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.
1990s
24th March 1990 - (no name)
A Railway Development Society tour from Cambridge to Staveley on the former St Ives line using Class 101s L220 and L223. There seems to have been three return trips made.
near Swavesey Nicholas Youngman.
Arriving at Long Stanton. Nicholas Youngman.
Arriving into Long Stanton. Roger Geach Collection.
In Long Stanton station. Roger Geach Collection.
Waiting to depart from Long Stanton. Roger Geach Collection.
28th April 1990 - China Clay Rambler
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Penzance using two Class 108s. For a detailed look at the tour see http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/diesel-railtours-in-cornwall--devon-part-2-1990-onwards.html
On the Par Harbour branch. Adrian Nicholls.
At Pontsmill. Adrian Nicholls.
At Fowey Docks. Adrian Nicholls.
At Bugle. Adrian Nicholls.
At Gaverigan Tip Sidings. Adrian Nicholls.
12th May 1990 - The Caerwent Cannonball 2
A Monmouthshire Railway Society from Newport using a three-car Class 116/108 hybrid and a two-car Class 118.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Newport South Docks. Adrian Nicholls.
At Uskmouth. Adrian Nicholls.
Near the start of the Oakdale Colliery branch. Peter Tandy.
On the Oakdale Colliery branch. Peter Tandy.
On Oakdale Colliery branch. Peter Tandy.
On the Oakdale Colliery branch, the return journey. Peter Tandy.
About to enter Penar Tunnel. Peter Tandy.
On the Oakdale Colliery branch, heading back to Newport. Peter Tandy.
On the Oakdale Colliery branch, heading back to Newport. Peter Tandy.
2nd November 1991 - Fletton Avoider
A Badger Railtours tour from London Liverpool Street, returning to London Fenchurch Street using two different three-car Class 101 DMUs, starting with set L700 and switching to set L830 at Cambridge.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Duxford Ciba-Geigy Works. Adrian Nicholls.
30/11/91 - Orwell & Lea Rambler
A Branch Line Society tour from Cambridge using NSE-liveried Class 101 DMU set L831.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Liverpool Street. Stuart Mackay Collection.
29/12/91 - Stour Valley Steamer
A Network SouthEast & East Anglian Railway Museum tour using N7 steam loco 69621 with Class 101 set L837 between Marks Tey and Great Cornard. These also operated on the 22nd.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
at Mount Bures crossing. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd June 1992 - Lein Amlwch 125 Years On
Organised by 'Isle of Anglesey Railways Ltd.' it used 101 657 to travel on multiple trips between Bangor and Amlwch.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Seen at Rhosgoch with 54085 leading. The short spur leading off to the right which can just be seen through the bushes served a oil storage depot built in the 70's but its use was short lived. Andrew J Crowther.
Seen heading away from the camera at Rhosgoch. Andrew J Crowther.
Heading up towards Rhosgoch, 54085 closest. Andrew J Crowther.
At Rhosgoch, 53211 leading. Andrew J Crowther.
22nd August 1992 - Freight Lines (West Area)
A Black Cat Railtours special taking three-car 101692 in Regional Railways livery on a tour of freight lines from Glasgow Central.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
During the Largs stop. Kenneth Leiper.
26th September 1992 - DMU Demise
A Cardiff Valley farewell tour organized by the Monmouthshire Railway Society that originated at Newport. It used two 2-car Class 116s - C392 (51134 + 51147) and C395 (51153 + 51140). A video of the tour can be found on YouTube.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51134 on the rear of the tour as it heads through the Garw Valley. Mac Winfield.
Heading for Neath Mac Winfield.
51140 leads the tour at Pontycymer in the Garw Valley. Mac Winfield.
Taken on-board 51134 at Waterton. Robert Thomas.
At Swansea Burrows Sidings. Robert Thomas.
At Onllwyn. Robert Thomas.
At Onllwyn. Robert Thomas.
At Onllwyn. Robert Thomas.
At Swansea Docks. Robert Thomas.
At Swansea Docks. Adrian Nicholls.
At Burrows Sidings, Swanea. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Onllwyn. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Pontycymer. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Swanea Docks. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th November 1992 - Tay-Forth Wanderer
A Branch Line Society tour which visited places such as Leith South, Kincardine and Westfield using 101693.
At Edinburgh Waverley. Kenneth Leiper.
24/04/93 - Unknown
A tour organised by the Bedford Bletchley Rail User's Association to celebrate the end of the long service of the 2-car DMU sets on the Bedford to Bletchley line.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Wilmcote. Peter Tandy.
2nd May 1993 - The Severn Slaps
This was a series of mini-tours organised by Pathfinder Tours in conjunction with the Worcester Rail Day with 20 138 and 20 066 using two 4-car DMU sets (T404 + T412) as the hauled stock.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
53116 at Worcester behind 20138 and 20066. Lewis Bevan.
At Stoke Prior. Peter Tandy.
At Ashchurch. Peter Tandy.
At Stoke Edith. Peter Tandy.
At Stoke Edith. Peter Tandy.
11th December 1993 - The Clitheronian
A Ribble Valley Railway organized Santa Special tour using 101s.
101676 (51803 + 51205) + 101683 (53269 + 51177) at Preston. Kevin Dowd.
19th February 1994 - Radlett Roundabout
A tour using Class 117s L703 + L722 from London Liverpool Street to the Leicester area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51345 at Braunston Gate. John Law Collection.
The train during the stop at Braunston Gate. John Law Collection.
At London Liverpool Street. John Law.
At Kettering. John Law Collection.
At Bedford. John Law.
At Braunstone Gate Sidings. Adrian Nicholls.
At Kettering. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Kettering. Stuart Mackay Collection.
29th May 1994 - The Devonport Docker
A Branch Line Society tour from Plymouth using GWR-liveried 117305.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Running ECS through Liskeard Goods Yard. Adrian Nicholls.