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.
An joint RCTS / BR tour from Leeds City that visited Carnforth, Arnside, Penrith etc. using a 4-car Derby Lightweight set (79510 + 79326 + 79400 + 79153). It was the first RCTS tour using a DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour with two Derby Heavyweight sets from Alford Town to Bowness-on-Windermere, out via Wakefield and Leeds and return via Lancaster, Preston and Accrington. Organised by enthusiast Mr. W. Woolhouse, it carried more than 250 passengers. Featured in the August 1958 Eastern Region staff magzazine.
A Stephenson Locomotive Society tour from Birmingham New Street, the first part used steam and the second part used two three-car Met-Camm sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A 3-car Class 116 was used on this SLS tour from Cardiff General around various South Wales branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area) tour originating at Stourbridge Junction using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU. Places it visited included Longville, Wellington, Coalport East, Minsterley, Coleham and Hartlebury.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SLS tour from Derby using a three-car Cravens set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Railway Enthusiasts' Club tour from Carlisle Citadel using a two-car Derby Lightweight.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An SLS tour from Port Talbot General with part of the journey on a Swindon Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An excursion from Morpeth that traveled the Wansbeck Valley line to Reedsmouth, possibly further, using a four-car Derby and four-car Met-Camm sets.
A Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area) tour from Chester General using three two-car Class 108s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area) tour that started at Aberavon Town. It took a Class 120 to Swansea Eastern Depot, Colbren Junction, Ynysygeinon Junction, Brynamman East and Upper Bank amongst other places.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour that originated at Nottingham Victoria that toured branches in the area using a 2-car and 3-car Cravens set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SLS (Midland Area) tour from Neath General using a three-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen. It subsequently failed to gain traction on the gradient leading to Abernant Colliery despite the efforts of passengers to push. Robert Thomas.
A tour organised by the West Riding branch of the R.C.T.S. that began at Bradford Exchange. Originally planned to be steam hauled, a three-car 110 and two-car 101 was used instead.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SLS tour from Newport around local branches using a 3-car Class 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Hull Paragon using a four-car BRC&W unit.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Leeds that involved travel on both steam-hauled and DMU stock. Two four-car Derby Lightweight sets were used from Consett - Waskerley and return.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Plymouth Railway Circle from Plymouth.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Gosforth Round Table organised tour running from Newcastle Central to West Woodburn on the old NB in England line from Morpeth to Reedsmouth Jcn. This ran fairly regularly each September to the Bellingham Agricultural Show, previously it had run through to Bellingham on the Border Counties line to Riccarton Jcn but by 1965 only the stretch from Morpeth to West Woodburn survived.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A 4-car Met-Camm (probably 101) set with buffet car plus another Met-Camm at West Woodburn. Roy Lambeth.
A RCTS tour from Worcester Shrub Hill / Gloucester (a Swindon Cross-Country set) and Bristol (a GRC&W Cross-Country set) which joined at Cardiff.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Great Western Society tour from Plymouth using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SLS tour from Birmingham New Street using a Tyseley Class 116.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A M&GNJRS tour from Marks Tey, ending in Cambridge, using a blue-liveried two-car Cravens unit (with ER style small yellow panels).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Cardiff General using a Derby suburban set in blue with small yellow panels formed 50838 + 59376 + 50891.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour around the Birmingham area using Met-Camm vehicles, organized by the Birmingham University Transport Society.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The last train on the Stratford-on-Avon - Cheltenham GWR line. Started at Birmingham New Street and used Met-Camm set 400 (50303 and presumably 59114 + 50321).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Gilks-Grenside tour that ran from Salisbury.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Farewell to G.N. Branch Lines in Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire from Birmingham using two three-car 101s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the RCTS West Midlands Branch using a three-car 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Ffestiniog Railway Railtour tour that took a Class 124 Trans-Pennine set from Leeds to Ffestiniog.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A LCGB tour starting from Earlestown using Allerton Class 108 power twin 51930 + 52045.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour that took a 3-car Class 101 (in early blue livery with small yellow panels) to Mallaig.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A stop at Ardlui on the outbound direction, probably waiting to pass a southbound service. Stuart Rankin.
