DMU Railtours
DMUs were surprisingly popular on railtours, particularly those that focused on the line travelled and not the motive power, as DMUs allowed access to many routes that a conventional loco-hauled tour couldn't easily manage.
This is not a definitive list of DMU railtours, simply a gallery of some of those tours. For a more detailed railtour site see the Six Bells Junction website.
Details of the regular "Quaintonian" trains that ran to the Buckingham Railway Centre have their own pages.
If you have any photographs that could be added here please get in touch.
1970 - 1974
7th March 1970 - The East Anglian
A M. & G.N.J.R.S. tour from Stratford using a 3-car Class 111.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Felixstowe Town. Leslie Foster.
11th April 1970 - Thames & Cherwell Rail Tour
An RCTS tour using a three-car Class 101 (Tyseley set 406) from Birmingham New Street.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Chinnor. Stuart Mackay Collection.
25th April 1970 - Educational Special Numbers 7 & 8
A special organized by Gilks-Grenside using a Blue Pullman from Surbiton to Carmarthen (Special Number 7 - although noted as carrying No.8) to connect with Special Number 8 (a 2-car Class 120 / 3-car Class 119) to tour some Welsh branches.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Seen on the Newcastle Emlyn branch. Steve Davies Collection.
In the Llanpumpsaint area. Steve Davies Collection.
In the Llanpumpsaint area. Steve Davies Collection.
At Llanpumpsaint. Steve Davies Collection.
Seen on the Newcastle Emlyn branch. Steve Davies Collection.
Seen on the Newcastle Emlyn branch. Steve Davies Collection.
Seen on the Newcastle Emlyn branch. Steve Davies Collection.
Seen on the Newcastle Emlyn branch. Steve Davies Collection.
The Class 120 on the rear of the formation as it heads away from the camera at Llanpumpsaint. Steve Davies Collection.
The Class 120 leading at Llanpumpsaint. Steve Davies Collection.
The Class 119 leads the formation into Llanpumpsaint. Steve Davies Collection.
The 119 closest at Pentrecourt. Steve Davies Collection.
2nd May 1970 - The Crigglestone Tour
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield using 51544 + 59532 + 59525 + 51555 visiting locations such as Wincobank Station Jn, Barnsley and Horbury.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
In Sheffield Midland after the tour, 51555 closest. Leonard Rogers.
29th August 1970 - Glasgow South Railtour
A BLS tour which took a 3-car Met-Camm (in mixed livery: DMBS in plain blue with normal yellow end, TC in green, and DMC in plain blue with yellow cab doors) from Glasgow Central around the south Glasgow area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
During the layover at Newton. Stuart Rankin.
Seen in London Road Yard. Stuart Rankin.
During the reversal at Giffen. Stuart Rankin.
Believed to be at Bedlay Colliery Sidings, with the colliery off to the left. Stuart Rankin.
Taken at the Springburn layover. Stuart Rankin.
At Renfrew Wharf. Stuart Rankin.
12th September 1970 - Milk Branches Rail Tour
A Branch Line Society/Wirral Railway Circle tour from Cardiff General using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour at the Derry Ormond stop. Norman Thomas courtesy S V Blencowe collection.
At Derry Ormond. Stuart Mackay Collection.
17th October 1970 - Unnamed
An unnamed Railway Society of Scotland which took a 3-car Met-Camm (in mixed livery: DMBS in plain blue with normal yellow end, TC in green, and DMC in plain blue with yellow cab doors) from Edinburgh Waverley to branches in the Glasgow area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Taken during a stop at Morningside in Lanarkshire. Stuart Rankin.
At Old Kilpatrick, the Erskine Bridge above is still under construction. Stuart Rankin.
The stop at Dalmuir Riverside. Stuart Rankin.
Partick Central. Stuart Rankin.
At Whiteinch (Riverside). Stuart Rankin.
At Yoker Yard. Stuart Rankin.
At Bathgate Lower station. Stuart Rankin.
24th October 1970 - Ouse & Aire Rail Tour
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield utilising 51845 + 59578 + 59048 + 51546 visiting places such as Poppleton, Rowntrees Halt and Pontefract Monkhill.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The train at Rowntree's Halt. Leonard Rogers.
31st October 1970 - The Witney Wanderer
A BR tour from Paddington with a nine-car 117/101 formation.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Witney. Stanley C Jenkins.
27th February 1971 - Somerset Rambler II
A tour organized by the Wirral Railway Circle / Great Western Society that ran from Bristol around Somerset using a Class 120 set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Swindon Town. Stuart Mackay Collection.
27th March 1971 - Somerset Rambler III
A Great Western Society (Bristol Branch) / Wirral Railway Circle tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Class 120.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Merehead Quarry. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd April 1971 - Durham Area Railtour
A Branch Line Society tour from Leeds utilising 50277 + 59532 + 50284, visiting place such as Port Clarence, Pelaw, South Hetton, Ryhope Grange, Seaton-on-Tees and Pesspool.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
E50284 at Port Clarence. Stuart Mackay Collection.
