leopardml2341 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Back in the day, surrounded by all the flavours of diesel locomotives, it was always difficult to pay much attention to a DMU, let alone desire one for any kind of lengthy journey. However, secure the front seat (or rear) and you had the best passenger seat on the railway. At worst, you were always in for a fascinating journey and, at best, well ...... there were some really quite spectacular long journeys available. Birmingham - Norwich, for some years, was a DMU, obviously most of the Welsh railways and who could forget Nottingham to Skegness from the front seat. In the 1960s the Settle - Carlisle could be done in a DMU as well. Then just think of all those Beeching closures that were DMU operated, there was the Stainmore route, Scarborough - Whitby, the list seems endless, and all possible from the front seat. Agreed - this from Shrewsbury to Swansea, simply because I could - Aug '91 iirc 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I did the Settle to Carlisle (from Carlisle) in a Cravens DMU in the late 80s on a Railrover. The Cravens was on the rear so I got the rearmost seat and had the coach to myself, it was almost like having a personal observation car. Great fun, worth getting tinnitus and Vibration White Bum just for the views. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Back in the day, surrounded by all the flavours of diesel locomotives, it was always difficult to pay much attention to a DMU, let alone desire one for any kind of lengthy journey. However, secure the front seat (or rear) and you had the best passenger seat on the railway. At worst, you were always in for a fascinating journey and, at best, well ...... there were some really quite spectacular long journeys available. Birmingham - Norwich, for some years, was a DMU, obviously most of the Welsh railways and who could forget Nottingham to Skegness from the front seat. In the 1960s the Settle - Carlisle could be done in a DMU as well. Then just think of all those Beeching closures that were DMU operated, there was the Stainmore route, Scarborough - Whitby, the list seems endless, and all possible from the front seat. Unless the driver had pulled the blinds down, then the front seat was not much fun. I'm afraid that during my time in Lincs, all the through Nottingham to Skegness services were loco and coaches. Stopping trains from Nottingham tended to terminate (or reverse) at Grantham, and if the seat at the front had the view at first, a quick dash to the other end of a class 114 would find the first class section in the way, (and I never had the nerve to sit in there with only a 2nd class cheap day return). Before the E Lincs line closed, virtually all of the Grantham services in that direction terminated at Boston, and for much of the time another change would be necessary at Firsby as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 The miserable drivers on the Aylesbury to Marylebone in the sixties always pulled the blinds down so never saw a damn thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iankirby Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 The miserable drivers on the Aylesbury to Marylebone in the sixties always pulled the blinds down so never saw a damn thing. A tradition which lingered on into the 1980s and NSE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Agreed - this from Shrewsbury to Swansea, simply because I could - Aug '91 iirc Did that in 83 on the overnight train that ran Shrewsbury - Swansea - the guard turned the lights out / found out where everybody wanted to get off so nobody over carried etc. - a real atmospheric journey - Swansea at the crack of dawn ready for some Crompton haulage into West Wales - brilliant !!! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Just found this nice to see the unsung hero's of the railways with its own thread some nice pictures please keep them coming Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted August 8, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8, 2016 Hi. Here is a class 114 and a class 101 in multiple at Beverley on 9th, May, 1987. This was a service from Bridlington to Hull at 14.00. Regards, Rob. 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Buxton sets...... 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SHMD Posted August 8, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8, 2016 Are you sure that last one is at Blackpool?... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) Here are two views at Helsby. First two 2 car class 101 Met-Cam sets, the rear set in refurbished livery Class 101 Met-Cam DMUs 51184, 56342, and 51182, 56341 at Helsby 23/3/82 Then a 2 car class 103 set 56159 and 50399 wait at Helsby to form the 13.58 to Rock Ferry 23/3/82 cheers Edited August 8, 2016 by Rivercider 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Are you sure that last one is at Blackpool?... Gare du Nord 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted August 8, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8, 2016 Buxton sets...... App0637a.jpg App0600a.jpg App0669.jpg Hi, Thomas. The first 3 car set has a class 104 TSL. You can tell from the higher positioning of the windows on the body sides, and the body profile. Also the roof is a bit different from the class 108 cars. Regards, Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted August 8, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) I was never interested in bug units, so have very few photos of them. Here's one at Ilkley. Here's another at Ilkley. Here's one between Nelson & Brierfield - on the Hard Platts for those that are local. I'm not sure where this one is, other than it is from the footplate of a Class 87. Edit: The inimitable Mr Bullock has identified this as Wigan North Western - southbound. Here's one at York, but it really was an incidental component of the photo. Dare I say that this was about the only dmu that interested me? That's about it for my collection of DMUs. Edit: I've just found another one at Nelson, heading for Preston, I think. And another heading for Colne