A RCTS tour from St Pancras using a mixed-livery four-car Derby unit.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Class 120 unit was used on this Warwickshire Railway Society tour that ran from Newport High Street around various South Wales branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A 2-car Class 114 spent four and a half hours covering 64 miles taking in most of the freight lines in close proximity to Doncaster.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Railway Society of Scotland tour - name unknown - that is believed to have run from Stirling to Menstrie, Dollar, Newburgh and Forfar. It was operated by a 2-car Class 100 (set 28, 51109 + 56308) both in rail blue, The DMBS with full yellow end and the DTC with just a small yellow panel. There seems to have been no headboard carried.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Warwickshire Railway Society tour from Birmingham New Street using a two-car Swindon Cross-Country (in green) and a three-car Met-Camm (in blue).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour of Gloucestershire branches from Bristol by a GRC&W Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
About to cross Tufts Bridge approaching Tufts Junction between Whitecroft and Norchard on the Dean Forest Railway. Walter Burt Collection.
A tour from Kingston, returning to Basingstoke, using two Class 120 twin DMUs.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The 200th RCTS railtour, taking a 3-car Class 101 from Coventry to the Nottingham / Leicester area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A LCGB tour using DMC 52062 + DMBS 50778 / DMC 50516 + TS 59172 + DMBS 51931 which stopped at stopped as follows: Manchester Exchange, Kenyon Junction, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport Edgeley, Northenden Junction, Cheadle Heath South Junction, Buxton No.1, Buxton LNW, Briggs Sidings, Droylesden Junction, Stalybridge, Godley Junction, Glazebrook Junction, Cheadle Heath and Manchester Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from London Paddington using 4-car set 400 (117 with 101 centre car).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Railway Society of Scotland tour from Edinburgh Waverley around Central Scotland using a Class 101 (power cars in blue and centre car in green).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The stations on the destination blinds are being checked out - including Errol, Glasgow Buchanan Street and Ballater - during this railtour stop at Glenboig level crossing. Stuart Rankin.
An RCTS tour using a three-car Class 101 from Birmingham New Street and ending in Moor Street.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A M. & G.N.J.R.S. tour from Stratford using a 3-car Class 111.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS tour using a three-car Class 101 (Tyseley set 406) from Birmingham New Street.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A special organized by Gilks-Grenside using a Blue Pullman from Surbiton to Carmarthen (Special Number 7 - although noted as carrying No.8) to connect with Special Number 8 (a 2-car Class 120 / 3-car Class 119) to tour some Welsh branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The Class 120 on the rear of the formation as it heads away from the camera at Llanpumpsaint. Steve Davies Collection.
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield using 51544 + 59532 + 59525 + 51555 visiting locations such as Wincobank Station Jn, Barnsley and Horbury.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour which took a 3-car Met-Camm (in mixed livery: DMBS in plain blue with normal yellow end, TC in green, and DMC in plain blue with yellow cab doors) from Glasgow Central around the south Glasgow area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society/Wirral Railway Circle tour from Cardiff General using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A joint LCGB / RCTS / PRC tour from Exeter St Davids using a Class 118 set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An unnamed Railway Society of Scotland which took a 3-car Met-Camm (in mixed livery: DMBS in plain blue with normal yellow end, TC in green, and DMC in plain blue with yellow cab doors) from Edinburgh Waverley to branches in the Glasgow area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield utilising 51845 + 59578 + 59048 + 51546 visiting places such as Poppleton, Rowntrees Halt and Pontefract Monkhill.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR tour from Paddington with a nine-car 117/101 formation.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour organized by the Wirral Railway Circle / Great Western Society that ran from Bristol around Somerset using a Class 120 set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Great Western Society (Bristol Branch) / Wirral Railway Circle tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Class 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Leeds utilising 50277 + 59532 + 50284, visiting place such as Port Clarence, Pelaw, South Hetton, Ryhope Grange, Seaton-on-Tees and Pesspool.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Scottish Railway Preservation Society tour from Falkirk Grahamston using a three-car Met-Camm DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour using a Class 120 set that ran from Bristol Temple Meads to various collieries.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Great Western Society / Wirral Railway Circle tour from Cardiff General using a 3-car GRC&W Cross-Country set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour using a Class 116 from Cardiff.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Railway Society of Scotland tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a three-car Class 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society Tour from Sheffield using a four-car Met-Camm and a two-car Class 114.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A view from the tour on the curve between Boultham Junction and West Holmes Junction to the west of Lincoln, looking north east. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Organised by 'Rail Tours Syndicate" taking a Class 104 from London Liverpool Street around London.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Wirral Railway Circle / Great Western Society tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Class 119 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Wirral Railway Circle / North Wales Railway Circle from Crewe using a six-car DMU formation: a 103 DTC (56159) / 101 DMBS hybrid, 101 DTC / 108 DMBS hybrid, and two-car 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SRPS tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a three-car Class 101. It would be added to the service train on the last train to Keswick. The Six Bells Junction website notes the DMU failed on the way back to Scotland and was rescued by loco 5397.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Attached to the rear of the 12.10 Penrith to Keswick service between Threlkeld and Low Brierly Halt. The KDH Archive.
An RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using Swindon (B560) and GRC&W Cross-Country sets, at times hauled by locos.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Grantham using a two-car Class 105.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Wirral Railway Circle tour using a two-car Class 108 DMU, its route included iverpool Central to Gateacre service, this was the last day of that service.
A LCGB tour from London Paddington using Class 123 set L713.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organized by the Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society, the tour took Class 120 set C500 from Gloucester to Abernant Colliery.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour from Cardiff using a three-car Class 116 (set 353).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a two-car Met-Camm and a two-car GRCW set. It visited places such as Throsk, Fouldubs Junction and Limpetness.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society tour from Gloucester using Class 118 set B468.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using two Class 119 sets (B576 & B580).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield using a four-car Class 104 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Wirral Railway Circle tour from Crewe loco-hauled to Carmarthen where the participants transferred to two Class 116s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Strathspey Railway Association tour that involved a Class 101 running from Edinburgh to Aviemore then operating the first passenger services on the Strathspey Line to Boat of Garten since 1965.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A SLS / SRA tour with a 3-car Class 101 that ran from Glasgow to the Brechin / Aberdeen area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour is piped into Aberdeen Waterloo station. It had ceased to be a passenger station over 100 years earlier but had continued as a freight depot. John McIntyre.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using Class 116 set C338.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The BLS 'S&D Railtour' started in Edinburgh Waverley and ran to different branches in Central Scotland.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society tour that ran from Cardiff using Class 120 set 502.
This was four separate return trips from Newbury (at 09:45, 11:40, 13:40 and 15:40) to Welford Park MOD with different sets used on some trips.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR Western Region tour that took a ten-car formation (three-car 118, three-car 117 and four-car 117 including 101 centre car) from London Paddington to places such as Morris Cowley.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 116 DMU set C314.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU (set B559), with an additional set added for the return from Exeter to Barnstaple.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Dean Forest RPS tour from Gloucester using Class 120 DMU set B559.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An Angus Railway Group railtour that took a Class 101 power / trailer set 51457 + 56392 from Perth to Fraserburgh.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
In platform 8 of Aberdeen station on the return journey from Fraserburgh to Perth. It carries a set number (62) in the cab window. John McIntyre.
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central using a 101/107/107 hybrid.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A shuttle between Chesterfield station and Barrow Hill station (closed to passengers in 1954) for the depot open day.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS / Dean Forest RPS tour from Birmingham using two three-car Class 101 sets, TY406 and TY407.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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 Maiden Newton - Bridport train arriving into Powerstock carrying the tour headboard. Nicholas T Smith.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff using ex-works Class 120 set C506.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central using a Class 101 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Peterborough using a two-car Class 114 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using Class 119 set P577.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
An Oxford Railway Society tour from Reading using two Class 119 DMUs (L586 + L587).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
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.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using Class 120 set C515.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using refurbished Met-Camm set 188.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS tour from London Kings Cross to the Nene Valley Railway at Peterborough via Cambridge using two Class 105s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A four-car Class 108 and two-car Met-Camm on a BLS tour from Sheffield.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A six-car formation (three two-cars) used on two return trips from Norwich - Dereham organised by the Wymondham & Dereham Rail Action Committee (WyDRAC), Railway Invigoration (Development) Society (RDS) and LCGB.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Cardiff Central using a Class 120 (C507) and Class 118 (B467).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society railtour from Cardiff Central using Class 119 DMU set C590.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
AN RCTS tour from Cardiff to various branch lines using Class 120 set C506.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The first Midland Railfans organized tour took 50317 + 59115 + 50327 from Birmingham New Street to a Doncaster Works open day and York depot.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR organised railtour from Darlington to Eastgate, several trips, using two Met-Camm / Craven hybrids.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour from Nottingham using a Class 120 to the Bulmer Railway Centre at Hereford. At Hereford it joined with a Class 104 on the BLS 'Hereford' tour from Manchester Piccadilly.
