Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus
Images
79961
1st April 1958
Waggon und Maschinenbau 4-wheel diesel railbus E79961 at Stratford TMD - 01/04/1958. 53A Models of Hull Collection.
79961
1st April 1958
A publicity image (negative RX216) showing a driver posing at the controls of new Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79961. Taken at Stratford Works on 1st April 1958. British Railways.
79961
1st April 1958
A publicity image showing the interior of Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79961, taken at Stratford depot on 1/4/58. British Railways.
79961
1st April 1958
A publicity image (negative RX213) of new Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79961. Taken at Stratford depot on 1 April 1958. British Railways.
79960
17th April 1958
Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79960 poses for, or is passing, the camera on 17 April 1958, just south of Cambridge station. It would not enter service until July 1958. The poster in the window shouts "BBC", for Brown, Boveri Cie who supplied the electrical equipment. It was common practice with diesel locos to refer to them by the manufacturer of electrical equipment, such as "British Thomson-Houston Type 1", but almost unknown with railcars. The BBC poster is said by some to have been to disguise the fact these railbuses were German, because of lingering anti German feelings after WWII, yet it also shouts "Mannheim", a German city so this can be discounted. Also, by 1958 German goods were already appearing in Britain, most notably the VW Beetle. Hills Road bridge is in the background would be rebuilt in 1960 in preparation for the King's Cross suburban electrification scheme of that year which was destined to be cancelled for financial reasons. Darren Kitson Collection.
79963
7th June 1958
New W&M railbus E79963 in Cambridge depot on 7 June 1958, with another and a Derby Lightweight behind. Walter Burt.
19th June 1958
A Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus in Witham station on 19 June 1958, shortly before railbus services commenced. British Railways.
July 1958
Beechy Ride, bridge over the Fulfen Slade near Saffron Walden. First week after the railcar replaced steam in July 1958 on the Audley End - Bartlow branch line. Adrian Smith.
79962
September 1958
September 1958 and new Waggon & Maschinenbau rail bus E79962 is in residence at Stratford. The KDH Archive.
79964
21st March 1959
On March 21, 1959, WM railbus E79964 is hauled into Marks Tey station by 61651. Michael Mensing.
79961
21st March 1959
German railbus E79961 is seen in Witham station on March 21, 1959 with the 3.42pm service to Braintree. Michael Mensing.
79961
Date unknown
Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79961 in platform 4 of Witham station, date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.
79961
Date unknown
Inside Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus E79961 in Witham station, date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.
79960
1962
This negative was noted as being taken at Doncaster in 1962. It shows German railbus E79960 coupled between a steam loco and brake van, possibly on a works visit. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date unknown
One of the German railbuses ready to depart from Saffron Walden station with an Audley End service circa mid-1960s.
The text in the bufferbeam reads "This vehicle must only be towed at dead end of train". Stuart Mackay Collection.
79963
5th May 1965
Waggon und Maschinenbau No. E79963 at Newcastle Central on 5 May 1965. The railbus had been sent north from Cambridge for trials on the Alston branch. It eventually returned to Cambridge, then entered preservation. Darren Kitson Collection.
79964
24th May 1965
E79964 at Low Fell on 24th May 1965 during transfer (on loan) to South Gosforth for trials on the Alston branch. Trevor Ermel.
79964
6th December 1965
German railbus E79964 in Alston Station on 6 December 1965. Stuart Mackay Collection.
79961
late 1966
Withdrawn German railbus E79961 at Derby in late 1966. It had spent a short spell on the Buxton line that year and would be scrapped soon afterwards - the only one of the five not to be preserved. The shunter in front is noted as being D2380. Stuart Mackay Collection.
79964
6th December 1966
German railbus M79964 sits in the Midland Railway station at Buxton with the 1.47pm service to Millers Dale on 6 December 1966. Note the LMR "Platform 5" and "Way Out" signs sitting on the platform. The station would close a few months later. Robert Thomas.
79964
6th December 1966
Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus 79964 in Millers Dale station with the 1.32pm (SX) to Buxton on 6 December 1966. Robert Thomas.
79963
1967
E79963 and presumably E79960 at Wymondham. The vehicles are probably on their way to preservation on the North Norfolk Railway in 1967. The formation also includes a quad-art set. Steve Davies Collection.
79962
15th October 1980
79962 and 79964, taken at 03:00 on 15 October 1980 immediately before departure from Doncaster MPD after tyre turning. Basil Hancock.