Heritage lines that use DMUs

[DarloRich]

The answer is most of them lol

Done Wensleydale dmu trips many times

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes they have DMUs, I think they've got a mixture of 115s and 117s? None that are passed for the mainline unfortunately.

I'm sure they have (had?) a low-density unit too, though I'm not sure what type.

 

[alexl92]

By Train or Car?
Car - M1 / A1 - A64 - Malton A169

Train - to YORK
then choice Train to Malton - Bus Coastliner to Pickering
or Coastliner from outside York Station to Pickering

You're not wrong BUT it's not exactly a day trip. That Yorkshire coastliner journey is no fun if it's busy and even in the car it's a long and tiring drive! I want to go back to the NYMR but it's such a trek even from Leeds. Shame, because it's a great experience.

 

[341o2]

Only if there is problem with the kettle. The DMU's run a shuttle between Norden Park and Ride and Swanage in December for the Santa specials which run out and back from Swanage. Otherwise steam is timetabled all year round apart from Diesel day Events.

Previously, there has been a two train service with one steam and one DMU, DMU's have also run the summer evening services, but this year, presumably as both sets are at Eastliegh the regular service appears to be 100% steam

 

[Cowley]

I'm sure they have (had?) a low-density unit too, though I'm not sure what type.

I seem to remember that you said you lived in Taunton for a bit, is that right? They certainly used to have other units, but I think they've all gone now. They had at least one Park Royal 103, a couple of Gloucester 100s and maybe others too. You probably would have seen those ones back then. I remember some of them carried non standard liveries too and were falling to bits after years in the salty air.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Does the Dartmouth Railway have any DMUs (and if they do, are they cleared for the mainline to Newton Abbot)?

 

[Cowley]

Does the Dartmouth Railway have any DMUs (and if they do, are they cleared for the mainline to Newton Abbot)?

I don't think they've got any DMUs now although they have got a load of ex 116 and 117 centre cars that they use as hauled stock.
I'm pretty sure the only first generation DMUs you'll see on the mainline are the Chiltern ones and when they're running the ones at Swanage.

 

[philthetube]

Not a preserved railway but don't forget the Chiltern Bubble Car until May.

 

[341o2]

Does the Dartmouth Railway have any DMUs (and if they do, are they cleared for the mainline to Newton Abbot)?

Not sure if they have, but almost certain will not be cleared for mainline running.

you have to appreciate the problems encountered with the Swanage railway getting their units up to mainline standards. I am waiting for news, but on a recent visit, one SR member spoke to me with considerable feeling regarding the wheelsets "farce" (his words) and the probability of hiring from NR to enable the Wareham service to run this year

 

[Firesprite]

Not sure if they have, but almost certain will not be cleared for mainline running.

you have to appreciate the problems encountered with the Swanage railway getting their units up to mainline standards. I am waiting for news, but on a recent visit, one SR member spoke to me with considerable feeling regarding the wheelsets "farce" (his words) and the probability of hiring from NR to enable the Wareham service to run this year

I gather that Eastleigh is still waiting for the replacing wheelsets and bearings to arrive from the States and South Africa. Small orders tend to be push to the back of the line, if there is are larger orders.

Who knows Chiltern's may loan it's Class 121 "bubble car" units to the Swanage Railway after they end their service on Chiltern Railways.
Or even a Class 230 may turn up, Who knows.

 

[Dai Corner]

The Dean Forest Railway have a DMU as well as a kettle in service on most Wednesdays.

On Wednesday just gone we were treated to a reversal at the ground frame just beyond Norchard (I forget its name) on the 1505 Parkend to Norchard Low Level. I'm not sure whether this is a normal feature of this year's timetable - nor were the train crew!

 

[Cowley]

I gather that Eastleigh is still waiting for the replacing wheelsets and bearings to arrive from the States and South Africa. Small orders tend to be push to the back of the line, if there is are larger orders.

Who knows Chiltern's may loan it's Class 121 "bubble car" units to the Swanage Railway after they end their service on Chiltern Railways.
Or even a Class 230 may turn up, Who knows.

That's interesting, not a bad point about the Chiltern units going to Swanage either, mainline ready etc.
It'll be great when Swanage do finally get them running, I'll enjoy having a trip over the new extended railway when it's all set up.

 

[341o2]

I gather that Eastleigh is still waiting for the replacing wheelsets and bearings to arrive from the States and South Africa. Small orders tend to be push to the back of the line, if there is are larger orders.

Who knows Chiltern's may loan it's Class 121 "bubble car" units to the Swanage Railway after they end their service on Chiltern Railways.
Or even a Class 230 may turn up, Who knows.

the way things are going, I would suggest, seriously, that the SR launch it's own deviation in the spirit of Ffestiniog to return to Wareham

 

[xc170]

You're not wrong BUT it's not exactly a day trip. That Yorkshire coastliner journey is no fun if it's busy and even in the car it's a long and tiring drive! I want to go back to the NYMR but it's such a trek even from Leeds. Shame, because it's a great experience.