A RPPR tour from London Paddington using two Class 117s (L402 and L404) with bubble 55020 in between.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At the long gone Reading Goods the railtour paused for a while with 51337 of L402 leading. Ian Buck.
At the final extremity of the tour, the branch to Morris Cowley, which is the only branch visited that is still open today. L402 with 51337 leading. Ian Buck.
At Wallingford L402, 55020 and L405 traversed the line that has now become the Cholesey and Wallingford Railway. Ian Buck.
The freight branch to the Didcot Trading Centre was opened with high hopes but eventually came to nothing. L402, 55020 and L405 cleaned the rust from the rails. Ian Buck.
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central around Lanarkshire and Ayrshire using a 3-car Class 101 set (179).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Set 179 at Springburn station in the company of another 101 and a 303 EMU. Graeme Phillips Collection.
A BLS tour from Aberdeen that went to places such as Dufftown and Burghead using Class 122 55002.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
British Rail Eastern Region organised a return trip from Darlington to Eastgate, as far as one could reach on the Bishop Auckland to Wearhead line, and which had lost its passenger service in 1953, using a four-car Met-Camm unit.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR-run excursion that visited Redmire with two Class 101s.
A Humberside Loco Preservation Group tour from Hull Paragon around branches in the area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS tour from Peterborough using Norwich set 77, a two-car Class 104/105 hybrid.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour with two Class 101 sets that ran from Derby to Torksey (Lincoln).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Sprotborough Junction from a Met-Camm on a railtour in 1978, very probably the RCTS 'Torksey Railtour'. John Law.
A RCTS (West Midlands Branch) tour from Birmingham New Street using a three-car refurbished Met-Camm set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 118 set B466 and Class 120 C501.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Cambridge to Fen Drayton using a hybrid 105/104 set. The same set (55, 51265 + 56189) was also used on the BLS Ferryman tour the same day.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Class 122 55007 (set 178) worked a BLS tour from Aberdeen to Kittybrewster, Waterloo and Fraseburgh.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the Wymondham, Dereham & Fakenham Railway Action Committee (WyDRAC), the Railway Development Society (RDS) and the newly-formed Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society using two Cravens sets. It ran Norwich - Wymondham - Dereham - Fakenham and then operating a shuttle service to Ryburgh, County School, North Elmham and back to Dereham and Fakenham. The vehicles were 56132 presumably with 51259, and 51277 + 56125.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS tour from Leeds using a Class 110 and Class 111.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A special organized by WAMRAC (the Wisbech & March Railway Action Committee) taking two Cravens sets (33 and 44) from Wisbech to Cambridge.
An RCTS tour from London Fenchurch Street using a Class 116 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS / SEG tour using Class 117 set L416 from London Waterloo to Marchwood.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour around Glasgow branches using a three-car Met-Camm departing from Queen Street and terminating at Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Dundee to Brechin using Met-Camm set 199.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Aberdeen using Class 122 Sc55002.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using Class 119 set C592.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society running from Newport using a Class 116 and Class 120 (C612). A tour of the Mountain Ash system was done on steam hauled wagons.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
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.
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour from Ely using two Class 105s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Approaching the tunnel under East Trinity Road, with Trinity Junction immediately afterwards. Murray Liston.
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.
A Branch Line Society tour from Edinburgh using a three-car Met-Camm.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour from March using two Class 105 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
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.
A Great Western Society tour from Cardiff using Class 101 DMU set B820.
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.
