The History of First Generation DMUs
The Railcar website provides information on the British Railways first generation DMUs (a.k.a. diesel multiple units / railcars) introduced in the 1950s.
The content of this website
The six key sections of the website are:
- Types - looks at each type of DMU in detail
- Topics - features articles on different aspects of the vehicles and personal recollections
- Technology - describes the technical details of how they work
- Data - various lists of numerical details
- Images - galleries featuring DMUs
- In Print - details the books and other printed materials made available over the years that have relevance
Details of railcars in preservation can be found on The Railcar Association website.
Date on DMUs
Vehicle / Set Data
To view details of a particular vehicle or set enter the number below:
DMU Images Wanted!
Do you have photos of First Generation DMUs? The more images we have the better we can tell the DMU story and make it more useful to visitors. Images can be loaded directly onto the site - just register as a user and upload! Alternatively if you have images on flickr or another website I can do the uploads for you - just let me know.
Scope
This website contains details about the First Generation DMUs. This includes the 4-wheel diesel railbuses, ACV / BUT railcars, the Battery Multiple Unit (BMU) and Blue Pullmans. It covers the period from their introduction to British Railways in the 1950s till their withdrawal and disposal from main-line use, but NOT preservation.
Because of the vast amount of data that this covers and the amount of information I have still to process I cannot include the DEMUs introduced on the Southern Region in the same era, nor Second Generation or later types.
Updates
October 24th
Two new operation/timetable pages have been started: Walsall - Dudley; and Glasgow - Ardrossan.
October 10th
Two documents on electrical systems have been added to the Training Manual section, one on Auxiliary Circuits (1.5mb PDF), and one on Alternators (3.3mb PDF).
October 3rd
Added to the headcode pages are four more sections from Western Region working timetables.
September 5th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Sheffield - Doncaster; Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton High Level; Leeds - Barnsley; Glasgow - Hamilton Circle; and Paignton - Exmouth.
August 29th
A look at the Rocket 150 DMU Shuttles for the 1980 event at Rainhill.
August 22nd
Added to the headcode pages are some of those used on the Western Region.
August 15th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: March - Wisbech - Kings Lynn; Liverpool - Gateacre; Leeds - Bradford Forster Square; Edinburgh - Dunbar; and West Drayton - Uxbridge.
August 8th
Added to the document archive is a 1964 Scottish Region Fault Finding booklet.
August 1st
Added to the headcode pages are three more summaries of those used on the Eastern Region from September 1962. Also a Leeds Neville Hill destination blind from circa mid-1960s.
July 25th
Some new operation/timetable pages have been started: Peterborough - Spalding; Nottingham - Sheffield; Darlington / Barnard Castle - Middleton-in-Teesdale; Fife Coast; and Brixham - Churston.
Latest Images:
A Gloucester RCW single car in Suckley station on the Bromyard branch. With set number 108 in the cab window, this is probably W55010. Image taken by Harry Hodgkinson. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 100/105 set 74, presumably E51124 closest, at Saxmundham Junction, Suffolk, with a Lowestoft service sometime in 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
C317, presumably 53911 closest, approaching Barry station with the 17:06 Cathays - Barry Island service on 29 May 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.
No details were on this print, showing an eight-car formation, possibly a full six-car Trans-Pennine with a twin on the rear. The labels in the centre cab window suggests an excursion, the headcode is 1X28. Circa mid-1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A BRC&W triple set seen in the Buxton area circa mid-1960s, possibly on the Millers Dale line. Taken by Harry Hodgkinson. Image 35104 is probably the same set looking the other direction. Stuart Mackay Collection.
On This Day:
Class 117 DMU set L401, presumed 51333/59485/51375, near Wanborough with 11.20 Reading to Gatwick on 31 October 1993. Rob Paterson.
Class 117 DMU set L417, presumed 51354/59506/51396, arriving at Guildford with the 09.20 Reading to Gatwick service on 31 October 1993. Rob Paterson.
Manchester Piccadilly on 31-10-80 contains examples of Class 103, 506, 100 and Swindon Class 124/123, the DMSK closest is 52102. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Class 117 DMU set L420, presumed 51400/59510/51358, at Pound Lane Crossing with the 10.20 Reading to Gatwick on 31 October 1993. Rob Paterson.
The BR organised Witney Wanderer at Witney on 31 October 1970, two days before the Fairford branch closed. It was a nine-car DMU formation, with W51409 from Class 117 set 420 closest. Stanley C Jenkins.