E50277 at Port Clarence. Stuart Mackay Collection.
E50277 at Leamside. Stuart Mackay Collection.
50284 + 59532 + 50277 at Leamside . Stuart Mackay Collection.
50284 + 59532 + 50277 at Leamside . Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Ryhope Grange Junction. Stuart Mackay Collection.
50284 at Leamside. Leonard Rogers.
8th May 1971 - Eastern Valleys
A RCTS tour using a Class 120 set that ran from Bristol Temple Meads to various collieries.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Furnace Sidings, Blaenavon. John Horne Collection.
At Newport Dock Street. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Uskmouth. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15th May 1971 - Tintern Rambler
A Great Western Society / Wirral Railway Circle tour from Cardiff General using a 3-car GRC&W Cross-Country set.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
W51088 probably at College Road yard to the east of Llandaff. Phil Deane Collection.
W51060 + unknown centre car + W51088 at Glascoed. Phil Deane Collection.
Seen at Sudbrook. Phil Deane Collection.
At Parkend, now part of the Dean Forest Railway. Phil Deane Collection.
At Barry Pier. Norman Thomas courtesy S V Blencowe collection.
3rd July 1971 - Dulais and Llynfi Valleys Railtour
A BLS tour using a Class 116 from Cardiff.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Maesteg Llynfi Junction. The KDH Archive.
Maesteg Llynfi Junction with the DMU at the far end. The KDH Archive.
The DMU at Bridgend. The KDH Archive.
The stop at Morriston. The KDH Archive.
At Craig-y-Nos Quarry. The KDH Archive.
Passing Brynteg near Seven Sisters. Hugh Llewelyn.
Passing Brynteg near Seven Sisters. Hugh Llewelyn.
At Bridgend. Doug Nicholls.
16th October 1971 - Edinburgh Railtour
A Railway Society of Scotland tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a three-car Class 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Leith South. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Leith East goods station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd October 1971 - Wellbeck Railtour
A Branch Line Society Tour from Sheffield using a four-car Met-Camm and a two-car Class 114.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Wellbeck Colliery. The KDH Archive.
At Lincoln. The KDH Archive.
At Lincoln. The KDH Archive.
At Lincoln. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A view from the tour on the curve between Boultham Junction and West Holmes Junction to the west of Lincoln, looking north east. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Wellbeck Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th November 1971 - Boomerang No1
Organised by 'Rail Tours Syndicate" taking a Class 104 from London Liverpool Street around London.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Kensington Olympia. John Law.
Awaiting departure at Liverpool Street. John Law.
13th November 1971 - Berkshire Rambler
A Wirral Railway Circle / Great Western Society tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Class 119 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Morris Cowley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At Reading Low Level Goods. Stuart Mackay Collection.
5th February 1972 - Farewell to Caernarvon
A Wirral Railway Circle / North Wales Railway Circle from Crewe using a six-car DMU formation: a 103 DTC (56159) / 101 DMBS hybrid, 101 DTC / 108 DMBS hybrid, and two-car 101.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Arriving at Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
At Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
At Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
At Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
Ready to leave Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
Leaving Caernarvon. The KDH Archive.
4th March 1972 - John Peel
A SRPS tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a three-car Class 101. It would be added to the service train on the last train to Keswick. The Six Bells Junction website notes the DMU failed on the way back to Scotland and was rescued by loco 5397.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Attached to the rear of the 12.10 Penrith to Keswick service between Threlkeld and Low Brierly Halt. The KDH Archive.
On the 13.15 Keswick-Penrith at Threlkeld. The KDH Archive.
Attached to the 14.15 Penrith to Keswick service at Threlkeld. The KDH Archive.
The 15.30 Keswick to Penrith service thought to be at Threlkeld. The KDH Archive.
Arriving into Keswick. George Woods.
At Penrith. George Woods.
18th March 1972 - Rhymney Rail Tour
An RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using Swindon (B560) and GRC&W Cross-Country sets, at times hauled by locos.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Nantgawr. The KDH Archive.
At Ocean and Taff Merthyr Colliery. The KDH Archive.
At Nelson and Llancaiach. The KDH Archive.
At Nelson and Llancaiach. The KDH Archive.
At Bargoed with D6998 on the front/ The KDH Archive.
D6998 with the failed DMU at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.
D6998 with the failed DMU at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.
D6998 with the failed DMU at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.
At Nelson and Llancaiach. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15th April 1972 - Kesteven Ironstone Branches Rail Tour
A RCTS tour from Grantham using a two-car Class 105.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Stainby Sidings. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15/04/72 - Unknown
A Wirral Railway Circle tour using a two-car Class 108 DMU, its route included iverpool Central to Gateacre service, this was the last day of that service.
At Helsby. Stuart Mackay Collection.
16th April 1972 - The Somerset Quarryman
A LCGB tour from London Paddington using Class 123 set L713.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At the old Swindon Town (M&SWJR) station. John Law.
Negotiating the SDJR - GWR connection at Radstock. John Law.