A railtour organized by David Isherwood, it was billed as the last passenger train up the Rossendale Valley (what is now the East Lancashire Railway). The tour originated from Manchester Victoria and ran to Rawtenstall by way of Cheetham Hill and a reversal in Castleton Station and the east to west curve at Castleton Jn. It returned to Manchester Victoria by using the west to south curve at Castleton Jn. and then the Cheetham Hill line as outward.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Bury Bolton Street, formed of M50794 (105 DMC), M59207 (104 TS), M50761 (105 DMBS) and M50453 (104 DMBS), M59161 (104 TC), M50505 (104 DMC). Andy Pullar.
M50505 leading the six-car DMU formation slowly crossing over Bridge Street at Ramsbottom. Martyn Hilbert.
The view from the level crossing at Ramsbottom while awaiting the train crew to return from the signal box, having operated the gates and the rudimentary signals on this much rationalised railway. Martyn Hilbert.
A David Isherwood tour Bury / Manchester Piccadilly using two class 104 triple sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Douglas Blades, this tour used a Class 101 (50239 + 59053 + 50245) set from Edinburgh. Class 122 55000 was added at Dundee for the trip to Brechin.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by BR, running from London Paddington with two Class 117 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours taking a Class 115 from St Pancras to the Kings Lynn area. It was re-run on July 25th 1981.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Paddington using Class 117 DMU set L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour that ran from Edinburgh Waverley - Forfar using set 378 (a 105/101/105 hybrid) with a Class 122 attached.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A joint RCTS / Southern Electric Group tour from Paddington using Class 117 set L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Day one of a two separate outings, this one covering Ayrshire branches using Class 107 set 428 starting / ending at Glasgow Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Day two of the Branch Line Society two day 'Scottish Weekend' was also known as 'Ayr and Stranraer', and took a 101/120 hybrid set from Glasgow Central to Stranraer.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A National Railway Enthusiasts Association loco-hauled tour from London Euston that included a visit to Doncaster Works and an open day at Barrow Hill. A Class 114 was photographed with the headboard in Chesterfield station - it is unclear of its involvement, possibly providing a shuttle into the depot?
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour from Ely / Cambridge using three-car Class 101 set 93.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Hertfordshire Rail Tours special that ran from London Euston for an overnight loco-hauled journey to Kilmarnock. There the passengers transferred to two Class 107 sets (429 + 434) to visit Ayrshire branches and then to Carlisle, there they swapped back to the loco-hauled set for the return to London.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS (West Midlands Branch) tour taking a 4-car Class 123/4 Trans-Pennine set and 2-car 101 from Doncaster to Bevercotes Colliery.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust, taking a Class 111 set from Skipton to Swinden Spencers Quarry.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The view from E50274 at Swinden Quarry, near Grassington, the end of the BR owned track. John Carter.
A Hertfordshire Rail Tours special from Watford Junction using three Class 117 sets (L405 + L410 + L423) to places in East Anglia such as the Felixstowe Docks Branch and Ipswich Docks.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Class 108 (50599 + 50635) made three return trips from Skipton to Embsay on the Yorkshire Dales Railway. This was possible because the main line track was slewed to connect on this day. The trains were sponsored by Yorkhams of Blubberhouses in connection with a "real food" festival at Embsay.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour that took a 101/107 hybrid set from Glasgow Central around branches in the Central Belt.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the Swindon Preservation Society as part of their fundraising to purchase a Class 126 unit, this tour took two sets around Ayrshire.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using two Class 117s (B425 + B434).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Manchester Reunion Railway Society tour from Manchester Piccadilly using a Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society tour taking what was to be the last ever train over the Joint line from Cambridge to Skegness.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour that included the Lincoln avoiding lines on the last day before they closed using an Etches Park Class 120 DMU. No further details about the tour (name or organiser), if you can help please get in touch!
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using three-car Class 117 DMU set L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Commerating the end of the Bedpan units working out of St Pancras. Running on its home route to Bedford, it then ran via Bletchley and Oxford to the Buckingham Railway Centre at Quainton Road, and then ran on Class 115 territory from Aylesbury into London Marylebone. It returned to St Pancras via Neasden South Junction, Ealing Broadway, Slough and Acton.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
During the Oxford stop, running over 30 mins late due to problems after leaving Bedford. Chris Lings.
The participants were able to visit the Buckingham Railway Centre during a stop at Quainton Road. Chris Lings.
