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DMU Types

British Railways introduced many different types of DMUs, built in it's own workshops or by private builders for differing duties, developed as technology advanced. This section looks at each type in detail.

The pre-TOPS Classes

These types were withdrawn before class numbers were allocated. All except 50000/56000 were in the 79xxx number series.

West Riding Derby Lightweight

Derby
Lightweight

Derby Works
2-car DMUs
Yellow Diamond Derby Lightweight DMU

Derby
Lightweight

Derby Works
1, 2 & 4-car DMUs
BMU

Battery
Multiple Unit

Derby/Cowlairs Works
2-car BMU
Met-Camm Lightweight DMU

Met-Camm
Lightweight

Metropolitan Cammell
2-car DMUs
Swindon 79xxx DMU

Swindon 79xxx

Swindon Works
3-car Inter-City DMUs
50000/56000

50000/56000

Derby Works
2-car DMU

The TOPS Classes

Class numbers were introduced in 1973, the list below is grouped into the 'parent' class. For the full list of class numbers see the data section. All vehicles were in the 5xxxx number series.

Class 100 DMU

Class 100

Gloucester RC&W
2-car DMUs
Class 101 DMU

Class 101/2

Metropolitan Cammell
2, 3 & 4-car DMUs
Class 103 DMU

Class 103

Park Royal
2-car DMUs
Class 104 DMU

Class 104

Birmingham RC&W
2, 3 & 4-car DMUs
Class 105 DMU

Class 105/6

Cravens
2 & 3-car DMUs
Class 107 DMU

Class 107

Derby Works
3-car DMUs
Class 108 DMU

Class 108

Derby
2, 3 & 4-car DMUs
Class 109 DMU

Class 109

Wickham
2-car DMUs
Class 110 DMU

Class 110

Birmingham RC&W
3-car DMUs
Class 111 DMU

Class 111

Metropolitan Cammell
2 & 3-car DMUs
Class 113 DMU

Class 112/3

Cravens
2-car DMUs
Class 114 DMU

Class 114

Derby Works
2-car DMUs
Class 115 DMU

Class 115

Derby Works
4-car DMUs
Class 116 DMU

Class 116

Derby Works
3-car DMUs
Class 117 DMU

Class 117

Pressed Steel
3-car DMUs
Class 118 DMU

Class 118

Birmingham RC&W
3-car DMUs
Class 119 DMU

Class 119

Gloucester RC&W
3-car Cross-Country DMUs
Class 120 DMU

Class 120

Swindon Works
3-car Cross-Country DMUs
Class 121 DMU

Class 121

Pressed Steel
1 & 2-car DMUs
Class 122 DMU

Class 122

Gloucester RC&W
1 & 2-car DMUs
Class 123 DMU

Class 123

Swindon Works
4-car Inter-City DMUs
Class 124 DMU

Class 124

Swindon Works
6-car Trans-Pennine DMUs
Class 125 DMU

Class 125

Derby Works
3-car DMUs
Class 126 DMU

Class 126

Swindon Works
3-car Inter-City DMUs
Class 127 DMU

Class 127

Derby Works
4-car DMUs
Class 128 DMU

Class 128

Gloucester RC&W
Single-car Parcel DMUs
Class 129 DMU

Class 129

Cravens
Single-car Parcel DMUs

Railbuses

AC Cars Railbus

AC Cars
 
Bristol Railbus

Bristol Com. Veh. /
Eastern Coach Wks
Park Royal Railbus

Park Royal
 
WMD Railbus

Waggon und
Maschinenbau
Wickham Railbus

Wickham
 
ACV Railcars

ACV Railcars
 

Diesel Electric

Blue Pullman

Blue Pullman

Metropolitan Cammell
6 & 8-car units
Davey Paxman

Davey Paxman

Converted Derby Works
2-car Inter-City unit

The class numbers were not allocated until later years but are used here for ease of identity, some types were withdrawn before the class numbers were brought into use but it's commonly accepted that the numbers used here (109/112/113) were allocated to them.

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