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Why not join us?
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Dean Forest DMU Group
If you would like to receive updates on the progress of our DMUs then why not join our Group.
We publish a comprehensive newsletter three times a year, and issue our own membership cards. In addition, as a member you can further support us by purchasing shares in our DMUs, helping towards restoration, and you will become the proud owner of one of our share certificates.
Finally, if we can persuade you to actually help in restoration (please help !) - you will be welcomed with open arms, and a friendly atmosphere. Active membership of the group requires current membership of the Dean Forest Railway in addition. Click here for more information.
Dean Forest DMU Group membership fees annually (January 1st to December 31st) are:
Adult £5.00; Child under 16, Senior Citizen £2.50; Family £10.00
Please send cheque, payable to DEAN FOREST DMU to:
Peter Collins, Membership Secretary, Dean Forest DMU Group,16 Bewley Way, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 2DU
We look forward to seeing you !
For further information please email us.
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Railcar / Diesel Multiple Unit owners' organisation site, with links and information about all Railcar / DMUs in UK preservation
LINK BACK TO LOCOS PAGE
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Diesel Railcars - DMUs
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What is a DMU?
DMU stands for Diesel Multiple Unit, which is basically a self powered railway carriage or a number of carriages, ie: ‘multiple’. Made up with a driving cab at both ends the driver can simply walk the length of the train, setting off in only a matter of minutes to travel in the other direction.
Railcars
DMUs are direct descendants of the earlier ‘Diesel Railcars’ - single carriage, powered vehicles, which appeared in 1933 on the Great Western Railway. 38 ‘Railcars’ were built, carrying passengers and mail. As the Railcar was so successful the early DMUs were based on the same lines, but made with the added flexibility of ‘multiple’ operation allowing anything up to 6 powered and 6 unpowered vehicles, to be coupled together to make up to a 12 car DMU train.
DMUs were first introduced in 1954 just before the British Rail Modernisation Plan in 1955 which quickly led to large numbers of DMUs being built by B.R. Workshops and outside commercial builders.
Seeing the way ahead
Well accepted by drivers and passengers alike; never before had rail travel been so clean and efficient. Above all, passengers could see the way directly ahead, or behind depending upon which end they sat. The front seats were always the most sought after, by excited children and no doubt adults alike. Whether bound for school, on a shopping trip with mum or on a family holiday to the seaside these new DMUs created many a fond memory.
Bringing life back to the branchlines
Being clean, speedy, efficient and flexible, DMUs brought life back to most Branch Lines as they encouraged many more people to travel by rail. They fulfilled the modern railway transport needs of the 1950s and 1960s and a few of the earlier DMUs continue to work even now, far beyond their planned lifetime.
What kinds are there?
More than 20 types or sub-types were made, falling into five main categories:
- Single Car Units for passenger and parcels use (like the old Railcar)
- 2 and 3 car Rural and Inter Urban units
- 3 and 4 car Suburban units
- 3 car Cross Country units
- Inter City and Trans-Pennine Units
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Preserving Diesel Multiple Units
A number of DMUs have been bought from British Rail by private groups throughout the country to be preserved. Part of the British railway heritage, these vehicles deserve to be saved for future generations, just as steam locomotives have. Also, just like steam, most of the early DMUs have been scrapped, never to be seen again. It is only through the enthusiasm and hard work of these 'mad and crazy' people that examples of the first DMUs still exist today!
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Technical & Service Details
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Class 108 DMUs
E50619, M56495, M51914, M56492
The Dean Forest DMU Group was formed to purchase vehicle numbers E50619 and M56492, which arrived at the Dean Forest Railway on the 20th April 1992. Known as Class 108, our DMUs are early examples of diesel rail vehicles built at the B.R. Derby Works between 1958 and 1960 to a ‘lightweight’ design which provided a better engine power to weight ratio than the ‘heavyweight’ design of DMU.
M51914, Power Car
M51914, a power car built in 1960, was purchased in 1994 by the Chairman of our Group from Bletchley Traction Depot. After years of hard work replacing the many missing parts, rewiring the electrics, completely refurbishing the passenger compartment and giving it a shiny new coat, the unit is back in operational service as the new partner to the trailer car M56492. This pairing of power and trailer car proved very reliable in running during 2004, operating on every one of the 90 days.
This power car has had the original engine fire-extinguisher systems exchanged for an approved modern alternative.
M56492, Trailer Car
M56492 had a new buffet counter installed in 2004 to improve our on-train catering service. The internal refurbishment before the 2004 season has meant this unit has been looking very smart. Despite not having had an external paint since 1998 the outside is still looking very good. This unit has had it's bogies swapped with a refurbished pair that originally came off our M56495 trailer car.
E50619, Power Car
The power car E50619 was built in 1958, and trailer car (unpowered) M56492 was built in 1960. They were joined for the first time at Bristol in 1988 as '53619 and 54492 pairing B967 and then split later that year, only to be moved to and reunited at the Bath Road Depot in Bristol as a unit numbered B962. They were last used in an Emergency Services exercise in November 1991, finally being stored as damaged and out of service. It was because of this we came to buy them, saving another two heritage DMU cars from the scrap heap.
After several years of service, E50619 has been out of traffic during 2004, with further restoration and engine work taking place. It did see service on the 1940s Weekend in September to provide extra seating capacity. In the run-up to getting back into service jobs included the fuel pump refurbishment and swap over, alternator repair, sorting out the batteries and coolant system, throttle controller repair, No2 gear not selecting, fuelling up, etc etc. Electric radiator fans were fitted to replace the old belt-driven ones. Additionally the original engine fire-extinguisher systems have been exchanged for an approved modern alternative.
M56495, Trailer Car
M56495, a trailer car built in the same batch as M56492 in 1960, was purchased in 1999. The unit arrived from the Northampton & Lamport Railway, for whom it was surplus to requirements, but to us was exactly what we needed to ensure that we had a standby set to use in times of failure or to couple all our units together to form a full 4 car set for busy days and special events.
At this time progress is slow on restoration of M56495 with so much work on the other units required and the full season of train operations. The cab is slowly being restored, and this unit has had it's bogies swapped out and sent away to Butterley for refurbishment.
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