At Quainton Road, museum staff helped repair an air leak on 51592, thought to have occurred when the drive shaft nudged an air pipe on the tight curve on the Bedford St. Johns avoiding line. Chris Lings.
The Buckingham Railway Centre staff helping to fix the damaged air pipe on M51592 at Quainton Road. Stuart Pearce.
A Branch Line Society tour from Leicester using two Class 120 sets, one with a Met-Camm centre car.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A shuttle run by BR between Leicester and Burton calling at Coalville for the open day.
The tour carried two headboards, one with the name and the other '1Z30 St Christopher's Appeal Tour'. The formation is believed to be two 3-car Class 120s, and it ran to the Coalville depot open day.
A tour that ran from Manchester Victoria around the north west.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A tour from London Liverpool Street using a Cravens Class 105 DMU.
A 2-car Met-Camm special that made multiple runs from Skipton - Rylstone. In 1983 this train ran on June 12th, July 17th, July 31st and August 14th.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using Class 101 trailer brake three-car set 101 365.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR organized tour in the West Midlands with a 101 / 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
101 312 ran from Dundee - Aberdeen - Keith Junction - Dufftown and return.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by the Bluebell Railway to commemorate the centenary of the now freight line between Haywards Heath and Ardingly. Class 119 set L582 was used for five round trips between 10:55 and 14:55
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 117 sets L406 and L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Metropolitan Cammell sets 101 328 + 101 364 worked 1Z44 from Motherwell to Crianlarich.
This Branch Line Society tour ran from Cardiff to Maerdy, Tower and Abercynon Collieries using Class 117 set L400.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Hertfordshire Railtours from Paddington, loco-hauled then DMU from Port Talbot around various branches and back to Cardiff, then loco-hauled stock Cardiff back to London.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This Staffordshire Railtours train rail from Birmingham New Street to various lines in the Cannock and Birmingham area, formed of Class 101s 53330 + 59130 + 53313 and 53325 + 59528 + 53306.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A RCTS tour from Liverpool Lime Street using a 108/104/108 hybrid, a 100/105 hybrid and 2-car 108.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR tour from Birmingham New Street using two three-car sets, a Met-Camm and a 116/Met-Camm hybrid.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Hertfordshire Railtours outing from London Kings Cross, loco-hauled to Darlington then a seven-car (2+2+3) Class 101 formation. This was an addition 'relief' tour after the exceptional demand for the 18/2/84 tour.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfortshire Rail Tours, this originated at Kings Cross and was loco and coaches to Darlington. Passengers then transferred to a 7-car Class 101 formation to Redmire and Eastgate.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This LCGB tour ran from Liverpool Lime Street formed of a Class 108 and Class 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 117s L400, L415 and bubble L121.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Class 121 bubble car hired by the GWR Preservation Group for shuttles from Southall along the freight only Brentford line.
A Chiltern Trains day excursion which took two Class 116 sets from Bicester to Hastings.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Leeds using a four-car Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This BR organized tour ran from Derby to Ruddington traversing many other lines too. It used a 9-car 116/101 formation - 53910 + 59130 + 53857 / 53055 + 59611 + 53116 / 53318 + 59114 + 53328.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A D.E.D. Blades / Swindon Preservation Society organized railtour that took 107 444 from Edinburgh Waverley to Perth and around many Fife branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Lots of tour participants exploring Markinch station. The large light coloured shed on the right was once the home of 60009 Union of South Africa. Hamish Stevenson.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff using Class 117 set L404.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour using two Class 116 DMUs, C300 and C303.
The Oxford University Railway Society organised three shuttles from Radley to Abingdon to mark the closure of the branch using Class 119 set L585. It carried a homemade poster 'Farewell Abingdon 1856 - 1984' in the centre cab window.
A Fakenham & Derham Railway Society tour that took a 4-car Class 115 (including DMBS 51875) unit around branches in Bucks and Oxon.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using Class 107 set 107444.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At the limit of travel permitted on the Markinch to Auchmuty, described as the A92 road bridge. Jeremy Chapter.
A shuttle from Southall to Brentford using bubbles 55020 and 55029.
A BLS organised tour originating from Preston that ran around the Crewe area and Chester / Shrewsbury / Manchester.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society that originated at Newport and was formed of two 3-car 117 sets L402 and L415.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield Midland using a Class 114 and Class 110.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This was possibly a shuttle from Westbury, at least one run with B472 and another with B472 with B126 attached.
