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.
1988
05/03/88 - Tame & Avon
A Branch Line Society tour from Birmingham New Street using GWR-liveried Class 117 set T305. May have run on Sunday 6th, not Saturday 5th.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Birmingham Railway Museum, Tyseley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
26th March 1988 - The Usk and Severn Rambler
A Branch Line Society tour from Bristol Temple Meads with 51369 + 59521 + 51411.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
T306 at Sudbrook. Chris Lings.
At Sudbrook. Chris Lings.
At Westerleigh. Chris Lings.
On the Avonmouth branch. Chris Lings.
2nd May 1988 - The Brickfield Rambler
Black Eight Railtours ran this from Birmingham New Street to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
T305 (51410 + 59520 + 51368) at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
T305 at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
59520 and 51368 at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
At London Marylebone. Stephen Burdett.
At Quainton Road. Andrew Malloy.
02/05/88 - Rail Rambler
A BR tour Advertised as a six-car DMU from Middlesbrough - Redmire, Redmire - Darlington, Darlington - Redmire, Redmire - Middlesbrough.
This is believed to be the tour, seen passing Leyburn station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
9th July 1988 - Chinnor Tonic
A Hertfordshire Rail Tours trip from London Marylebone using two Class 108/115 hybrids, the first of three tours with the same name.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
M51654 closest at Quainton Road. Robert28194.
6th August 1988 - Chinnor Tonic
Organised by Hertfordshire Railtours and started in Marylebone, it ran again on 3/9/88.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Class 108 DTC 54224 on the tour at Quainton. Robert Frise.
Class 108 DTC 54213 on the tour at Quainton. Robert Frise.
Class 115 DMBS 51895 at Quainton. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road, from left to right is 54224 + 51893 + 51895 + 54213. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
27th August 1988 - Irvine and Ayr Wanderer
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Auchinleck. Robert Forsythe.
3rd September 1988 - Chinnor Tonic
The third Hertfordshire Railtours train of this name (the first was 9/7/88 the second 6/8/88). Ran from Marylebone with two Class 108/115 hybrid sets.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
An unknown 108 DTC at the end of the tour formation at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
Class 115 DMBS 51893 at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
An unknown 115 DMBS in the tour formation at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
Class 108 DTC 54499 at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
Arriving at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
At Quainton Road. Robert Frise.
22nd October 1988 - Mendip 88
An RCTS tour from Plymouth using a two-car Class 108 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Bradford-on-Avon. Michael Mensing.
Near Bradford-on-Avon. Michael Mensing.
On the Whatley Quarry line. Michael Mensing.
At Whatley Quarry line. Michael Mensing.
At summit of Merehead line. Michael Mensing.
At Merehead. Michael Mensing.
On Merehead line. Michael Mensing.
At Merehead. Michael Mensing.
At Unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.
4th December 1988 - Scottish Christmas Dash
A Transport 2000 organised Middlesbrough - Edinburgh charter.
After arrival at Edinburgh Waverley. John Carter.
Arriving into Thornaby, 53182 leading. John Carter.