DMU Railtours
DMUs were surprisingly popular on railtours, particularly those that focused on the line travelled and not the motive power, as DMUs allowed access to many routes that a conventional loco-hauled tour couldn't easily manage.
This is not a definitive list of DMU railtours, simply a gallery of some of those tours. For a more detailed railtour site see the Six Bells Junction website.
Details of the regular "Quaintonian" trains that ran to the Buckingham Railway Centre have their own pages.
If you have any photographs that could be added here please get in touch.
1975 - 1977
3rd May 1975 - Dorset Dawdler
A Southern Electric Group tour which took DEMU 1131 from Southampton Central to Weymouth, Yeovil etc. During an almost three hour break at Maiden Newton, many tour participants traveled to Bridport on Class 117 B407 with 55033 attached, believed to be on a service train although it carried the tour headboard.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour participants on board 51387 as it leaves Toller. Graeme Phillips Collection.
The Maiden Newton - Bridport train arriving into Powerstock carrying the tour headboard. Nicholas T Smith.
At Maiden Newton. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Tour participants on the branch service at Bridport. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Bridport. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd August 1975 - South Wales Wanderer No.3
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff using ex-works Class 120 set C506.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Gorseinon Coal Yard. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Gorseinon Coal Yard. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Gwaun-cae-Gurwen. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Gwaun-cae-Gurwen. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23/08/75 - The Doon Hammer
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central using a Class 101 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Ayr Harbour. Stuart Mackay Collection.
20/09/75 - Lincoln Imp
A RCTS tour from Peterborough using a two-car Class 114 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Grantham. Ian Cuthbertson Collection.
1st May 1976 - Alston Farewell
A SLS railtour that ran from Newcastle to Alston. A 4-car 108 was the railtour set, which ran from Newcastle to Haltwhistle and was attached to the 4-car 101 (51436 + 59086 + 59066 + 51513) on the regular Haltwhistle - Alston service.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51513 nearest the camera at Alston. John Reddyhoff.
Railtour Caption: 51513 nearest the camera at Alston. Graeme Phillips Collection.
27/06/76 - Cornish Clay Railtour
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using Class 119 set P577.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Nanpean Siding, Drinnick Mill. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Carne Point. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Nanprean Siding, Drinnick Mill. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th August 1976 - Forth Fife Railtour
A 3-car Class 101 (set 225) operated this BLS tour from Edinburgh Waverley around Edinburgh and Fife branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour at Alloa Goods Yard. Alan Rintoul.
25 September 1976 - Bristol Area Branch Line Tour
An Oxford Railway Society tour from Reading using two Class 119 DMUs (L586 + L587).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At an unknown stop. Stuart Mackay Collection.
26th September 1976 - Bulmer's Railway Centre Open Day Shuttles
A shuttle using Class 119 and 120 Cross-Country sets between Hereford and Bulmer's Siding for an open day at the railway centre.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Hereford. Steve Davies Collection.
At Hereford. Steve Davies Collection.
At Hereford. Steve Davies Collection.
At Hereford. Steve Davies Collection.
At Bulmers, Hereford. Stuart Mackay Collection.
30th April 1977 - The Royal Duchy
A Lea Valley Railway Club tour, loco hauled from Paddington - Par and Plymouth - Paddington, in between it used two Met-Camm sets - B800 and B802.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Polbrock Bridge. Roger Geach.
Departing Bodmin Road. Roger Geach.
At Plymouth. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Wadebridge. Roger Geach.
At Respryn Bridge, near Bodmin Road. Roger Geach.
28/05/77 - Daucleddau and Dyfed Railtour
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using Class 120 set C515.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Neath Canal Side. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Trecwn. Stuart Mackay Collection.
11th June 1977 - The Mid-Welshman
A tour using a three-car (C560) and a two-car Class 120 which ran Swansea-Hereford-Welshpool returning Welshpool-Llandrindod Wells-Swansea. It was organised by the Gwili Railway Preservation Society as a fundraising trip to buy 7820 Dinmore Manor from Barry.
At Welshpool. Robert Thomas.
27th August 1977 - Forth Clyde Wanderer
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using refurbished Met-Camm set 188.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Gunnie. Graham Johnston.
At Plains. Graham Johnston.
At Bathgate. Alistair Ness.
At BSC Ravenscraig. Alistair Ness.
At Plains. Alistair Ness.
At Renfrew Wharf. Jeremy Chapter.
At Bathgate Upper. Jeremy Chapter.
At Polkemmett Colliery. Jeremy Chapter.
At Gunnie. Jeremy Chapter.
At Bilston Glen. Jeremy Chapter.
At Bathgate Upper. Murray Liston.
At Ravenscraig. Murray Liston.