Organised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society this tour started at Newport and visited various branches in the area, formed of two Class 117 sets (L413 + L407) with bubble 55021 in the centre.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour that started in Paddington formed of Class 117 L428 and bubble L128.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A shuttle from Southall to South Ruislip organised by the Great Western Society using Class 117 set L407.
A Chiltern Trains tour from Bicester to Hastings using a Class 115.
A BR organised day excursion from Derby to the likes of Buxton, Long Eaton and Edale, formed of a Class 116 and 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Hertfordshire Railtours special which originated at London Kings Cross using loco-hauled stock with two Class 31s. At Darlington passengers transferred to three two-car Class 101s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour that started in Cardiff.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Run by Hertfordshire Rail Tours and originated in Kings Cross, consisted of two 117 sets (L412 and L411) with a 121 bubble (55021) inbetween.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The BLS organised tour originated at Sheffield and visited the Darlington and Middlesborough areas.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR tour that did two trips from Andover using a Class 117 (set L427).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfordshire Rail Tours this was a loco hauled long weekend tour with an optional DMU tour on the Sunday from Edinburgh using a 116 and 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Originating from Newport, this Monmouthshire Railway Society tour was formed of three 3-car sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Plymouth Railway Circle with two Class 118 DMUs.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using the British Telecom liveried Class 118 DMU (also used the next day on the BLS Cornishman tour).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using the British Telecom liveried Class 118 (also used the day before on the BLS Mayflower tour).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Bubble 55020 was hired by the GWR Preservation Group for shuttles along the frieght only Brentford line. Exact date unknown...
Organised by Hertfordshire Rail Tours, taking two Class 105s from Stevenage to Portsmouth. The two sets switched order for the return journey, the green set was leading on both legs (53359 at the front on the outward journey and 54122 on the return).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours, these were a series of shuttles between High Wycombe and Thame that ran on Sat 28th and Sun 29th. Two bubble cars were in use - 55006 and 55033 on the Saturday but the first trip was operated by a Class 115.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
55033, having arrived from Thame, waits to cross to the down side to form the 12.50 departure to Thame. Robert28194.
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours, these were a series of shuttles between High Wycombe and Thame that ran on Sat 28th and Sun 29th. Two bubble cars were in use - 55006 and 55033, one operated five returns the other four.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Hertfordshire Railtours / Southern Electric Group tour starting from Reading with two Class 117 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour that ran from Glasgow Central around branches in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas with 116/120 and 120/101 hybrid sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Approaching Old Kilpatrick on the remains of the Caledonian's Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire route. alicia hartman.
A RCTS tour from Leeds around the Manchester area, formed of 101 and half engine 111 power twins 53171 + 51222 / 78720 + 78970.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
E51222 and E53171 at Penistone during a 40 minute wait for a late running Hudderfield service. Andrew J Crowther.
E53171 and E51222 at Penistone during a 40 minute wait for a late running Huddersfield service. Andrew J Crowther.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Cardiff using two Class 117 sets (L402 + L414).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This Hertfordshire Railtours tour took two Class 115 units from Marylebone to Gospel Oak, Dunstable, Bedford etc.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Hertfordshire Railtours tour from London Maylebone using two Class 115 DMUs.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Three Class 115/108 hybrids operated this BLS tour from Marylebone to branches in the Nottingham area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours and starting from London Marylebone using two Class 115 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour that started at Newport.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Industrial Railway Society tour run during their AGM weekend at York taking a Class 101 on the short journey from York to Rowntree's Halt and back.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organized by Black Eight Tours and ran from Birmingham New Street to the East Somerset Railway.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour that took two Class 110 sets from Bradford FS to Carlisle.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This tour took Class 107 DMU set 107444 to Oban.
A tour from Glasgow Central around Fife with two Strathclyde liveried DMUs a Class 101 and a Class 107.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow to Oban using 101388 and 107440.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour at Dalmally where it crossed with the 'Mexican Bean' on an Oban - Crainlarich shuttle. Adrian Nicholls.
