Shotts line for the driver to change ends and derailed on the trap points. More Details.


Damaged 51466

28/08/83 - Eastfield

Collision involving Class 101 / Road vehicle

Info from Spannerman37025

The 20.58 Falkirk Grahamston to Glasgow Queen St service collided with a van that was allowed to roll away and drop 40 feet into the cutting near Eastfield shed. DMBS 51466 was leading. For an image of the van see this flickr image.


Image in Modern Railways Pictorial March 1984 p5.

09/12/83 - Wrawby Junction

Collision involving Class 114 / Class 47

53049 + 54049 working the 17:32 Cleethorpes-Sheffield collided with the 15:02 Drax - Lindsey 900-ton empty oil tanks hauled by 47299 at Wrawby junction, a convergence of lines just outside Barnetby, Lincolnshire. It resulted in one death and a dozen other passengers injured. The cause was put on a set of power points which had been hand cranked but not clipped which reset themselves in front of the freight train.


Distorted DMU at Ayr depot

02/01/84 - Ayr depot

Fire involving Class 101 / Class 107

A fire at the depot, thought to be caused by vandalism, destroyed several DMU vehicles. More Details.


07/03/84 - Preston

Fire involving Class 108

Info from p48 Rail Enthusiast June 1986

Class 108 DMCL M52040 caught fire at Preston on the early hours of 7 March 1984 whilst en-route empty from Blackburn. Disposal on site began a week later.


Images on Smugmug

circa early Aug-84 - Polmont

Fire involving Class 101

Info from John McGrevey

51448 caught fire (photos suggest it was an engine fire) while running in set 101325 (the other power car being 51529) in the Polmont area. It was put into a siding at Polmont Junction where the fire brigade attended, the vehicle having most of the windows broken. It would be withdrawn soon after.


15/11/84 - Birchwood, LMR

Fire involving Class 115

Info from Elliot Spencer and p49 March 1985 Rail Enthusiast magazine.

A fire on board the 12:27 Manchester Piccadilly - Liverpool Lime Street at Birchwood totally gutted Class 115 DMBS M51850. The driver and guard were able to move the passengers into the front two cars 51856 and 59720 which were then uncoupled and driven to the station where the fire brigade were called. Ten fire engines were needed to relay water to the burning vehicle because of the inaccessible location. It was later towed to Warrington Central by 31270 and the cars eventually dumped at Allerton depot.


3/12/84 - Longsight, LMR

Collision involving Class 104 / Vans

Info from Peter Mullen

An empty 3-car class 104 DMU was wrongly routed and came into collision with a train of vans which had been left without a tail lamp. More Details.


DMU crash at Hull

February 1985 - Approach to Hull Paragon

Collision involving Class 108 / Met-Camm

Info from Ian Fleming and Neil Mackay

An incident on the approach to Hull Paragon in February 1985. More Details.


11/2/85 - Severn Tunnel Junction, WR

Accident involving DMU

Info from Peter Mullen

A DMU struck and instantly killed four men who were part of a permanent way gang engaged on keeping points clear of snow during the night. More Details.


115 DMU at Marylebone after rerailing

1985 - Marylebone

Derailment involving Class 115

Info from Michael Boot

A Class 115 had been sent the wrong way and DMBS M51861 derailed, riding over a bridge strengthener which tore off its underframe components.


Image on flickr.

17/07/85 - Manchester Victoria

Collision involving Class 120

Info from Railway Observer, p415 September 1985

A Class 120 was hit by a runaway freight Train in Manchester Victoria, damaging the cab end of DMSL M53662.


Burnt DMU vehicles

September 1985 - Red Bank Carriage Sidings, Cheetham Hill

Fire involving Class 120 / Class 111

Info from Paul Moxon

Class 120 53721 and Class 111 59100 were damaged in a fire at Red Bank Carriage Sidings, Cheetham Hill, Manchester in September 1985. They are seen there awaiting disposal on 22/3/86. Unfit to move, they would be cut up on site in July 1986. Paul Moxon.


DMU crashed into wagon

26/9/85 - Near Paisley

Collision involving Class 107 / Freight

Info from Mad Mac and John Reddyhoff

A DMU ran a red light and collided into the rear of an iron ore train. More Details.


18/1/86 - Preston, LMR

Collision involving Class 104 / Class 86

Info from Bill Read

Collision of Class 104 power-twin and stationary Loco 47 111. M53482-M53433. 44 passengers required hospital treatment (the driver and many passengers had retired to the rear car). The conclusion was that the driver’s brake valve had been inadvertently placed in the “lap” position resulting in the train brake pipe and “topside” vacuum being gradually destroyed during the journey from Carlisle. The driver may have been distracted by the presence of passengers of the football-supporters charter being in the cab. M53482 was severely damaged.


