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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.

1984

4th February 1984 - Norseman 1

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.

Norseman 1image 27339

At Redmire. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Norseman 1image 29665

From 53171 at Bedale. Rob Paterson.

Norseman 1image 29666

Looking back from 53171 at Bedale. Rob Paterson.

Norseman 1image 29667

Looking out from 59085 at Redmire. Rob Paterson.

18th February 1984 - Norseman 2

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.

Norseman 2image 4183

At Bedale, 53244 closest. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4184

The train in Bedale. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4185

51219 at the rear of the formation at Bedale. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4186

53244 at the front of the train at Redmire. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4187

The full 7-car formation seen at Redmire. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4188

53244 at the rear of the train at Eastgate. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4189

51219 seen through the trees at Eastgate. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 4190

53244 preparing to depart Eastgate for Darlington. Chris Lings.

Norseman 2image 17315

The headboard being added or removed from 53244 at Redmire. Jeremy Chapter.

10th March 1984 - The Staffordshire Ranger

This LCGB tour ran from Liverpool Lime Street formed of a Class 108 and Class 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Staffordshire Rangerimage 3879

51586 at the end of the formation seen at Cheddleton. Chris Lings.

The Staffordshire Rangerimage 3880

51934 in Cheddleton station. Chris Lings.

The Staffordshire Rangerimage 4326

51934 at the front at Helsby station. Chris Lings.

The Staffordshire Rangerimage 27709

At Cheddleton. Jeremy Chapter.

31st March 1984 - Coed Ely Coupling

A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 117s L400, L415 and bubble L121.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 19468

At Nantymoel. David Mant.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 19469

At Swansea Docks. David Mant.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 20176

At Aberpergwm. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 20380

At Coed Ely. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22058

At Aberpergwm. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22171

At Neath Riverside. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22337

At Nantymoel. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22499

At Coed Ely. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22606

At Swansea Docks. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 22756

At Swansea Docks. Robert Thomas.

Coed Ely Couplingimage 30033

At Nantymoel. David Mant.

22nd April 1984 - Brentford Branch Special

A Class 121 bubble car hired by the GWR Preservation Group for shuttles from Southall along the freight only Brentford line.

Brentford Branch Specialimage 3113

Seen at Southall Railway Centre. Chris Lings.

Brentford Branch Specialimage 22038

At Brentford. Chris McKee.

Brentford Branch Specialimage 22040

At Southall. Chris McKee.

19th May 1984 - Day Excursion

A Chiltern Trains day excursion which took two Class 116 sets from Bicester to Hastings.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Day Excursionimage 16272

At Hastings, 53116 closest. Adrian Nicholls.

29/05/84 - Blyth & Tyne

A Branch Line Society tour from Leeds using a four-car Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Blyth & Tyneimage 30074

At Newcastle. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Blyth & Tyneimage 30324

At Newcastle. Stuart Mackay Collection.

9th June 1984 - The Ruddington Requiem

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.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 3569

During a stop at Lawfield. Chris Lings.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 4328

Plenty of admirers at Ruddington. Chris Lings.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 4329

53910 at the bufferstops at Ruddington. Chris Lings.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 5130

53910 at the bufferstops at Ruddington. Phil Deane Collection.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 14032

53328 leads at East Leake. Mel Smith.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 14033

53318 + 59114 + 53328 at East Leake. Mel Smith.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 14034

The nine-car formation heads away from the camera at East Leake. Mel Smith.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 24925

At Derby. Alistair Ness.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 24926

At Ruddington. Alistair Ness.

The Ruddington Requiemimage 24927

At Ruddington. Alistair Ness.

