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:
Cravens class 105 set no. 70 on arrival at Harwich Town station in early April 1980. John Clark.
101 676 is heading for Buxton in June 1994 when photographed between Blackrod and Lostock Junction. John Clark.
A Derby Lightweight at Reedham Junction heading to Norwich Thorpe circa mid-1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A Met-Camm twin in the siding at Keighley as 43924 passes on the Keighley and Worth Valley line. Circa late 1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A Class 101 crosses the Barmouth Bridge, circa early September 1979. The driver's wiper arm looks to be in a bit of a mess. Stuart Mackay Collection.
On This Day:
A Class 104 DMU (M56182 + M50539) arrives into Ridgmont station on 29 October 1981. Brian Daniels.
A Swindon-built DMU formation departs from Sheffield with a Manchester - Cleethorpes service on 29 October 1983. The formation is 52102 + 59827 + 59772 + 52091, three being Class 123 vehicles and the fourth a Class 124 Trans-Pennine. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The former 55024, now 977858 set 960010, seen at Aylesbury Depot on the 29th October 1999. On the right is 977722. Ian Buck.
Now in departmental service the former 55020, now 960002 is seen berthed at Aylesbury depot on the 29th October 1999. Ian Buck.
W51379 heads Pressed Steel built L404 (presumably with 59489 + 51337) away from Paddington past Old Oak Common on an Oxford service, 29th October 1976. Steve Davies Collection.