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.
At Dunstable. Chris Lings.
At Dunstable. Chris Lings.
At Dunstable. Jonathan Hazan.
Awaiting departure at Kensington Olympia. Jonathan Hazan.
At Bedford. Jonathan Hazan.
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.
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.
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.
At Derby. Jonathan Hazan.
Waiting to set off from Marylebone. Jonathan Hazan.
At Marylebone. Jonathan Hazan.
At Nuneaton, 51659 closest. Jonathan Hazan.
At Nuneaton. Jonathan Hazan.
At Derby with 51659 closest. Jonathan Hazan.
The stop at Derby. Jonathan Hazan.
At Mickleover. Jonathan Hazan.
At Mickleover. Jonathan Hazan.
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.
C480 heads C465 at Mwyndy Jtn., Llantrisant and past the photographer's house. Mac Winfield.
At Tower Colliery. Chris Lings.
51307 at Tower Colliery Chris Lings.
At Ynysbul, 51307 closest. Chris Lings.
51312 at Nantgarw. Chris Lings.
At Nantgarw Colliery. Chris Lings.
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.
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.
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.
At Bradford FS. Chris Lings.
51813 at Bradford FS. Chris Lings.
51813 after arrival at Carlisle. Chris Lings.
circa Summer 1987 - Unknown
This tour took Class 107 DMU set 107444 to Oban.
At Garelochhead. Brian Ward.
At Garelochhead. Brian Ward.
At Arrochar and Tarbet. Brian Ward.
At Arrochar and Tarbet. Brian Ward.
At Oban. Brian Ward.
At Oban. Brian Ward.
At Crainlarich. Brian Ward.
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.
53160 at Cameron Bridge. Chris Lings.
53160 at Cameron Bridge. Adrian Nicholls.
Heading to Longannet. Brian Ward.
Passing Longannet signal box. Brian Ward.
At Methil power station. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Cameron Bridge. Brian Ward.
At Meadowbank. Brian Ward.
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.
On the outward leg at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The tour at Dalmally where it crossed with the 'Mexican Bean' on an Oban - Crainlarich shuttle. Adrian Nicholls.
About to pass through Garscadden. Brian Ward.
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.
At Fowey Docks. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Nanpean. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Bugle. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Plymouth Friary. 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.
At Heysham. Chris Lings.
At Sellafield. Chris Lings.
At Whitehaven. Chris Lings.
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.
52060 at Bury. Chris Lings.