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.
1985
circa early 1985 - Cranmore Flyer
This was possibly a shuttle from Westbury, at least one run with B472 and another with B472 with B126 attached.
B472 arriving at Cranmore. Stuart Mackay Collection.
In Cranmore station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
In Cranmore station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Departing Cranmore. Stuart Mackay Collection.
20th April 1985 - The Maerdy Gras
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.
At Blaengarw. Chris Lings.
At Aberpergwm. Chris Lings.
In Llanelli station. Chris Lings.
At Blaengarw. Adrian Nicholls.
51349 at Onllwyn. Adrian Nicholls.
51342 closest at Onllwyn. Adrian Nicholls.
At Aberpergwm. Adrian Nicholls.
22nd June 1985 - The Cotswold Lion
A BLS tour that started in Paddington formed of Class 117 L428 and bubble L128.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Long Marston, formed 51358, 59510 51400 and bubble 55028. Chris Lings.
25th August 1985 - The Coupler
A shuttle from Southall to South Ruislip organised by the Great Western Society using Class 117 set L407.
At Northolt Waste Transfer Terminal. Robert28194.
26th August 1985 - Unknown
A Chiltern Trains tour from Bicester to Hastings using a Class 115.
At East Croydon. Andy Prime.
13th October 1985 - Un-named day excursion
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.
The tour at Buxton. Chris Lings.
19th October 1985 - Wear and Wendley Dalesman
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.
Seen at Stanhope. Graeme Phillips Collection.
In Stanhope. Graeme Phillips Collection.
The tour at Stanhope. Adrian Nicholls.
At Stanhope. Adrian Nicholls.
26th October 1985 - Sharpness Shunter
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour that started in Cardiff.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Sharpness. Chris Lings.
At Gloucester Docks, 51319 closest. Chris Lings.
At Gloucester Docks, 51397 closest. Chris Lings.
23rd November 1985 - The Anglian Vibrator
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.
L412 at Wisbech. Chris Lings.
L411 at Wisbech. Chris Lings.
51389 at North Elmham Chris Lings.
51346 and 59498 at North Elmham Chris Lings.
At March after traversing the freight only branch to Wisbech. Adrian Nicholls.
At North Elmham. Adrian Nicholls.
At Dereham. Adrian Nicholls.
At Wisbech. Rob Paterson.
At Hardingham. Rob Paterson.
At North Elmham. Rob Paterson.
At March Whitemoor Junction. Phil Bevan.