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.
1986
22nd March 1986 - The Don & Tees
The BLS organised tour originated at Sheffield and visited the Darlington and Middlesborough areas.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
54192 at Darlington. Chris Lings.
54199 at Boulby Mine. Chris Lings.
At the Cleveland Potash Mine, Boulby, 54192 closest. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22/03/86 - The Wiltshire Wanderer
A BR tour that did two trips from Andover using a Class 117 (set L427).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour at Dinton. Adrian Nicholls.
At Andover. Robert Thomas.
At Dinton. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Departing Andover. Stuart Mackay Collection.
30th March 1986 - Highland Fling 2
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.
AT Longannet signal box. Adrian Nicholls.
5th April 1986 - The Risca Cuckoo
Originating from Newport, this Monmouthshire Railway Society tour was formed of three 3-car sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Newport Dock Street. Shayne Lewis.
At Oakdale Colliery. Shayne Lewis.
At Rose Heyworth Colliery. Shayne Lewis.
26/04/86 - Plymouth Railway Circle
A Plymouth Railway Circle with two Class 118 DMUs.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
On the Saltash Bridge. Keith Miller.
The two sets at Laira depot. Keith Miller.
03/05/86 - The Mayflower
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.
At Gunnislake. Stuart Mackay Collection.
04/05/86 - Cornishman
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.
At St Ives. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Parkandillack. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1986 - Brentford Branch Special
Bubble 55020 was hired by the GWR Preservation Group for shuttles along the frieght only Brentford line. Exact date unknown...
55020 carrying a large 'Brentford Branch Special' headboard. Chris Adams.
21st June 1986 - The Vectis Velocipede
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.
In Surrey, as the tour heads through Epsom station. Iain Reid.
Heading away from Epsom station towards Ashtead. Iain Reid.
Passing through Warnham station. Iain Reid.
E51284 tails passing through Warnham (between Horsham and Dorking). Iain Reid.
54122 at Portsmouth Harbour. Dave Warby.
53359 faces 54442 at Portsmouth Harbour. Dave Warby.
51284 at Portsmouth Harbour ready for the return journey. Dave Warby.
54122 at Portsmouth. Dave Warby.
At Epsom. Dave Warby.
At Willesden Junction High Level. Dave Warby.
At Clapham Junction. Dave Warby.
Inside 54442. Dave Warby.
54442 at Portsmouth Harbour after the arrival of the outward leg. Dave Warby.
53359 at Portsmouth Harbour after the arrival of the outward leg. Dave Warby.
At Alexandra Palace. Dave Warby.
At Chichester. Lewis Bevan.
28th June 1986 - The Thame Phoenix
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.
The two bubbles at High Wycombe prior to working the shuttles. Robert28194.
55033, having arrived from Thame, waits to cross to the down side to form the 12.50 departure to Thame. Robert28194.
29th June 1986 - The Thame Phoenix
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.
55006 approaching the station and crossing at Bledlow. Julian Heard.
55006 passing the former station at Bledlow. Julian Heard.
55006 about to cross the crossing beside the former station at Bledlow. Julian Heard.
55033 in Thame station. Julian Heard.
55033 in Thame station. Julian Heard.
55033 departing from Thame. Julian Heard.
55006 at High Wycombe. Julian Heard.
M55006 passing through Princes Risborough. Julian Heard.
M55006 passes the signal box at Princes Risborough. Julian Heard.
M55006 at High Wycombe. Alistair Ness.
M55006 at High Wycombe. Alistair Ness.
55033 in Thame station. Alistair Ness.
55033 at Thame. Alistair Ness.
At High Wycombe. Dave Warby.
At . Dave Warby.
At High Wycombe. Dave Warby.
At High Wycombe. Dave Warby.
At Interior. Dave Warby.
At Detail. Dave Warby.
The 12.35 To High Wycombe at Thame. Dave Warby.
The 12.50 ex-High Wycombe arrives at Thame. Dave Warby.
55033 with the 13.35 to High Wycombe at Thame. Dave Warby.
The 12.35 To High Wycombe at Thame. Dave Warby.
The 12.35 To High Wycombe at Thame. Dave Warby.
55033 at Saunderton heading towards Princes Risborough. Dave Warby.
12th July 1986 - Fen Tiger
A Hertfordshire Railtours / Southern Electric Group tour starting from Reading with two Class 117 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Seen at South Lynn, 51404 (L424) closest. Chris Lings.
At Kings Lynn, 51389 at the front. Chris Lings.
51404 closest at Kings Lynn Bentinck Dock. Adrian Nicholls.
At Wisbech. The KDH Archive.
At Whitemoor. Phil Bevan.
23rd August 1986 - The Clyde Forth
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.
At South Leith, the train running about an hour late at this time. Alan Rintoul.
At Menstrie Sidings. Adrian Nicholls.
Approaching Old Kilpatrick on the remains of the Caledonian's Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire route. alicia hartman.
Crawling round to Old Kilptrick. alicia hartman.
Between Dalmuir Riverside and Old Kilpatrick. alicia hartman.
On the Caledonian L & D overbridge spanning Dumbarton Road in Clydebank. alicia hartman.
At Hawkhead. Brian Ward.
At Milngavie. Brian Ward.
At Milngavie. Brian Ward.
At Milngavie. Brian Ward.
At Clydebank. Brian Ward.
between Clydebank and Old Kilpatrick. Brian Ward.
At Old Kilpatrick. Brian Ward.
At Old Kilpatrick. Brian Ward.
At Clydebank. Brian Ward.
At Menstrie. Brian Ward.
At Menstrie. Brian Ward.
An unknown stop. Brian Ward.
At an unknown stop. Brian Ward.
At Old Kilpatrick. alicia hartman.
30th August 1986 - The Mancunian Railtour
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.
At Buxton, 53171 in the company of 52060 and 53636. Andrew J Crowther.
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.
Passing Blackwell Mills. Andrew J Crowther.
Passing Hazel Grove High Level. Andrew J Crowther.
New Mills Viaduct. Andrew J Crowther.
25th October 1986 - The Cynheidre Curler
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Cardiff using two Class 117 sets (L402 + L414).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Clydach-on-Tawe. Adrian Nicholls.