Images on page 117 of 'Railway Disasters' by Stanley Hall

26/7/86 - Lockington Level Crossing, ER

Collision involving Class 105 / Class 114

Info from Bill Read

Collision of Class 105 + Class 114 with a Van on crossing. E54434-E51278 + E53016-E54034. 9 people killed and 59 people required hospital treatment. The van drove onto the crossing against flashing lights and was struck by the DMU. E54434 derailed and ran down the embankment, turning through 180 degrees before coming to rest on its side. All vehicles were badly damaged due to destruction of the track.


side swiped Class 127 DMU

06/01/87 - Camden

Collision involving Class 127 / EMU

Info from p105 March 1987 Railway Observer, Michael Boot

Class 127 parcel DPU was crossing from the down fast to down slow at Camden when it was in a collision at 21:40 with a Class 313 EMU on the 21:37 Euston-Watford service. All DPU wheels were derailed with it blocking the down mail lines and up slow.


Sideswipe damage

March or April 1987 - Shields Junction, ScR

Collision involving Class 107 / Class 86

Info from John Reddyhoff and Eddie Knorn

A side-swipe incident. More Details.


Class 
 104 collision

21st April 1987 - Gospel Oak

Collision involving Class 104 / Class 31

Info from Peter Boor

31 281 collided with Class 104 53453 in Gospel Oak station.

Peter Boor explains: "I was the driver on the loco based at Stratford, which had a green signal with an M indication for Main, when I came around the bend the next signal was green also, the loco took the points which had not been reversed and because the DMU was stopped short of the buffer stops I could not stop in time. More Details.


101 DMU collision

08/08/87 - One mile north of Llandrindod Wells.

Collision involving Class 101 / Tractor

Info from David Rowe

A 4-car formation of 2x101 power twins which hit a farm tractor at speed on a crossing about one mile north of Llandrindod Wells while travelling south on the afternoon of Saturday August 8th, 1987. Fortunately there were no injuries.


19/10/87 - Glanrhyd Bridge, WR

Collision involving Class 108 / Bridge

Info from Bill Read

Class 108 ran onto a bridge which had previously collapsed. M51910 + M52037, 4 persons drowned. Severe flooding had caused an already-weakened support pier to collapse.


8/12/87 - Near Methley Junction, ER

Accident involving Class 110

Info from Bill Read

Collision of Class 110 twin-unit with Permanent Way Gang. E52072 (trailing car not identified). 4 persons killed. Incident blamed on an irregular system of working by PW Gang.


Derailed Class 101

28/01/88 - Uplawmoor, ScR

Derailment involving Class 101

Info from John Reddyhoff, Fraser Cochrane and John W.

The leading bogie of a 101 DMBS derailed after hitting debris from a lorry that shed it's load. On 28th January 1988 a lorry toppled from the A736 road bridge over the G&SW line at the south end of Uplawmoor, some of its load falling onto the track derailing the leading vehicle on the 10:45 Kilmarnock to Glasgow Central. There were no casualties amongst the 30 passengers, the lorry driver was unhurt. It was worked by a hybrid set, Class 101 DMBS 51248 (leading, it would be withdrawn afterwards), a Class 101 TBSL (likely 59112, the only BG TBSL at Ayr) and a Class 120 DMSL. More Details.


Damaged DMU Carnforth

05/02/88 - Carnforth Up Furness line at Bottom End Yard

Collision involving Class 108 / Wagon

Info from Andrew Pilkington

The Class 108 DMU hit an engineers wagon. More Details.


Derailed DMU vehicles

Date unknown - Haymarket Depot, ScR

Derailment involving Class 108

Info from John Reddyhoff

Class 108 set 380 apparently hit the buffers at the south end of the depot and continued for another 60ft. Image John Reddyhoff. More Details.


Fire Damaged Class 101 DMU

circa 1989 - Norwich, ER

Fire involving Class 101

Info from Mark Rowe

While travelling empty stock from Ipswich to Crown Point a fire broke out, and driver Mick Kassa brought the train to a stand at Trowse Upper Junction in the Lakenham area of Norwich. It was around midnight & damage was also done to the relatively new OHL which had been installed for the 1987 inaugaration of electric services to London Liverpool Street. The DMC and TBS are seen in Wensum Sidings, Norwich on 6/7/91. Picture by Jerry Glover. Their identities are still unknown. The DMC does not seem to have had a headlamp fitted, and looking at the condition of the underframe / bogies it has been out of use for some time.


21/01/89 - Stourbridge Town, LMR

Collision involving Class 121

Info from Rail 09/03/89 p69

The 23:32 Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town worked by Midline-liveried 55033 failed to stop on arrival at the terminus, demolishing the buffer stop and bus station retaining wall. The vehicle only suffered minor damage, was was taken to Tyseley the next day by 47 296.


Reading derailment

1st June 1989 - Reading depot

Derailment involving Class 117

Info from John Baker

51349 derailed after splitting the points at Reading depot.


Image in Rail 10/8/89 p11.

20/07/89 - Stormstown sidings, Abercynon

Fire involving Class 110 / Class 116 / Class 118

A fire, started by two seven year olds, destroyed five condemned DMU vehicles. They had been stored at Stormstown Sidings near Abercynon to make space at Canton.


Lying down Class 121 DMU at Taplow

26/10/89 - Taplow (near Maidenhead), WR

Derailment involving Class 121

Info from Peter Mullen and Martin Callaghan

A stone train became derailed and a staff passenger DMU struck one of the bogies which had become detached from a derailed wagon and was itself derailed, falling onto its side. More Details.

DMU Accidents


1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s