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Driving a DMU


In the 1950s British Transport Films produced a series of films about driving DMUs, and also about fault finding which is very important knowledge for a driver if something goes wrong.

These films can be found on YouTube:
The Diesel Train Driver - An Introduction To The Diesel Train
The Diesel Train Driver - Driving The Train
The Diesel Train Driver - Dealing With Faults
The Diesel Train Driver - Operational Requirements

Another interesting BTF film (this one in colour!):
Diesel Trainride

Also produced by BTF was a filmstrip on the Coupling Procedure for DMUs.

The following pages contain notes supplied by Stan Acaster (Dean Forest DMU Group) and were compiled using extracts from: 'Questions and Answers on Multiple Unit Diesels' by S.E. Webb, The British United Traction Ltd., Service Manual for 'A' Type and 'L' Type Units by B.U.T. and the Service Manual for the R14 4-speed gearbox by Self-Changing Gears Ltd.
Preparation and Basic Technique
General Information that a Driver SHOULD Know
Some Do's Dont's and Remembers
What do I do if...?
Fault Finding
Effects of Jumpers Becoming Disconnected

Driving a mechanical transmission DMU meant changing gears, those that had hydraulic transmission didn't (unless they were coupled to a mechanical DMU).