DMU Accidents
DMUs have had their fair share of mishaps through the years and this section is an attempt to document them.
If you have any notes or photographs please submit them to be added here. I would also welcome further information on any of the accidents featured here.
Many of the accident reports are available on-line at www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
1980s
1980 - Bristol Marsh Junction
Collision involving Class 101
Info from John Savage
DMBS W51799 (of set B810) has been the subject of a shunting mishap also involving a 350hp shunter and BR Mark 1 sleeping car W2541, within Bristol Marsh Junction Depot on an unknown date in 1980.
05/07/80 - Birmingham New Street
Collision involving Class 116 / Class 47
M50115 (set TS519) collided with 47 337 at Birmingham New Street and would be withdrawn.
02/03/81 - Watford North Junction
Fire involving Class 115
Info from Railway Observer May 1981 p165
The fourth car of the eight-car 07:10 Marylebone - Aylesbury service burst into flames. It came to a halt near Watford North Junction after the communication cord was pulled. The driver managed to uncouple the rear set and the front three vehicles to prevent the fire from spreading from M51672 which was severely damaged.
15/03/81 - Sough Tunnel, Darwen
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from Railway Magazine
The 07:40 Manchester - Blackburn service, formed of 52059 and 51945, derailed outside the north portal of Sough Tunnel, Darwen, caused by a landslide.
27/11/81 - Derby
Collision involving Class 114 / Class 45
Info from Rail Enthusiast 4/82 p57, Michael Boot
The driver of E56040 had the low sun in his eyes and misread the signal and set off, hitting an incoming Class 45 with Mk1s in tow. The side-on collision caused it to derail and hit one of the Hulland Street bridge pillars.
11/12/81 - near Seer Green
Collision involving Class 115 / Class 115
A Class 115 ECS from Marylebone to Princes Risborough stopped at a fallen tree branch across the Chiltern main line in a cutting near Seer Green, and was hit by the Class 115 on the 07:31 from Marylebone to Banbury at about 30mph. The driver of the latter had been authorised to pass the Gerrards Cross signal at danger, and he and three passengers were killed. The two power cars that collided M51864/81 would be withdrawn.
18th December 1981 - Twyford
Collision involving Class 117
Class 117 set L423 led by 51403 on the 23:13 Henley - Twyfordran through the buffers at Twyford after a brake failure. It demolished the bufferstops at the end of the bay platform and landed partly in the station approach on top of a parked car. The scene was attended to the next day by the Old Oak Common breakdown train which rerailed the unit. 51403 would be withdrawn.
27/05/82 - Alvechurch
Collision involving Class 116 / Ballast train
Info from Martin Baumann, Bromsgrove Advertiser
The 12.24 Redditch - Barnt Green was hit by a ballast train as it arrived into Alvechurch station. Two of the Class 116 vehicles 50066 + 59024 would be withdrawn.
1st April 1983 - Bedford Carriage Sidings
Fire involving Class 127
M51595 and M51614 were gutted by fire at Bedford Carriage Sidings, the cause thought to be a smouldering cigarette end. Both were withdrawn.
28/05/83 - Luton, LMR
Collision involving Class 127 / Class 47
Info from Eddie Knorn / Michael Boot
A stationary Class 127 was hit by 47 535 in Luton station, despite the severity of the damage there were no serious casualties. The rear half of DMBS 51620 was destroyed, as was one end of TSL 59605 - which had just been outshopped from Swindon after a C3 overhaul in January and painted into blue and grey for transfer to Tyseley. Both were withdrawn. The other two vehicles in the set were likely to be 59634 (also having a C3 at the same time as 59605) and 51624.
circa 1983/4 - Midcalder Junction
Derailment involving Class 107
Info from David Keppie / John McGrevey
An empty stock Class 107/101/107 hybrid DMU was put into the Up Goods Loop on the Shotts line for the driver to change ends and derailed on the trap points. More Details.
28/08/83 - Eastfield
Collision involving Class 101 / Road vehicle
Info from Spannerman37025
The 20.58 Falkirk Grahamston to Glasgow Queen St service collided with a van that was allowed to roll away and drop 40 feet into the cutting near Eastfield shed. DMBS 51466 was leading. For an image of the van see this flickr image.
09/12/83 - Wrawby Junction
Collision involving Class 114 / Class 47
53049 + 54049 working the 17:32 Cleethorpes-Sheffield collided with the 15:02 Drax - Lindsey 900-ton empty oil tanks hauled by 47299 at Wrawby junction, a convergence of lines just outside Barnetby, Lincolnshire. It resulted in one death and a dozen other passengers injured. The cause was put on a set of power points which had been hand cranked but not clipped which reset themselves in front of the freight train.