Edited August 9, 2016 by 96701 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bingley hall Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 (edited) A couple of Class 117 shots at Paddington - the first taken sometime in 1977 and the second from February 1989 Edited August 9, 2016 by bingley hall 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bingley hall Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Is that the Cravens / Gloucester hybrid unit that used to regularly work the Stockport - Stalybridge service? If so then I was a regular user of that unit. It was later replaced by a bubble car which, at peak periods, struggled to accommodate all the passengers. This was then replaced by the "parliamentary" when loco hauled services ceased (via Man. Vic) and were replaced by 2nd generation DMUs via Man Picc thus allowing direct connection with the London trains. (I stopped all train interest, (and use), because of this for the next 15 years!) I've been searching for photos of the Stockport - Stalybridge service ever since! Kev. A couple of shots of the 0826hrs Stockport to Stalybridge service and return taken on 2 November 1983 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted August 9, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 9, 2016 Isnt that UID location shot in post 114 southbound at Wigan? Re drivers pulling the blinds down....was on a 116 at BNS to come back to Worcester one evening in 1969 in pole position behind the cab ready for the scenic trip home. The driver got in and pulled the blinds down ... and saw the look of utter disgust on my face. A moment later the door from the cab in to the saloon opens and he looks at me and says "If you want to see where we are going sonny you had better come in here with me". No second bidding required! Second mans seat all the way.Thereafter M50079 was always a very special boggo to me.... Phil 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 08221 Posted August 9, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 9, 2016 Isnt that UID location shot in post 114 southbound at Wigan? Re drivers pulling the blinds down....was on a 116 at BNS to come back to Worcester one evening in 1969 in pole position behind the cab ready for the scenic trip home. The driver got in and pulled the blinds down ... and saw the look of utter disgust on my face. A moment later the door from the cab in to the saloon opens and he looks at me and says "If you want to see where we are going sonny you had better come in here with me". No second bidding required! Second mans seat all the way.Thereafter M50079 was always a very special boggo to me.... Phil I had a similar incident at St Pancras one Saturday afternoon on a class 127 when I was about 8. That cab ride from St Pancras to Mill Hill Broadway will forever be in my memory - happy day 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Isnt that UID location shot in post 114 southbound at Wigan? Re drivers pulling the blinds down....was on a 116 at BNS to come back to Worcester one evening in 1969 in pole position behind the cab ready for the scenic trip home. The driver got in and pulled the blinds down ... and saw the look of utter disgust on my face. A moment later the door from the cab in to the saloon opens and he looks at me and says "If you want to see where we are going sonny you had better come in here with me". No second bidding required! Second mans seat all the way.Thereafter M50079 was always a very special boggo to me.... Phil I also got offered a cab ride after I had ridden a DMU up the valley from Cardiff, and was taking photos while the driver changed ends. I think it was this day at Rhymney, as the driver told me I had better go back into the passenger accomodation just before we reached Bargoed in case the signalling inspector was out doing his rounds. I have good memories of my visits to South Wales back then, and of the friendliness of the staff and locals, Cardiff class 116 set C302 at Rhymney while the traincrew change ends, there are more staff than passengers here, 14/4/81 cheers 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
auld_boot Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 A slightly blurry hybrid set heading towards Cogload Junction from Taunton. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium rab Posted August 9, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 9, 2016 I was never interested in bug units, so have very few photos of them. Here's one at Ilkley. 20150611202056_02.jpg Here's another at Ilkley. 20150611204054_04.jpg Here's one between Nelson & Brierfield - on the Hard Platts for those that are local. 20150611204532_05.jpg I'm not sure where this one is, other than it is from the footplate of a Class 87. 20150611204825_02.jpg Here's one at York, but it really was an incidental component of the photo. 20150612005419_10.jpg Dare I say that this was about the only dmu that interested me? 20150617222637_04.jpg That's about it for my collection of DMUs. Edit: I've just found another one at Nelson, heading for Preston, I think. 20150626215958_07.jpg And another heading for Colne 20150626215958_08.jpg I think the 3rd pic qualifies as a'When the real thing looks like a model' shot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Caught out, red face, SHMD and leopardml2341 were right, well spotted ! correct photo below apologies, Tom 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Caught out, red face, SHMD and leopardml2341 were right, well spotted ! correct photo below apologies, Tom Well done! Another RMweb post that had me chuckling to myself, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Well done! Another RMweb post that had me chuckling to myself, cheers Me too. But did you pick up on the Gare du Nord connection? Paris North Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Here are 3 from 1990 - 51228 59086 53243 at Edinburgh Waverley on 24th April 51496 53054 near Norton Bridge on 30th July 53621 54201 approaching Cardiff Central on 3rd September 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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