• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Anyone remember these in the 1950s

Bernard67Arnold said:
Anyone remember these railcars from the 50s, they were made in Derby Bernard
Click to expand...
Hi Bernard, I remember them, always wanted to travel on one but never did, having just finished N/S circa 1949, i had done a lot of travelling on steam powered engine trains (i like them) i had also been on electric powered trains on the under Mersey River train from Liverpool to New Brighton which were great, any idea what happened to the railcars?. Len.
 
Last edited:
Many of the preserved railways across the country have at least one of these sets, typical of British Railways early post-war modernisation plans. I remember them well from my boyhood train-spotting days, we didn't like them then because they were replacing the steam trains, but now as the years have passed they have a history and attraction of their own. I even went to North Wales to ride them in their last days, Llandudno Junction - Holyhead and back.
 
Yes I can remember these,and similar classes of DMU's.Diesel multiple units,I think they were officially called,though trainspotters at the time scathingly refered to them as 'bog-carts' !
I remember DMU's working on the line from Lichfield,through Sutton Coldfield,to New Street,and they also made a brief appearnce on the 'Sutton Park' line at peak times only.
Some were so unreliable to start with,and at the same time,BR seemed so anxious to scrap as many steam locos as quickly as possible,that it led to a shortage of rolling stock.So much so,BR (in particular the Western Region) had to hire back some steam locos that they had already sent to the scrap yards!
 
The last time I saw one in service was at Harlech on the Welsh Coast Line in the 1970s. I thought they had gone before then , perhaps it had been kept as a reserve.More modern units were in use on the line. My father worked as a guard on DMUs out of Walsall station in the 50s and early 60s. He complained the engine noise gave him headaches. From what I remember the seats and ride were more comfortable than the light weight units they use now, but perhaps thats looking through rose coloured glasses.
 
These trains used to carry me to work every day from Gravelly Hill to New Street Station, where I worked and back again
this would be in l957. I had a free pass.
 
I remember these they were the ones I travelled on to Sutton Coldfield Park in the late 50's, can't remember from which station but I think New St.
 
Hi Bill, I really posted them because they were made in Derby, why the Govenments of the day gave the contracts for new rolling stock to overseas competitors I will
never know, Geoff(Buff) Hoon did it fairly recently, good job he is not standing again, I think he would have lost his seat, we should do the same as other countries
and look after our own workers, I remember a certain Mr Brown say, "British jobs for Brtitish workers ", what a load of rubbish, nough said, Bernard
 
Bernard, I could not agree with you more, Birmingham and the Black Country were famed for manufacturing all sorts of heavy componentry and it all seems such a great shame that the factories and the skills are diminishing at such a frightening rate. Unfortuntely parliament is in London the capital of nothing but money making companies that make profits from nothing tangible and a majority of the baffons we call our "leaders" would not know that a big end bearing looked like if it was to clout them in the mouth.

We here plenty of lip service, but talk is cheap!!

Bill ( Who doesnt really like politicians)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top