Order 2A - 7 4-car sets DMCs 50138-51, TSs 59042-48, TBSs 59049-55
Delivered to South Gosforth in October and November 1956.
For services between Newcastle and Carlisle.

On Wednesday 24th October 1956 two of the 4-car sets worked the 7.00am Newcastle to Middlesbrough and 9.35am return.

They commenced working some Newcastle - Carlisle services and Newcastle - Hexham services from the 4th February 1957.

The image, a London Midland Region publicity photos, shows a four-car set at Carlisle on 7 February 1957.

When the full diesel service was in operation a slightly more frequent service was offered, with accelerations of 10-20 minutes on almost every trains. The best times (apart from a non-stop Stranraer boat connection) was now 87 minutes Westbound (with 2 stops) and 90 minutes Eastbound (with 5 stops). Many through services now used the North Wylam line.

From the 4th March 1957 further diesel workings were introduced in the Hull area. While these were generally operated by Class 105 sets, a 4-car 101 was loaned from South Gosforth.

Minature buffets were introduced on the 13th June 1960 to certain trains between Newcastle and Carlisle. The four trains each way were the 10.30am, 12.20pm, 3.20pm and 4.20pm from Newcastle, and the 1.00pm, 2.20pm, 5.25pm and 7.00pm from Carlisle.

An illustration of a unit was used on the footer of a period poster promoting Hexham Abbey and "The Lovely Tyne Valley". View the full poster on pinterest.

In 1965 50138-49 & 59042-7/9-54 were allocated to 52J and were operating Newcastle - Carlisle services. 50150/1 & 59048/55 were allocated to 55H.

Order 2B - 10 power twins DMBSs 50152-7, 50164-67, DMCs 50158-63, 50168-71
Delivered to 56G (Bradford) in December 1956 and January 1957
For the West Riding area.

Sets 50154/60 & 50155/61 were put into service on the 17th December ‘56 worked by Hammerton St staff. They were equipped with indicator blinds for Bradford services and were working along with the eight Derby Lightweights.

Starbeck depot had a 3-car set and two 2-car sets stabled overnight to run as diagrams S1, S2 and S3. Sets S1 and S3 ran coupled together as a 5-car set at morning and evening peak hours. In the morning the 5-car worked the 06:32 to Leeds, 07:15 return to Knaresborough, and the 08:07 from there to Leeds. As on most diesel diagrams, this gave two trips to Leeds and it was a good many years since any Starbeck men had taken part in such a working.

A Bradford unit, diagram B6, also stayed overnight at Starbeck to make a 4-car set with S2 for the 07:25 to Leeds.

All the sets were changed everyday except for S3 which worked S2 the following day, so enabling Bradford to be responsible for fuelling and maintenance.

The 3-car sets were made up with the aid of new 4-car units loaned from Darlington (see 2C below), the first of which arrrived at Bradford on the 21st Feb. '57. Its TS(L) 59062 was removed and ran between 50155/61, leaving the Darlington set as 50176/59075/50177. Other 3-cars noted were 50156/59065/50162, 50182/59078/50183, plus unidentified/59082/50191.

The extension of these West Riding diesel services from the 25th February ‘57 enabled the reduction of Starbeck steam passenger diagrams from seven to four.

The Easter ‘57 holiday workings saw various combinations of 2,3,4 and 5-car sets from both Bradford and Starbeck. A pair of power twins (50154/60/71/67) ran the 18 1/4 miles from Harrogate to Leeds (Central), unchecked, in 21 1/4 minutes start to stop on the afternoon of Easter Monday. Top speed was 66 mph near Weeton, and the 2 1/4 miles at 1 in 94 up through Bramhope Tunnel were run at an average of just over 54, from the prescribed limit of 50 at the bottom, with a maximum of 56 at the top. The cars were carrying an approximate passenger load of 80-90 per cent capacity.

At Nov 1957 the Bradford sets had invariably remained in the same formations. One variation noted was 50158 which should have been paired with 50152, but for some months had been paired with 50214.

Soon after the 3-car Rolls-Royce sets were delivered to Bradford the borrowed trailers were dropped from the power twins. Noted in January ‘58 back as 2-cars were 50155/61 and 50156/62.