At Cranmore. John Law.
At Merehead. John Law.
At Ludgershall. John Law.
At Andover, 52093 closest. John Law.
At Ludgershall. John Law.
29th April 1972 - Sospan Fach Rail Tour
Organized by the Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society, the tour took Class 120 set C500 from Gloucester to Abernant Colliery.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At the entrance to Abernant Colliery. Walter Burt.
22nd July 1972 - Glamorgan Railtour
A BLS tour from Cardiff using a three-car Class 116 (set 353).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Tondu. Stuart Davies Collection.
At Tondu. Stuart Davies Collection.
At Tondu. Stuart Davies Collection.
At Bridgend and Coity Goods. Stuart Mackay Collection.
26th August 1972 - Forth Man Railtour
A Branch Line Society tour from Edinburgh Waverley using a two-car Met-Camm and a two-car GRCW set. It visited places such as Throsk, Fouldubs Junction and Limpetness.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The stop at Limpetness. Stuart Mackay Collection.
09/09/72 - Taff Vale Tour
A Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society tour from Gloucester using Class 118 set B468.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Lady Windsor Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
14th October 1972 - Rhymney Railtour No.2
A RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using two Class 119 sets (B576 & B580).
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Pengam. Stuart Mackay Collection.
At McClaren Colliery. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th October 1972 - The Master Collier
A Branch Line Society tour from Sheffield using a four-car Class 104 DMU.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
Location unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.
9/12/72 - Heart of Wales Land Cruise
A Wirral Railway Circle tour from Crewe loco-hauled to Carmarthen where the participants transferred to two Class 116s.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Newcastle Emlyn. Doug Nicholls.
7th April 1973 - Speyside Express
A Strathspey Railway Association tour that involved a Class 101 running from Edinburgh to Aviemore then operating the first passenger services on the Strathspey Line to Boat of Garten since 1965.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Aviemore, where the Strathspey line splits from the BR line. John McIntyre.
At the final destination, Boat of Garten. John McIntyre.
26th May 1973 - Buchan and Mearns
A SLS / SRA tour with a 3-car Class 101 that ran from Glasgow to the Brechin / Aberdeen area.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The Class 101 runs through Aberdeen station. John McIntyre.
The tour is piped into Aberdeen Waterloo station. It had ceased to be a passenger station over 100 years earlier but had continued as a freight depot. John McIntyre.
In Aberdeen Waterloo station. John McIntyre.
7th July 1973 - South Wales Wanderer
A Branch Line Society tour from Cardiff Central using Class 116 set C338.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Barry. Doug Nicholls.
25th August 1973 - S&D Railtour
The BLS 'S&D Railtour' started in Edinburgh Waverley and ran to different branches in Central Scotland.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
The tour at Dunfermline Townhill SSEB, 50342 closest. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd November 1973 - Lambourn Valley Farewell
This was four separate return trips from Newbury (at 09:45, 11:40, 13:40 and 15:40) to Welford Park MOD with different sets used on some trips.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Welford Park. Doug Nicholls.
10th November 1973 - London Branch Lines Tour
A BR Western Region tour that took a ten-car formation (three-car 118, three-car 117 and four-car 117 including 101 centre car) from London Paddington to places such as Morris Cowley.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
W59538 and W51407 During the stop at Morris Cowley. Hamish Stevenson.
51407 at the front during the Morris Cowley. Hamish Stevenson.
6th April 1974 - Ogmore and Llynfi Limited
A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour from Newport using Class 116 DMU set C314.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Llynfi Junction. George Woods.
20th April 1974 - The Devon Rambler
A RCTS tour from Bristol Temple Meads using a Swindon Cross-Country DMU (set B559), with an additional set added for the return from Exeter to Barnstaple.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Meldon Quarry. David Batstone.
At Meeth. David Batstone.
At Heathfield. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1st June 1974 - Buchan Belle
An Angus Railway Group railtour that took a Class 101 power / trailer set 51457 + 56392 from Perth to Fraserburgh.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
51457 + 56392 at Fraserburgh goods yard. John McIntyre.
In platform 8 of Aberdeen station on the return journey from Fraserburgh to Perth. It carries a set number (62) in the cab window. John McIntyre.
At Fraserburgh. Gordon Thomson.
At Fraserburgh. Gordon Thomson.
Maud Junction. Gordon Thomson.
At Maud Junction. Gordon Thomson.
At Strichen. Gordon Thomson.
At Strichen. Gordon Thomson.
At Udny. Gordon Thomson.
At Udny. Gordon Thomson.
At Ellon. Gordon Thomson.
24th August 1974 - Clydesider
A Branch Line Society tour from Glasgow Central using a 101/107/107 hybrid.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Old Kilpatrick. Roger Geach Collection.
22nd September 1974 - Barrow Hill Depot Open Day Shuttle
A shuttle between Chesterfield station and Barrow Hill station (closed to passengers in 1954) for the depot open day.
The tour on Six Bells Junction website.
At Barrow Hill station. Ian Francis.