16th June 1984 - The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)

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.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4330

Waiting to leave Edinburgh Waverley. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4331

The Stirling stop. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4462

Participants enjoying the view near Menstrie. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4463

The stop at Markinch. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4464

At Cameron Bridge. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4465

107 444 at Cameron Bridge, 52005 closest. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4466

107444 and 101325 at Rosyth Dockyard. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4467

The stop at Oakley (Fife). Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4468

52005 closest at Oakley. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4469

Dunfermline Upper, now the site of a retail park. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 4470

Wandering around the closed Dunfermline Upper station. Chris Lings.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6143

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.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6144

At Cameron Bridge. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6145

Rosyth Dockyard. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6146

Rosyth Dockyard, the 101 on the left is on open day shuttle duties. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6147

Oakley. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6148

Dunfermline Upper. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 6149

After finishing at Edinburgh Waverley. Hamish Stevenson.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 19238

At Cameron Bridge. alicia hartman.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 19239

52005 closest at Cameron Bridge. alicia hartman.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 19240

At Cameron Bridge station en-route to Methil. alicia hartman.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 21940

At Rosyth Dockyard. Mike McDonald.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 24928

At Perth. Alistair Ness.

The Tay-Forth Venturer (A Grice of Fife)image 24929

At Stirling. Alistair Ness.

23/06/84 - Dyfed Dragon

A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff using Class 117 set L404.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Dyfed Dragonimage 29684

At Fishguard Harbour. Stuart Mackay Collection.

24/06/84 - Unknown

A Branch Line Society tour using two Class 116 DMUs, C300 and C303.

Unknownimage 29333

C300 at Treherbert, the second set in the distance. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Unknownimage 29334

C300 at Treherbert. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Unknownimage 29335

At Rhymney. Stuart Mackay Collection.

30th June 1984 - Farewell Abingdon

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.

Farewell Abingdonimage 26413

At Abingdon. Brian Daniels.

Farewell Abingdonimage 26414

At Abingdon. Brian Daniels.

Farewell Abingdonimage 26415

At Abingdon. Brian Daniels.

Farewell Abingdonimage 26416

At Abingdon. Brian Daniels.

Farewell Abingdonimage 26698

At Oxford. Brian Daniels.

14th July 1984 - The Bucks & Oxon Freighter

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.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 4625

The Little Kimble stop, with 51875 at the rear. Chris Lings.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 4626

51875 at the rear at Winslow. Chris Lings.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 4627

Swanbourne, 51875 carrying the headboard. Chris Lings.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 4628

Swanbourne, with 51875 on the left. Chris Lings.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 16472

At Little Kimble. Adrian Nicholls.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 16473

At Winslow. Adrian Nicholls.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 16980

The tour at Oxford. Adrian Nicholls.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 16983

After terminating at Broad Street. Adrian Nicholls.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 17829

At Quainton Road. Adrian Nicholls.

The Bucks & Oxon Freighterimage 17932

Ready to set of at London Marylebone. Adrian Nicholls.

25th August 1984 - Fifeshire

A BLS tour from Glasgow Central using Class 107 set 107444.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Fifeshireimage 17479

At the limit of travel permitted on the Markinch to Auchmuty, described as the A92 road bridge. Jeremy Chapter.

26th August 1984 - The Coupler

A shuttle from Southall to Brentford using bubbles 55020 and 55029.

The Couplerimage 22193

Between Southall and Brentford. The KDH Archive.

22nd September 1984 - The Crewe Independent

A BLS organised tour originating from Preston that ran around the Crewe area and Chester / Shrewsbury / Manchester.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Crewe Independentimage 4677

54224 during the stop at Shrewsbury. Chris Lings.

27th October 1984 - The Dockland Dawdler

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.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 816

At Oakdale Colliery with L402 headed by 51377. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 817

At Newport East Docks with 51393 heading L415. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4678

The view from 51393 at Newport Docks. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4679

L415 at Newport East Docks. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4680

51393 at Trethomus (Beclwas branch). Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4916

Seen at Trethomus (Beclwas branch). Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4917

Oakdale Colliery. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4918

At Maerdy. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4919

51393 at Maerdy. Chris Lings.

The Dockland Dawdlerimage 4920

51393 at Glascoed. Chris Lings.

8th December 1984 - Whitehall Mandarin

A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield Midland using a Class 114 and Class 110.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Whitehall Mandarinimage 30608

At Deepcar. Stuart Mackay Collection.