At the beginning of 1958 50158 was still running with 50214, but on the 9th April it was noted with 50166. 50166’s original partner 50170 was running with 50152 (50158’s original partner!)

At 1965 50152-5/7 paired with 50158-61/3 & 50164/5/7 paired with 50168/9/71were allocated to 56G working Bradford Exchange - Huddersfield services, 50156/62/6/70 to 51A working the Guisborough branch and Middlesbrough - Scarborough.

Order 2C - 13 4-car sets DMCs 50172-97, TSs 59060-72, TBSs 59073-85
Delivered to 51A (Darlington) January to April 1957

They were for Darlington to Saltburn services, a distance of 27 ¾ miles. This was covered in 60 mins with 10 (and in some cases 11 or 12) stops. The turnaround time at Darlington was normally 19 minutes and at Saltburn 10 minutes. Two of these sets were coupled together for peak periods.

One set (50176, 59062/75 and 50177) was loaned to Bradford, traveling on the 21st Feb 1957. It had a trailer removed (59062) to work as a 3-car, with 59062 being added to a power twin to made another 3-car.

Other vehicles noted working these West Riding services were 50182/59065/59078/50183, again split to form two 3-car sets with a power twin.

The image shows a Met-Camm three-car set (a four car with trailer second removed) at West Cliff station, date unknown. Walter Burt.

Vehicles from 50192 and on were delivered with blue squares painted above the buffers. All previous vehicles soon had these added.

Vehicle 50173 was withdrawn in October 1957 following accident damage at Hexham, so these vehicles must also have worked that line.

At 1965 50172/4-85/7-9 & 59060-8/70-2 & 59073/4/6-81/3-5 & 50192/4-7 were still allocated to 51A for Darlington - Saltburn services, while 50186/93 & 59075 was at 52J and 50190/1 & 59069/82 were at 55H.

Order 2E - 12 power/trailers DMBSs 50198-209, DTCs 56050-61
Delivered to 51A (Darlington) April and May 1957

For Darlington area, including services to Middleton-in-Teesdale, Richmond and Crook.

Sets 50202/56054 and 50203/56055 were noted on test between Castle Bromwich and Aldridge on the 8th May ‘57.

Newly completed 50207/56059 and 50208/56060 were used to work additional trains at the British Industries Fair on Saturday 11th May 1957. The majority of the BIF services that year between Birmingham (New Street) and Castle Bromwich were worked by Longsight’s Class 111s.

At 1965 50198/9/201/4/7 with 56050/1/3/6/9 were allocated to 52J. 50200/5/9 & 56052/7/61 were allocated to 51A and used on Richmond and Crook branch trains and on Durham - Bishop Auckland services, and also on Darlington - Middleton-in-Teeside trains. 50202/3/6/8 with 56054/5/8/60 were allocated to 55F and used on Bradford Forster Sq - Leeds City locals.

Order 2F - 24 power/trailers DMBSs 50210-33, DTCs 56062-85
Delivered to 54A (Sunderland) May to September 1957

For the Hull area.

50210/1, 56062/3 went to 9D (Newton Heath) on loan 7/57 (probably when new).

50212/3/22-5 with 56064/5/74-7 all went on loan to 9A (Longsight) soon after delivery.

50210-3/22-5 + 56062-5/74-7 went re-allocated to 54A (ex-loan LMR) 7/57.

50214/56066 moved to 54A (ex-loan LMR) in 2/58.

29th July ‘57 saw the first regular DMU working into Scarborough. It was the 10:15 from Hull, and 13:00 return, crewed by Bridlington men. On this first day it was formed of three Cravens sets, but on the following and subsequent days it was made of four Cravens and Met-Camm 2-car sets.

The now abundance of diesel sets at Hull made it possible to handle the summer ‘57 heavy weekend traffic to the coast resorts of Hornsea and Withernsea without recourse to steam power except on rare occasions.

Sunday excursions produced some interesting DMU workings. On the 27th October ‘57 an 8-car train worked from Hull to Newcastle formed of 50220/56072, 50222/56074, 50228/56080 and 50212/56069.

While DMUs had been working to Scarborough since July ‘57, the first unit to enter the shed there was 50223/56075 with gearbox trouble on the 27th November ‘57. It was one half of the 13:10 to Hull.