02/01/84 - Ayr depot
Fire involving Class 101 / Class 107
A fire at the depot, thought to be caused by vandalism, destroyed several DMU vehicles. More Details.
07/03/84 - Preston
Fire involving Class 108
Info from p48 Rail Enthusiast June 1986
Class 108 DMCL M52040 caught fire at Preston on the early hours of 7 March 1984 whilst en-route empty from Blackburn. Disposal on site began a week later.
circa early Aug-84 - Polmont
Fire involving Class 101
Info from John McGrevey
51448 caught fire (photos suggest it was an engine fire) while running in set 101325 (the other power car being 51529) in the Polmont area. It was put into a siding at Polmont Junction where the fire brigade attended, the vehicle having most of the windows broken. It would be withdrawn soon after.
15/11/84 - Birchwood, LMR
Fire involving Class 115
Info from Elliot Spencer and p49 March 1985 Rail Enthusiast magazine.
A fire on board the 12:27 Manchester Piccadilly - Liverpool Lime Street at Birchwood totally gutted Class 115 DMBS M51850. The driver and guard were able to move the passengers into the front two cars 51856 and 59720 which were then uncoupled and driven to the station where the fire brigade were called. Ten fire engines were needed to relay water to the burning vehicle because of the inaccessible location. It was later towed to Warrington Central by 31270 and the cars eventually dumped at Allerton depot.
3/12/84 - Longsight, LMR
Collision involving Class 104 / Vans
Info from Peter Mullen
An empty 3-car class 104 DMU was wrongly routed and came into collision with a train of vans which had been left without a tail lamp. More Details.
February 1985 - Approach to Hull Paragon
Collision involving Class 108 / Met-Camm
Info from Ian Fleming and Neil Mackay
An incident on the approach to Hull Paragon in February 1985. More Details.
11/2/85 - Severn Tunnel Junction, WR
Accident involving DMU
Info from Peter Mullen
A DMU struck and instantly killed four men who were part of a permanent way gang engaged on keeping points clear of snow during the night. More Details.
1985 - Marylebone
Derailment involving Class 115
Info from Michael Boot
A Class 115 had been sent the wrong way and DMBS M51861 derailed, riding over a bridge strengthener which tore off its underframe components.
17/07/85 - Manchester Victoria
Collision involving Class 120
Info from Railway Observer, p415 September 1985
A Class 120 was hit by a runaway freight Train in Manchester Victoria, damaging the cab end of DMSL M53662.
September 1985 - Red Bank Carriage Sidings, Cheetham Hill
Fire involving Class 120 / Class 111
Info from Paul Moxon
Class 120 53721 and Class 111 59100 were damaged in a fire at Red Bank Carriage Sidings, Cheetham Hill, Manchester in September 1985. They are seen there awaiting disposal on 22/3/86. Unfit to move, they would be cut up on site in July 1986. Paul Moxon.
26/9/85 - Near Paisley
Collision involving Class 107 / Freight
Info from Mad Mac and John Reddyhoff
A DMU ran a red light and collided into the rear of an iron ore train. More Details.
18/1/86 - Preston, LMR
Collision involving Class 104 / Class 86
Info from Bill Read
Collision of Class 104 power-twin and stationary Loco 47 111. M53482-M53433. 44 passengers required hospital treatment (the driver and many passengers had retired to the rear car). The conclusion was that the driver’s brake valve had been inadvertently placed in the “lap” position resulting in the train brake pipe and “topside” vacuum being gradually destroyed during the journey from Carlisle. The driver may have been distracted by the presence of passengers of the football-supporters charter being in the cab. M53482 was severely damaged.
26/7/86 - Lockington Level Crossing, ER
Collision involving Class 105 / Class 114
Info from Bill Read
Collision of Class 105 + Class 114 with a Van on crossing. E54434-E51278 + E53016-E54034. 9 people killed and 59 people required hospital treatment. The van drove onto the crossing against flashing lights and was struck by the DMU. E54434 derailed and ran down the embankment, turning through 180 degrees before coming to rest on its side. All vehicles were badly damaged due to destruction of the track.
06/01/87 - Camden
Collision involving Class 127 / EMU
Info from p105 March 1987 Railway Observer, Michael Boot
Class 127 parcel DPU was crossing from the down fast to down slow at Camden when it was in a collision at 21:40 with a Class 313 EMU on the 21:37 Euston-Watford service. All DPU wheels were derailed with it blocking the down mail lines and up slow.
