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.
1982
9th - 10th April 1982 - The Ayr Restorer
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.
Passengers disembark at Giffen. Gordon Thomson.
Set 434 at Giffen. Gordon Thomson.
At ICI Cargenbridge. Gordon Thomson.
At Waterside on the former Ayr - Dalmellington branch. Gordon Thomson.
At Ayr. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th April 1982 - The Bevercotes Collier
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.
51952 sits at the front at Bevercotes Colliery. Shayne Lewis.
At Bevercotes Colliery, formed 51952, 59819, 59837, 52099 and 50218, 56407. Shayne Lewis.
Another view at Bevercotes Colliery. Shayne Lewis.
51952 at the head of the train at Bevercotes Colliery. Chris Lings.
During the Bevercotes Colliery stop. Chris Lings.
Class 124 DMC 51952 at Bevercotes Colliery. Chris Lings.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Jeremy Chapter.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Alistair Ness.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Murray Liston.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Murray Liston.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Bevercotes Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th June 1982 - The Dalesrailwayman
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.
E20287 leads through a disused part of Skipton station. John Carter.
Attaching the headboard to E50287 at Skipton. John Carter.
Rylestone level crossing and station remains from E50274. John Carter.
19th June 1982 - Witchfinder General
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.
At Sizewell Sidings. John Law Collection.
At Sizewell Sidings, 51340 closest. John Law Collection.
At Ipswich Griffin Wharf. John Law Collection.
At Ipswich Lower Yard. John Law Collection.
At Ipswich Lower Yard. John Law Collection.
At Ipswich Lower Yard, 51361 closest. John Law Collection.
At Thames Haven Yard. John Law.
Taken from 59513 and looking towards 51361 at Harwich Town Quay. John Law Collection.
On the Felixstowe Docks branch, 51340 at the front. John Law Collection.
On the Felixstowe Docks branch, internal Class 08 shunter 'Colonel Tomline'. John Law Collection.
51361 leads the tour into Stratford John Law.
51361 at Fenchurch Street. John Law Collection.
8th August 1982 - The Yorkham's Flying Banger
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.
The train at Skipton. Jeremy Chapter.
28th August 1982 - Lanarkshire & Lothian Wanderer
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.
On the Crombie Branch. Mike McDonald.
At Grangemouth. Stuart Mackay Collection.
9th October 1982 - Ayrshire Wanderer
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.
The tour at the Hunterston stop, SC51017 closest. Ian MacDonald.
The tour at the Hunterston stop, SC51017 closest. Ian MacDonald.
During the lunch stop at Largs. alicia hartman.
Sc51026 at the buffer stops at Ardrossan Harbour (Winton Pier). alicia hartman.
51043 and 51036 at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
Sc51026 leads the train into Paisley Gilmour Street on the outward journey. Alistair Ness.
Sc51017 at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
Sc51036 and a Met-Camm at Largs. Alistair Ness.
At Largs. Alistair Ness.
At Benbain on the Waterside branch. Alistair Ness.
At Benbain on the Waterside branch. Alistair Ness.
Sc51043 at Benbain. Alistair Ness.
At Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
Sc51017 Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
Sc51036 and 51043 reflected in the mud at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
Sc51043 and 51036 reflected in the mud at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
The two Class 126 sets at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Alistair Ness.
The stop at Killoch Colliery. Alistair Ness.
Sc51043 at Largs. Alistair Ness.
At Largs. alicia hartman.
At Ardrossan Harbour. John Horne.
At Ardrossan Harbour. John Horne.
At Ardrossan Harbour. John Horne.
At Hunterston Ore Terminal. John Horne.
SC59404 at Hunterston Ore Terminal. John Horne.
Leaving Hunterston. John Horne.
During the lunchtime break at Largs, the two units now having swapped ends. John Horne.
At Killoch Colliery. John Horne.
23/10/82 - Rod Mill Rattler
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using two Class 117s (B425 + B434).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Splott Junction. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th November 1982 - Hyde and Peak
A Manchester Reunion Railway Society tour from Manchester Piccadilly using a Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At United Football Ground Halt. Robert Thomas.
27 November 1982 - GN/GE Joint Farewell
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.
At French Drove. Phil Bevan.
27th November 1982 - Unknown
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!
At Lincoln Central. Roger Geach Collection.