Building a DMU
Part Ten: The Passenger Saloons
Images ninety-three to ninety-nine in the construction booklet are shown here, as with the rest of the images they are shown in the order presented in the book rather than numerically (negative numbers) or date.
All show the interior of the completed passenger saloons, and like the images of the drivers compartments there are many similar images. The first three were taken on the 15th May 1956 and the next four on 11th June 1956. The interiors of the centre cars, not included in this booklet, would not be photographed until 1957.
All are marked as intermediate brakes. These vehicles had a partition (with no door) which divided the passenger area into two saloons, one at the rear with three full size windows, and a slightly larger front area with an additional smaller window and one extra row of four seats.
I've included one more power car interior image that was not in the booklet, taken later in February 1957, since it is a similar theme to the other images.
Publicity material from the time describes the saloons: "A light and modern decorative scheme has been adopted for the open saloons in the motor vehicles, which are panelled in plastic, the walls and ceilings in Formica grey luxwood, which contrasts with the doors and partitions for which Formica matt mahogany has been used. The mouldings round the doors and windows are in polished sycamore and the windows are furnished with curtains of a modern grey fabric interwoven with a gold thread. Tubular luggage racks run the complete length of the saloon, on either side, and are of anodised aluminium, a special feature of these racks being the small electric light fittings which are incorporated on the underside of the rack, immediately above each nest of seats. General illumination is provided by large circular fittings in the ceiling which match the design of the small light fittings. The seats, which are of tubular construction and supplied by G. D. Peters & Co., are fitted with Dunlopillo cushions and backs and are upholstered in cut moquette of fawn colour, relieved with a small maroon figure. The end panels of the seats and trimmings are in Vynide of matching colour, and to cover the soft rubber head-rests, Lionide of a light and attractive design has been used. The metal fittings on the seats, together with the seat pedastals, are of anodised aluminium. The vestibules are finished in brown linette plastic and the floors of the saloons and vestibules covered with a marbled fawn P.V.C. floor covering."
"Intermediate Brake Third"
Negative 5CR15
The first of three images taken on 15/5/56. This is taken from the rear of the vehicle looking towards the cab.
"Intermediate Brake Third"
Negative 5CR14
This is taken from the front of the saloon looking to the rear.
"Intermediate Brake Third"
Negative 5CR13
This is taken at the partition in the middle of the vehicle looking to the rear, the toilets being through the sliding door.
"Saloon" (intermediate brake)
Negative 5CR33
The next four images were taken on 11/6/56. None of the first three managed to catch the armrests on the seats as these four do. This is taken from the mid-partition looking towards the cab.
"Saloon" (intermediate brake)
Negative 5CR34
This is taken from the rear of the saloon looking towards the cab.
"Saloon" (intermediate brake)
Negative 5CR35
Also taken from the rear of the saloon looking towards the cab.
"Saloon" (intermediate brake)
Negative 5CR36
Taken from the mid-partition looking to the cab. We can see the front of the seat cushion, which is a plain material (moquette or vinyl?) with piping on the edge.
(title unknown)
Negative 5CR57
This image was not included in the booklet. It was taken in intermediate motor second 79157 on 6/2/57. One styling difference I can notice from the earlier images is that the stripe pattern on the headrest is now horizontal. The DMS power cars had a proper vestibule in the center, and the two saloons were of equal size. It makes telling which direction we are facing more difficult, but there are clues with the floor hatches. They tell us the mid-point of the vehicle is to the rear of this saloon, so the vestibule is past the mid-point. Looking at the offset on the diagram we can tell the image was taken from the cab end looking to the rear.
