What class of Railbus is this?

[Bittern]

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=28749

It saw use on the Speyside railway before closure in the 60s.

Thanks.

 

[O L Leigh]

These early Railbuses never lasted long enough to get a TOPS classification. However, 79971 was an AEC/Park Royal railbus introduced as one of a batch of five vehicles used on the Midland and Scottish Regions lasting for ten years from 1958. None survived into preservation.

O L Leigh

 

[Oswyntail]

IIRC, this class was the subject of an early Airfix kit! Why they chose such an obscure model, who knows - but it was actually quite good looking.

 

[route:oxford]

Looks good.

I'd definitely be wanting to sit on that front seat.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

These early Railbuses never lasted long enough to get a TOPS classification. However, 79971 was an AEC/Park Royal railbus introduced as one of a batch of five vehicles used on the Midland and Scottish Regions lasting for ten years from 1958. None survived into preservation.

O L Leigh

There was an almost identical batch built in Germany, of which at least one - I think 79979 - survives; I bashed it on the KESR back in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

 

[gordonthemoron]

aren't there similar railbus(es) on KWVR?

 

[Oracle]

Waggon und Maschinenbau... I drove one on the North Norfolk Railway back in '79. 79964 is the one on the KWVR.

 

[Bittern]

Were there ever any models made of these?

 

[Oswyntail]

Were there ever any models made of these?

IIRC, this class was the subject of an early Airfix kit! Why they chose such an obscure model, who knows - but it was actually quite good looking.

...and quite easy to motorise. But very hard to justify on a layout unless modelling some very specific areas.

 

[matchmaker]

Another photo from the same site

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=27554

 

[YorkshireBear]

aren't there similar railbus(es) on KWVR?

yes they have 2. I volunteer there so use it regularly, during winter it is the DMU of choice and runs 90% of diesel services. Fun to ride on definitely!

The front seat is good fun too. The do bounce around alot, when im trackside and they come past you can see them bounce on our jointed track

funny little things they are

well worth a ride though

 

[O L Leigh]

Most of the surviving Railbuses are the German-built Waggon und Machinenbau type, which is also the basis of the old Dapol/Airfix model. Wiki lists two each for the NNR and KWVR, though this could be wrong.

The remaining survivors are two AC Cars types (one each at the CVR and GCR) and two of the three departmental railbuses, a Wickham high-speed track recording unit "Elliot" and a Drewery OLE inspection trolley.

Another photo from the same site

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=27554

That one is a Wickham Railbus.

O L Leigh

 

[bnsf734]

Were there ever any models made of these?

Heljan are producing OO scale RTR models of all 4 types of these Railbuses and they should be released soon. Yours for £88 from Hattons (other dealers are available....)

Just the thing for a 3' long layout!

Calv

 

[Ploughman]

W79978 was once on the NYMR in the 70s running services. Also used by the PW for getting to sites in the closed season.

 

[colpepper]

Even the most diminutive of early railbuses had a guards compartment for the carriage of bikes, etc. Today's stock has 'no room' for a bike :roll:

 

[MCR247]

Even the most diminutive of early railbuses had a guards compartment for the carriage of bikes, etc. Today's stock has 'no room' for a bike :roll:

Yes they do?

 

[colpepper]

Yes they do?

Well yes and no. The restrictions for long distance travel with a bike are labyrinthine and contain a large element of pot luck. Most certainly don't have a guard's van/mail area to put your bike in like those old railbuses did. The bike generally occupies some kind of passenger space if it's allowed at all.