By December 1957 there were 31 Class 105 2-cars allocated to the Hull district, with four Met-Cams on loan. They were maintained at Springhead (53C), but when alterations to Botanic Gardens (53B) were completed they were transferred there.

At 1965 50210/2/3/5-23/5-7/9-33 with 56062/4-8/70-5/7-9/81-5 were allocated to 52J and used on Newcastle - Hexham and Newcastle - South Shields services. 50211/7/24 & 56063/9/76 were allocated to 51A and used on Richmond and Crook branch trains and on Durham - Bishop Auckland services, and also on Darlington - Middleton-in-Teeside trains. 50228 with 56080 was at 55H.

Order 2G - 3 power/trailers DMBSs 50246-8, DMCs 56218-20
Delivered to South Gosforth September 1957

50247/8 and 56219/20 were allocated to Darlington at September 1957.

In 1965 50246-8 were allocated to 52J.

In the image a power / trailer set heads away from the camera just north of Monkwearmouth station, date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Order 2H - 6 4-car sets DMCs 50234-45, TSs 59086-91, TBSs 59092-7
Delivered to South Gosforth September and October 1957

These vehicles took over the Newcastle - Middlesbrough services, replacing the Derby Lightweights, which were all transferred to the Newcastle - Carlisle services on the 16th September 1957.

In 1965 50234-7/40-5 & 59086/7/9-91 & 59092/3/5-7 were allocated to 55H. 50238/9 & 59088/94 were allocated to 55J for Newcastle to Hexham and Newcastle to South Shields. 

E50236 was an early withdrawal in September 1965 from 55H. It was noted in April 1966 in a quiet siding at York Carriage works, intact but with damage to the leading end, and one of the few NER vehicles not to to be carrying the NE prefix at the time.

Order 2I - 3 3-car sets DMBSs 50290-2, TSs 59302-4, DMCs 50745-7
Delivered to 51A (Darlington) November 1957, although the first two sets went briefly to Bradford at first (at least on paper!)

On the 14th December the 13:10 Scarborough to Hull consisted of a new 3-car set, the first noted at Scarborough.

50746/59303/50291 was shown as transferred to Darlington in Nov. '57, but it was still running from Hammerton Street depot on 20th Jan ‘58.

At 1965 the first and third sets were allocated to 51A and working the Richmond and Crook branches. The second set was allocated to 52J.

Order 2J - 2 4-car sets DMCs 50748-51, TSs 59305-6, TBSs 59112-3
Delivered to 51A Darlington November 1957, although they went briefly to South Gosford initially (at least on paper)

At '65 50748/9 & 59112 & 59305 was allocated to 51A working the Richmond & Crook branches. The other set was allocated to 55H.

Order 2K - 4 power/trailer sets DMBSs 50293-6, DTCs 56086-9
Delivered to 51A (Darlington) December 1957

E56088 can be seen in the Met-Camm works prior to delivery in a film clip on the Media Archive for Central England website.

At '65 50293-5 & 56086-8 were allocated to 51A and used on Richmond and Crook branch trains and on Durham - Bishop Auckland services, and also on Darlington - Middleton-in-Teeside trains. 50296 and 56089 were allocated to 52J.

Order 2L - 18 3-car sets DMBSs 50303-20 TCs 59114-31 DMCs 50321-38
Delivered to 5D (Stoke) (50303-7, 59114-8, 50321-5) February 1958, 5B(Crewe South) (50310-6, 59121-7, 50328-34) February and March 1958, 17A (Etches Park) (50308/9,59119/20, 50326/7) March and April 1958

On the 26th January ‘58 the through Sundays DMU working from Stoke (16:00) to Rugby (18:38) and return (18:50) was worked by brand new 50323/59116/50305. It had up to then been worked by 3-car 104s.

New 3-car sets were running to Rugby from Leicester apparently to train drivers, arriving at 13:20 and returning about 13:35. On the 12th March ‘58 50305/59116/50323 appeared, and on the 19th it was 50326/59119/50308.

Set 50309/59120/50327 was noted on the Lincoln - Nottingham line on the 15th March 1958 on crew training, several other 3-car sets appeared after that.

