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:
Alloa on 18 October 1969 and Metro Cammell No SC51467 has just arrived after crossing the swing bridge from Throsk, as part of a railtour organised by the Rail Society of Scotland. The train then reversed and headed for Stirling. Colin Kirkwood.
SC51467 has arrived at Calder on the Rail Society of Scotland's railtour on 18 October 1969. The single line which is heading eastward was originally part of the Caley line to Airdrie, which used to be double track. The viaduct at Sheepford can be seen in the background. Colin Kirkwood.
Elderslie station is starting to be demolished as a Class 126 Swindon DMU with headcode 1P34 heads through with a train for Ayr. Photo probably taken in early 1968. Colin Kirkwood.
A wet afternoon at Arkleston Junction on 22 May 1966 as Metro Cammell unit SC51470 picks its way cautiously through the revised layout and on to the up (no longer fast or slow) line while en route to Glasgow Central. Some final tuning of the lines would appear to be necessary. Colin Kirkwood.
A Metro Cammell DMU is on the 'fly under' at Elderslie No 2 Junction and is passing under the main line from Glasgow to Ayr. The date is 6 July 1965 and it is on its way to Kilmacolm. Colin Kirkwood.
On This Day:
Class 121 DMU W55033 in Bristol Temple Meads on Severn Beach duties on 10 October 1979. David Russon.
A couple of Derby suburban triple DMUs wait in Cardiff station with a Barry Island service. The KDH Archive.
E51841 and E52075 at Ilkley on 10/10/85. Malcolm Clements.
A 2 car DMU (53646 + 53247) on the 11.35 Worcester to Taunton on 10th October 1990 is signalled to take the line to Abbotswood at Norton Junction. Dave Gommersall.
E51841 at Ilkley on 10/10/85. Malcolm Clements.