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 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.
July 18th
New in the document archive are the Job Desciptions from Issue 3 of Standard Maintenance Instructions, the 1970s version of maintenance instructions.
July 11th
Added to the headcode pages are some of those used on the Eastern Region.
Latest Images:
On a very wet 03/01/1983 117 444 awaits departure from Kilmacolm with a train for Glasgow Central. This was the last week of services with the branch closing as from 10/01/1983. John Clark.
Despite what was displayed on the destination blind the 116 waiting at the then recently opened platform 3 at Gospel Oak on 03/06/1981 was about to form an all stations working to Barking. John Clark.
Class 120 DMSL W50649 in Llandrindod Wells station, circa early 1970. Image taken by Harry Hodgkinson. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A 119/103 hybrid DMU, thought to be Chester allocated 51057 and 56158, with a refurbished 108 on rear. Taken at Crewe circa 1977 or 1978. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 DMU set L423, W51403 leading, enters Staines station with the Staines West Rarewell special on 24 January 1981. Stuart Mackay Collection.
On This Day:
The department in Rail House at Manchester that used to be responsible for day excursions came up with the brilliant idea of an overnight trip to Penzance and an overnight trip home! Corridor stock and enough room to get some kip! Mr Heyl and myself got a day return to Plymouth and stopped off at Truro to do the Falmouth branch. This is how it was... Arnie Furniss.
A Class 114 set on the RCTS / REC "Doncaster Decoy" tour seen at Doncaster Junction (HB&GC Joint) on 5/10/68. Closest is 50014, thought to be with 56014. John Law.
51677 and 51675 at Princes Risborough. On 5 October 1984, the 07.46 Marylebone to Banbury hit a cow between Princes Risborough and Bicester. Fortunately no-one was hurt, but the dmu sustained damage to its front end and had to be rescued by another unit which dragged it back to Risborough. It is seen here running round the rescued dmu. Robert28194.
A Swindon-built class 120 set (which seems to be Etches Park set EP573) on the through lines at Oxford, heading for London with a football special (as my notes say), on 5 October 1974. Kevin Lane.
A Class 114 set on the RCTS / REC "Doncaster Decoy" tour seen at Doncaster York Road on 5/10/68. Closest is 50014, thought to be with 56014. Departure seems to be imminent, with passengers running towards the train. John Law.