50308/59119/50326 and 50309/59120/50327 were running into Birmingham New Street during March ‘58 on training trips in connection with the Birmingham, Leicester, Burton-on-Trent and Nottingham area diesel train services which were scheduled to commence on the 14th April.

50303/6/7 + 50321/4/5 + 59114/7/8 went to 9A in 3/58.

In the image M50322 is seen at the front of a Met-Camm formation in Birmingham New Street, April 1958. Michael Mensing.

At the start of 1965 50303-17 & 50321-35 & 59114-28 were allocated to 2H (Monument Lane) and working Birmingham New St. to Lichfield services. 50318-20 & 50336-8 & 59129-31 were allocated to (9D) Newton Heath.

On 2 January 1967 all the Monument Lane sets, which was now all this batch except one (50318/59129/50336), were transferred to Tyseley as part of a major shake up of the Birmingham area DMUs due to electrification of the local services between Rugby and Wolverhampton. The other set would also move to Tyseley at the same time, giving the depot the complete batch, but it came from Derby Etches Park.

Order 2xA - 10 power twins DMBSs 50250-9, DMCs 50260-9
Delivered to 51A (Darlington) June to October 1957

50250-3 and 50260-3 were allocated to Darlington at September 1957

50253/7 + 50263/7 to 51A (ex-loan LMR) 2/58

In the image E50264 leads a three-car Met-Camm away from Whitby with a Scarborough service on July 22nd, 1958. Michael Mensing.

At '65 50250-3/5/7-9 with 50260-3/5/7-9 were allocated to 51A and working Middlesbrough services. 50254/6 and 50264/6 were allocated to 56G.

Order 3A - 30 power/trailers DMBSs 51224-53 DTCs 56382-411
Delivered to 62B (Dundee) May to July 1958

Details can be found on the Scottish Region page.

Order 3B - 20 power/trailers DMBSs 51204-23 DTCs 56362-81
Delivered July to October 1958

At 1965 51204/11 & 56362/9 were allocated to 55F for Bradford Forster Sq - Leeds City locals. 51205/6/8/9/14-7/21 with 56363//6/7/72-5/9 were allocated to 52J for Newcastle to South Shields and Hexham workings. 51207/10/3/8/22/3 with 56365/8/71/6/80/1 were allocated to 55H. 51512/9/20 with 56370/7/8 were allocated to 51A and used on Richmond and Crook branch trains and on Durham - Bishop Auckland services, and also on Darlington - Middleton-in-Teeside trains.

Order 3C - 30 power/trailers DMBSs 51174-203 DTCs 56332-61
Delivered October 1958 to January 1959

At '65 51174-88 with 56332-46 were allocated to 2H and worked from Birmingham New Street to Rugby, Coventry and Leamington. 51189-92 with 56347-50 were allocated to 2G working local services from Birmingham New Street including the old Midland line via Bournville to Redditch. 51193-201 with 56351-9 were allocated to 9D, and 51202/3 with 56360/1 were allocated to 6A working Chester Lines traffic from Chester Northgate.

Order 4A - 20 3-car sets DMBSs 51425-44 TCs 59523-42 DMCs 51495-514
Delivered February to May 1959

Although ordered as 3-cars they were delivered as power twins 51425-34/51495-504 and 4-car sets 51435-44/59523-42/51505-14.

At '65 51425-34 with 51495-504 were allocated to 56G. 51435-9/41 & 51505-9/11 & 59523/6/7/30/1/5 with buffet cars 59573-8 were allocated to 52J and were working from Newcastle to Middlesbrough and Carlisle. 51440/2 & 51510/2 & 59533/4/7/8 were allocated to 55H. 51443/4 & 51513/4 & 59539-42 were allocated to 51A and working Darlington - Saltburn services. The remaining trailers 59524/5/8/9/32/6 were allocated to 55H and were used with Class 111 power cars.

Order 4B - 26 3-car sets DMBSs 51445-70 TCs 59543-68 DMCs 51515-40
Delivered to Scottish Region May to September 1959

Details can be found on the Scottish Region page.

Order 5 - 7 3-car sets DMBSs 51795-801 TCs 59686-92 DMCs 51802-8
Delivered October to December 1959

Details can be found on the Scottish Region page.