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using Class 117 DMU set B439.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour that originated at Preston and used the retro-green 108 53964 + 54247.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS tour that began in Crewe.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Birmingham New Street using GWR-liveried Class 117 set T305. May have run on Sunday 6th, not Saturday 5th.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Bristol Temple Meads with 51369 + 59521 + 51411.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Black Eight Railtours ran this from Birmingham New Street to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BR tour Advertised as a six-car DMU from Middlesbrough - Redmire, Redmire - Darlington, Darlington - Redmire, Redmire - Middlesbrough.
A Hertfordshire Rail Tours trip from London Marylebone using two Class 108/115 hybrids, the first of three tours with the same name.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours and started in Marylebone, it ran again on 3/9/88.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The third Hertfordshire Railtours train of this name (the first was 9/7/88 the second 6/8/88). Ran from Marylebone with two Class 108/115 hybrid sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An RCTS tour from Plymouth using a two-car Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Transport 2000 organised Middlesbrough - Edinburgh charter.
A BLS tour from Cambridge using two two-car Class 101 sets. The tour was repeated in May and December.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by The Institution of Mining Engineers, this tour from Derby used an eight-car formation using a Class 114 (T227), 116 (T319) and 117 (T303).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A CMRC (Chester Model Railway Club?) charter from Chester to Keighley using two two-car sets, one being Class 108 CH256.
Organised by Hertfordshire Rail Tours, this was a loco-hauled tour from Euston that switched to a seven-car DMU at Chester due to weight restrictions on the Conway Valley line and Trawsfynydd branch.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An Institute of Mining Engineers tour from Sheffield Midland using Class 114 set T023 and two suburban sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using two Class 108s (S942 + S945).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Institute of Mining Engineers from Sheffield using a Class 114 (T027) and two Class 117s (T309 + T304).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An Institute of Mining Engineers tour from Derby using 4-car set T410 and 3-car T315.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Railway Development Society tour from Cambridge to Staveley on the former St Ives line using Class 101s L220 and L223. There seems to have been three return trips made.
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Penzance using two Class 108s. For a detailed look at the tour see http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/diesel-railtours-in-cornwall--devon-part-2-1990-onwards.html
A Monmouthshire Railway Society from Newport using a three-car Class 116/108 hybrid and a two-car Class 118.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Badger Railtours tour from London Liverpool Street, returning to London Fenchurch Street using two different three-car Class 101 DMUs, starting with set L700 and switching to set L830 at Cambridge.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Cambridge using NSE-liveried Class 101 DMU set L831.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Network SouthEast & East Anglian Railway Museum tour using N7 steam loco 69621 with Class 101 set L837 between Marks Tey and Great Cornard. These also operated on the 22nd.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by 'Isle of Anglesey Railways Ltd.' it used 101 657 to travel on multiple trips between Bangor and Amlwch.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Seen at Rhosgoch with 54085 leading. The short spur leading off to the right which can just be seen through the bushes served a oil storage depot built in the 70's but its use was short lived. Andrew J Crowther.
A Black Cat Railtours special taking three-car 101692 in Regional Railways livery on a tour of freight lines from Glasgow Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Cardiff Valley farewell tour organized by the Monmouthshire Railway Society that originated at Newport. It used two 2-car Class 116s - C392 (51134 + 51147) and C395 (51153 + 51140). A video of the tour can be found on YouTube.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour which visited places such as Leith South, Kincardine and Westfield using 101693.
A tour organised by the Bedford Bletchley Rail User's Association to celebrate the end of the long service of the 2-car DMU sets on the Bedford to Bletchley line.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
This was a series of mini-tours organised by Pathfinder Tours in conjunction with the Worcester Rail Day with 20 138 and 20 066 using two 4-car DMU sets (T404 + T412) as the hauled stock.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Ribble Valley Railway organized Santa Special tour using 101s.
A tour using Class 117s L703 + L722 from London Liverpool Street to the Leicester area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using GWR-liveried 117305.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A BLS organised tour from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport Stone Terminal using the retro-green 101 685.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
A Branch Line Society tour from Manchester Victoria using 101691 and 101693.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Organised by First North Western this tour took 101676 (Regional Railways), 101693 (Strathclyde) and 101685 (green) from Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton, Morecambe, Heysham Port and Barrow in Furness.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.