March or April 1987 - Shields Junction, ScR
Collision involving Class 107 / Class 86
Info from John Reddyhoff and Eddie Knorn
A side-swipe incident. More Details.
21st April 1987 - Gospel Oak
Collision involving Class 104 / Class 31
Info from Peter Boor
31 281 collided with Class 104 53453 in Gospel Oak station.
Peter Boor explains: "I was the driver on the loco based at Stratford, which had a green signal with an M indication for Main, when I came around the bend the next signal was green also, the loco took the points which had not been reversed and because the DMU was stopped short of the buffer stops I could not stop in time. More Details.
08/08/87 - One mile north of Llandrindod Wells.
Collision involving Class 101 / Tractor
Info from David Rowe
A 4-car formation of 2x101 power twins which hit a farm tractor at speed on a crossing about one mile north of Llandrindod Wells while travelling south on the afternoon of Saturday August 8th, 1987. Fortunately there were no injuries.
19/10/87 - Glanrhyd Bridge, WR
Collision involving Class 108 / Bridge
Info from Bill Read
Class 108 ran onto a bridge which had previously collapsed. M51910 + M52037, 4 persons drowned. Severe flooding had caused an already-weakened support pier to collapse.
8/12/87 - Near Methley Junction, ER
Accident involving Class 110
Info from Bill Read
Collision of Class 110 twin-unit with Permanent Way Gang. E52072 (trailing car not identified). 4 persons killed. Incident blamed on an irregular system of working by PW Gang.
28/01/88 - Uplawmoor, ScR
Derailment involving Class 101
Info from John Reddyhoff, Fraser Cochrane and John W.
The leading bogie of a 101 DMBS derailed after hitting debris from a lorry that shed it's load. On 28th January 1988 a lorry toppled from the A736 road bridge over the G&SW line at the south end of Uplawmoor, some of its load falling onto the track derailing the leading vehicle on the 10:45 Kilmarnock to Glasgow Central. There were no casualties amongst the 30 passengers, the lorry driver was unhurt. It was worked by a hybrid set, Class 101 DMBS 51248 (leading, it would be withdrawn afterwards), a Class 101 TBSL (likely 59112, the only BG TBSL at Ayr) and a Class 120 DMSL. More Details.
05/02/88 - Carnforth Up Furness line at Bottom End Yard
Collision involving Class 108 / Wagon
Info from Andrew Pilkington
The Class 108 DMU hit an engineers wagon. More Details.
Date unknown - Haymarket Depot, ScR
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from John Reddyhoff
Class 108 set 380 apparently hit the buffers at the south end of the depot and continued for another 60ft. Image John Reddyhoff. More Details.
circa 1989 - Norwich, ER
Fire involving Class 101
Info from Mark Rowe
While travelling empty stock from Ipswich to Crown Point a fire broke out, and driver Mick Kassa brought the train to a stand at Trowse Upper Junction in the Lakenham area of Norwich. It was around midnight & damage was also done to the relatively new OHL which had been installed for the 1987 inaugaration of electric services to London Liverpool Street. The DMC and TBS are seen in Wensum Sidings, Norwich on 6/7/91. Picture by Jerry Glover. Their identities are still unknown. The DMC does not seem to have had a headlamp fitted, and looking at the condition of the underframe / bogies it has been out of use for some time.
21/01/89 - Stourbridge Town, LMR
Collision involving Class 121
Info from Rail 09/03/89 p69
The 23:32 Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town worked by Midline-liveried 55033 failed to stop on arrival at the terminus, demolishing the buffer stop and bus station retaining wall. The vehicle only suffered minor damage, was was taken to Tyseley the next day by 47 296.
1st June 1989 - Reading depot
Derailment involving Class 117
Info from John Baker
51349 derailed after splitting the points at Reading depot.
20/07/89 - Stormstown sidings, Abercynon
Fire involving Class 110 / Class 116 / Class 118
A fire, started by two seven year olds, destroyed five condemned DMU vehicles. They had been stored at Stormstown Sidings near Abercynon to make space at Canton.
26/10/89 - Taplow (near Maidenhead), WR
Derailment involving Class 121
Info from Peter Mullen and Martin Callaghan
A stone train became derailed and a staff passenger DMU struck one of the bogies which had become detached from a derailed wagon and was itself derailed, falling onto its side. More Details.