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.
1980
05/01/80 - The Woodhead Wanderer
A South Yorkshire Transport Society tour that ran on the 10th anniversary of the end of through passenger services on the Woodhead route using two Class 114s. It ran from Sheffield via Brightside Junction to Tinsley Yard and then to Piccadilly, returning via the Hope Valley.
At Penistone Goods. Andrew Walker.
15th March 1980 - Caerwent Cannonball
A joint Monmouthshire Railway Society / RCTS tour from Cardiff using Class 101 set B803 and Class 116 set B462.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Norchard. Jeremy Chapter.
At Blaenavon. Jeremy Chapter.
29th March 1980 - West Norfolk Freight Lines
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour from Ely using two Class 105s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Middleton Towers. Roger Geach Collection.
On the Kings Lynn Dock Branch. Roger Geach Collection.
3rd May 1980 - The Valley Basher
This loco hauled tour from London Paddington used two Class 118 DMUs (sets B468 + B471) from Newport-Newport Docks and return.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Newport Docks. Robert Thomas.
At Newport Docks. Robert Thomas.
At Newport Docks. Jeremy Chapter.
10th May 1980 - South Devon
A Branch Line Society tour from Bristol Temple Meads. It started with Class 101 set B812 until a broken spring took it out of action at Newton Abbott. A loco and coaches took the participants to Plymouth North Road where Class 119 set C596 took over.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
On Cattewater Branch. Jeremy Chapter.
22nd June 1980 - Churnetrail Scenic Cruise Train
BR ran a series of 'Rail-Cruises' over the freight only Churnet Valley lines during the early 1980s, this one from Crewe featuring a 103, 108 and 103 formation.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Approaching Leebrook tunnel. Paul Bettany.
Cheddleton. Paul Bettany.
Cheddleton. Paul Bettany.
Cheddleton. Paul Bettany.
Cheddleton. Paul Bettany.
12th July 1980 - The Forth Valley Wanderer
A tour organised by the Edinburgh City Transport Welfare Association from Edinburgh Waverley around the Edinburgh area with a 105/101/105 hybrid set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51474 at Grangemouth No.3. Hamish Stevenson.
The tour at North Berwick, SC51480 closest. Hamish Stevenson.
51474 + 59047 + 51480 in North Berwick station. Hamish Stevenson.
At Fouldubs Junction, between Grangemouth and Falkirk. Hamish Stevenson.
At Bilston Glen Colliery. Alistair Ness.
At Granton Oil Terminal. Alistair Ness.
At Leith South. Alistair Ness.
At Newington. Alistair Ness.
North Berwick. Alistair Ness.
Approaching Trinity. Murray Liston.
Approaching the tunnel under East Trinity Road, with Trinity Junction immediately afterwards. Murray Liston.
At Alloa. Murray Liston.
10th August 1980 - Cambrian Special
A BSRS tour using loco-hauled stock from Bristol. 47 185 took it to Shrewsbury then 25 056 + 25 327 on to Machynlleth. At Machynlleth passengers transferred to an eight-car DMU to reach Towyn.
M56156 at Machynlleth on the outward journey. Nicholas T Smith.
M56357 leads the return working into Towyn. Nicholas T Smith.
23rd August 1980 - Lothian and Fife Wanderer
A Branch Line Society tour from Edinburgh using a three-car Met-Camm.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Cameron Bridge. Alistair Ness.
At Granton Oil Terminal. Alistair Ness.
At Granton Oil Terminal. Alistair Ness.
At Leven Kirkland Yard. Alistair Ness.
At Leven Kirkland Yard. Alistair Ness.
At Cameron Bridge. Jeremy Chapter.
At Dunfermline Upper. Jeremy Chapter.
At Dunfermline Upper. Jeremy Chapter.
At Leven. Jeremy Chapter.
At Abbeyhill. Murray Liston.
At Trinity Junction. Murray Liston.
At Trinity Tunnel. Murray Liston.
At West Granton. Murray Liston.
West Granton. Murray Liston.
At West Granton. Murray Liston.
At Granton. Murray Liston.
At Leith Walk. Murray Liston.
At Newington. Murray Liston.
24th August 1980 - Forfar Railtour
A BLS tour from Perth to Forfar using a Class 101. Arriving at Forfar early, the unit then did a photo-run out of the station and back in.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
During the photo run after arrival at Forfar. Jeremy Chapter.
At Forfar. Jeremy Chapter.
At Forfar. Jeremy Chapter.
At Forfar. Jeremy Chapter.
At Coupar Angus. Alistair Ness.
At Coupar Angus. Alistair Ness.
At Dewars Sidings, Perth. Alistair Ness.
At Dewars Sidings, Perth. Alistair Ness.
At Dewars Sidings, Perth. Alistair Ness.
At Forfar. Alistair Ness.
At Forfar. Alistair Ness.
At Forfar. Alistair Ness.
At Forfar. Alistair Ness.
At Forfar. Alistair Ness.
At Dewars Siding, Perth. Jeremy Chapter.
At Forfar. Jeremy Chapter.
6th September 1980 - GE/GN Joint Freight Lines Railtour
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour from March using two Class 105 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Wisbech Goods. Jeremy Chapter.
At March. Jeremy Chapter.
At Barndley. Jeremy Chapter.
At Postland. Phil Bevan.
27th September 1980 - North Eastern No.5 Rail Tour
A RCTS tour from Leeds around the North East, using a 3-car Class 111 and a 2-car Class 108.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
During the stop at Kelloe Bank Foot, County Durham. Graeme Phillips Collection.
At Consett. Alistair Ness.
At Kelloe Bank Foot. Jeremy Chapter.
11th October 1980 - Devon Rambler
A Great Western Society tour from Cardiff using Class 101 DMU set B820.
At Yeovil Junction. Graeme Phillips Collection.
At Meeth. Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th October 1980 - The Mayflower
The final tour by organisers RPPR was a Class 50 from Paddington to Newton Abbot then P470 (51313 + 59509 + 51328) and P480 (51312 + 51327) on a branch line tour. At times the DMU carried the 'Hoover' logo as well as the headboard.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Plymouth Cattewater. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Marsh Mill Curve. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Bull Point. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Plymstock. Stuart Mackay Collection.