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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.

1987

17th January 1987 - The Chiltern Chariot

This Hertfordshire Railtours tour took two Class 115 units from Marylebone to Gospel Oak, Dunstable, Bedford etc.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 5054

At Dunstable. Chris Lings.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 5055

At Dunstable. Chris Lings.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 16573

At Dunstable. Jonathan Hazan.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 17633

Awaiting departure at Kensington Olympia. Jonathan Hazan.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 19132

At Bedford. Jonathan Hazan.

The Chiltern Chariotimage 19614

M51652 closest at Dunstable. Jonathan Hazan.

21st February 1987 - Chiltern Chariot II

A Hertfordshire Railtours tour from London Maylebone using two Class 115 DMUs.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Chiltern Chariot IIimage 19521

At London Marylebone. Robert28194.

21st March 1987 - The Thames and Trent Railtour

Three Class 115/108 hybrids operated this BLS tour from Marylebone to branches in the Nottingham area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Thames and Trent Railtourimage 5056

At Nottingham station. Chris Lings.

28th March 1987 - The Mickleover Hypothesis

Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours and starting from London Marylebone using two Class 115 sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 17873

At Derby. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 17874

Waiting to set off from Marylebone. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 17875

At Marylebone. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 17876

At Nuneaton, 51659 closest. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 17877

At Nuneaton. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 18869

At Derby with 51659 closest. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 18870

The stop at Derby. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 18871

At Mickleover. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 18872

At Mickleover. Jonathan Hazan.

The Mickleover Hypothesisimage 29158

At Derby. Rob Paterson.

11th April 1987 - The Tower Toad

A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour that started at Newport.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Tower Toadimage 827

C480 heads C465 at Mwyndy Jtn., Llantrisant and past the photographer's house. Mac Winfield.

The Tower Toadimage 5057

At Tower Colliery. Chris Lings.

The Tower Toadimage 5058

51307 at Tower Colliery Chris Lings.

The Tower Toadimage 5059

At Ynysbul, 51307 closest. Chris Lings.

The Tower Toadimage 5060

51312 at Nantgarw. Chris Lings.

The Tower Toadimage 5061

At Nantgarw Colliery. Chris Lings.

The Tower Toadimage 27605

At Cwm Llantwit. Stuart Mackay Collection.

11th April 1987 - Rowntree Requiem

A Industrial Railway Society tour run during their AGM weekend at York taking a Class 101 on the short journey from York to Rowntree's Halt and back.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Rowntree Requiemimage 16342

At Rowantree's Halt. Adrian Nicholls.

4th May 1987 - Mendip Meanderer

Organized by Black Eight Tours and ran from Birmingham New Street to the East Somerset Railway.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

Mendip Meandererimage 853

Seen near Merehead, led by 55993. Tom Clift.

30th May 1987 - The Northumbrian

A BLS tour that took two Class 110 sets from Bradford FS to Carlisle.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Northumbrianimage 5062

At Bradford FS. Chris Lings.

The Northumbrianimage 5063

51813 at Bradford FS. Chris Lings.

The Northumbrianimage 5064

51813 after arrival at Carlisle. Chris Lings.

circa Summer 1987 - Unknown

This tour took Class 107 DMU set 107444 to Oban.

Unknownimage 23299

At Garelochhead. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23425

At Garelochhead. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23426

At Arrochar and Tarbet. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23427

At Arrochar and Tarbet. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23428

At Oban. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23430

At Oban. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23432

At Crainlarich. Brian Ward.

Unknownimage 23433

A loose jumper connection box being investigated at Dumbarton Central. Brian Ward.

29th August 1987 - The Fife Coast Explorer

A tour from Glasgow Central around Fife with two Strathclyde liveried DMUs a Class 101 and a Class 107.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 5066

53160 at Cameron Bridge. Chris Lings.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 16341

53160 at Cameron Bridge. Adrian Nicholls.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 23829

Heading to Longannet. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 23999

Passing Longannet signal box. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24000

At Methil power station. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24001

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24002

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24003

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24004

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24005

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24006

At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24007

At Meadowbank. Brian Ward.

The Fife Coast Explorerimage 24008

At Edinburgh Waverley. Brian Ward.

30th August 1987 - The Firth of Lorne

A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow to Oban using 101388 and 107440.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Firth of Lorneimage 15491

On the outward leg at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The Firth of Lorneimage 16826

The tour at Dalmally where it crossed with the 'Mexican Bean' on an Oban - Crainlarich shuttle. Adrian Nicholls.

The Firth of Lorneimage 24126

About to pass through Garscadden. Brian Ward.

The Firth of Lorneimage 24127

At Garscadden. Brian Ward.

13/09/87 - The Cornish Clayliner

A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using Class 117 DMU set B439.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Cornish Claylinerimage 29062

At Fowey Docks. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The Cornish Claylinerimage 30158

At Nanpean. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The Cornish Claylinerimage 31068

At Bugle. Stuart Mackay Collection.

3rd October 1987 - The Cumbrian Ranger

A BLS tour that originated at Preston and used the retro-green 108 53964 + 54247.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Cumbrian Rangerimage 5067

At Heysham. Chris Lings.

The Cumbrian Rangerimage 5068

At Sellafield. Chris Lings.

The Cumbrian Rangerimage 5069

At Whitehaven. Chris Lings.

The Cumbrian Rangerimage 5070

At Whitehaven. Chris Lings.

14th November 1987 - The Irwell and Mersey Rambler

A BLS tour that began in Crewe.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.

The Irwell and Mersey Ramblerimage 5071

52060 at Bury. Chris Lings.