True, I'd be travelling from Tamworth so I'd have to get to York first, plenty of trains but the buses aren't that frequent from York to Pickering.

After posting my original post about the NYMR being hard to get to, I remembered I'm in Scarborough for a week in July so I'll try to fit it in then.

 

[Dryce]

There are even some second generation Pacer DMUs used on Heritage Railways.

140 001 - Keith & Dufftown Railway

The 140 at the K&DR is static and certainly when I was last there was looking rather forlorn.

 

[aylesbury]

Chinnnor and Risborough has a 121 it is used on a wild life safari trip with a guide spotting the abundant wild life along the line.Sometimes it used on a service but not often.

 

[xc170]

The 140 at the K&DR is static and certainly when I was last there was looking rather forlorn.

Saw a video of the K&DR on youtube that had some footage of the 140, inside and out, I wouldn't say it's in preservation, more "dumped and forgotten about"

 

[Zamracene749]

Avon Valley railway often use a class107 DMU interworked with steam on their running days

 

[satisnek]

The Llangollen Railway DMU gala is the one to go for - it's a couple of weeks earlier this year on the weekend of 3/4 June. Their Class 109 is a stunner!

 

[paul1609]

You're not wrong BUT it's not exactly a day trip. That Yorkshire coastliner journey is no fun if it's busy and even in the car it's a long and tiring drive! I want to go back to the NYMR but it's such a trek even from Leeds. Shame, because it's a great experience.

I regularly do day trips to the NYMR from Ashford International and usually manage a couple of hours in Whitby. The bus from Malton to Pickering takes 22 mins its hardly an endurance test and a brilliant day out.

 

[xc170]

I regularly do day trips to the NYMR from Ashford International and usually manage a couple of hours in Whitby. The bus from Malton to Pickering takes 22 mins its hardly an endurance test and a brilliant day out.

Just checked the timetable for the bus and I was mistaken, I thought the only buses were the Coastliner from Leeds - Whitby, tha can't really be described as frequent, I didn't know they also ran short trips between Malton and Thornton-Le-Dale, so there is actually more buses than I thought...

 

[Train wasp]

Evening

Visited the Ecclesbourne valley railway recently and it's got me interested in older 1st gen DMUs, can any of you reccomend other preserved lines that run services with DMUs?

Just been looking into the NYMR but it looks a pain to get to from the Midlands...

Thanks!

I found this web site on another forum today. It maybe of some use to you.

http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/home.html

 

[D6975]

I seem to remember that you said you lived in Taunton for a bit, is that right? They certainly used to have other units, but I think they've all gone now. They had at least one Park Royal 103, a couple of Gloucester 100s and maybe others too. You probably would have seen those ones back then. I remember some of them carried non standard liveries too and were falling to bits after years in the salty air.

I visited the WSR back in Sept 1989 and the last train of the day back to Bishops Lydeard was formed of:
W51118 W56097 W50414 W56168
I'd spent most of the day behind 92220 and 53808. The DMU was the last train we did back to my friend's car.

 

[The Lad]

Class 121 bubble 55032 was running on the Wensleydale on Saturday crewed by brothers and runs most off peak weekends. NYMR 3 Car class 101 runs w/c 3/4, 24/4 and 2/5 but not planned then until end September. East Lancs runs DMUs midweek in summer and some other times and will host the DMU convention in November. Check out websites.

 

[83G/84D]

The South Devon Railway have a bubble car that is used fairly regularly.

 

[Firesprite]

Update on Swanage's DMU's, Work on them at Eastleigh Works will not be completed before the end of the year due to the long delays with the wheelsets and bearings that have been ordered from the States and South Africa. As main line trial must start this year, Swanage is currently seeking replacements to run the trial service this year.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Update on Swanage's DMU's, Work on them at Eastleigh Works will not be completed before the end of the year due to the long delays with the wheelsets and bearings that have been ordered from the States and South Africa. As main line trial must start this year, Swanage is currently seeking replacements to run the trial service this year.

Would Chiltern's bubble cars be a viable possibility?

 

[marky7890]

The Bodmin & Wenford railway has a Class 108.

 

[DelW]

I seem to remember that you said you lived in Taunton for a bit, is that right? They certainly used to have other units, but I think they've all gone now. They had at least one Park Royal 103, a couple of Gloucester 100s and maybe others too. You probably would have seen those ones back then. I remember some of them carried non standard liveries too and were falling to bits after years in the salty air.

The Park Royal unit was sold to the Diesel & Electric Group at Williton when WSR needed cash (probably around 20 years ago now). It was partially restored under their ownership, then sold to the Helston restoration group.