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.
1983
19th February 1983 - The Blue Dragon
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using three-car Class 117 DMU set L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
On Bridgend Ford Branch. Alistair Ness.
On Bridgend Ford Branch. Alistair Ness.
At Coed Ely. Alistair Ness.
At Coed Ely. Alistair Ness.
At Coed Ely. Alistair Ness.
At Nantyfllon. Alistair Ness.
At Nantyfllon. Alistair Ness.
At Nantyfllon. Alistair Ness.
At Oakdale. Alistair Ness.
At Oakdale. Alistair Ness.
At Oakdale. Alistair Ness.
At Oakdale Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th March 1983 - Class 127 D.M.U. Farewell
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.
Ready for departure from St Pancras. Chris Lings.
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.
51618 at the front ready for the departure from Quainton Road. Chris Lings.
During the 10 minute stop at Wembley Complex. Chris Lings.
Marylebone - normally home the very similar looking Class 115s. Chris Lings.
At Stewarby, M51618 closest. Stuart Pearce.
At Wembley Complex, 51592 closest. Stuart Pearce.
At Quainton Road, 51618 closest. Stuart Pearce.
The Buckingham Railway Centre staff helping to fix the damaged air pipe on M51592 at Quainton Road. Stuart Pearce.
At Stewartby, M51618 closest. Stuart Pearce.
At Stewartby on the Bedford to Bletchley line. Jeremy Chapter.
At Oxford. Alistair Ness.
At Oxford. Alistair Ness.
M51618 At Stewartby. Alistair Ness.
At Stewartby. Alistair Ness.
At Quainton Road. Alistair Ness.
Repairs to M51592 at Quainton Road. Alistair Ness.
M51618 at Quainton Road. Alistair Ness.
At Quainton Road. Murray Liston.
At Quainton Road. Murray Liston.
At Stewartby. Murray Liston.
At Quainton Road. Murray Liston.
At Saunderton. Murray Liston.
At Saunderton. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Saunderton. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd April 1983 - Wyvern Express
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.
During the lunch stop at Nottingham station. Jeremy Chapter.
At Sinfin Central. Jeremy Chapter.
53656 closest in Butterley station. Jeremy Chapter.
At Nottingham, M53656. Jeremy Chapter.
During the lunch stop at Nottingham. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Sinfin Central. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Sinfin Central. Stuart Mackay Collection.
5th June 1983 - Unnamed
A shuttle run by BR between Leicester and Burton calling at Coalville for the open day.
At Coalville depot. Chris Lings.
5th June 1983 - The Coal-ton Flyer
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.
51575 at the head of the tour at Coalville. Chris Lings.
23rd July 1983 - Warcop Wanderer
A tour that ran from Manchester Victoria around the north west.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51901 at the front at Barrow-in-Furness. Chris Lings.
51901 closest at Warcop. Chris Lings.
51901 closest at Warcop. Chris Lings.
circa 08/83 - The Great Eastern
A tour from London Liverpool Street using a Cravens Class 105 DMU.
At Liverpool Street. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Needham Market. Stuart Mackay Collection.
14th August 1983 - The Dalesrailwayman
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.
53207 closest at Skipton on 14/08/83. Chris Lings.
27th August 1983 - Strathclyde Wanderer
A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using Class 101 trailer brake three-car set 101 365.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
53239 closest at General Terminus. Hamish Stevenson.
53245 closest at General Terminus. Hamish Stevenson.
Waiting at Barrhead before proceeding to Kilmarnock. Hamish Stevenson.
At Hunterston H.L. Hamish Stevenson.
30th August 1983 - West Midlands Runabout
A BR organized tour in the West Midlands with a 101 / 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Stratford-upon-Avon. Walter Burt.
At Stratford-upon-Avon. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd September 1983 - Ardingley 100
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.
Approaching Haywards Heath. Nigel Menzies.
Approaching Haywards Heath. Nigel Menzies.
At Haywards Heath. Nigel Menzies.
At Haywards Heath. Nigel Menzies.
Copyhold Junction. Nigel Menzies.
Copyhold Junction. Nigel Menzies.
Copyhold Junction. Nigel Menzies.
Copyhold Junction. Nigel Menzies.
3rd September 1983 - Unnamed
101 312 ran from Dundee - Aberdeen - Keith Junction - Dufftown and return.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
53138 at Dufftown. Norman Smart.
51237 leads at Keith Junction. Mike Cooper Collection.
8th October 1983 - Coed Bach Connection
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 117 sets L406 and L416.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Llanelli. Jeremy Chapter.
15/10/83 - Unknown
Metropolitan Cammell sets 101 328 + 101 364 worked 1Z44 from Motherwell to Crianlarich.
Crossing onto the West Highland Line at Craigendoran Junction. Spannerman37025.
22nd October 1983 - Double Dragon (Y Ddraig Dbwl)
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.
Set L400 (51374, 59484 and 51332) arriving at Maerdy. PJ Evans.
5th November 1983 - The Glamorgan Freighter
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.
At Pantyffynon, 51348 leading set B439 with 59479 behind. Chris Lings.
The headboard gets added to 55020 at Abernant Colliery. Chris Lings.
55020 at the end of the long formation at Swansea East Depot. Chris Lings.
The tour at Onllywn. Chris Lings.
The tour at Onllywn. Chris Lings.
51348 closest at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen. Chris Lings.
A busy scene at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen. Chris Lings.
A view from the tour as it passes through Ammanford station. Chris Lings.
During its stop at Swansea East Depot. Chris Lings.
Stopped at Onllwyn. Chris Lings.
At Onllwyn. The vehicles visible are 51348, 59479 and 51390. Chris Lings.
At Onllwyn. The visible vehicle from left to right are 51341, 51390, 59479 and 51348. Chris Lings.
12th November 1983 - The Cannock Chaser
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.
This is believed to be the tour at Stafford. Andrew McConnell.
53330 waiting to depart from Birmingham New Street. Chris Lings.
53330 During a stop at Stourbridge Junction. Chris Lings.
26th November 1983 - The Mersey Mariner
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.
At Unknown, LMR. Stuart Mackay Collection.
30th December 1983 - West Midlands Roundabout No.2
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.
During a short break at Burton. Lewis Bevan.
During the Burton-on-Trent break. Jeremy Chapter.