Spa Valley Railway

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email spavalleyrailway@email.com

(Photo J. Nye)

BR Class 101 DMMU Trailer Car (DTC)
No. 54408

Metro Cammell - Built 1958
Metro Cammell, England
Weight -

This coach is a class 101 Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit (DMMU) Driving Trailer Car (DTC). It was built by Metro Cammell as part of an order (3A) for 30 Power Trailer 2 car DMMU's. The unit was ordered on 7th May 1957, and delivered to BR Scottish Region in July 1958. On delivery, the new unit was allocated to shed 62B. It was mainly used for local workings around Dundee, replacing steam locomotives, although it was fairly common especially in the early days for 8 car formations to be used on long distance specials to places such as Stranraer and Glasgow.

Driving Trailer 54408 originally carried number 56408, and as built had 53 second class seats and 12 First class seats. During the 80's the coach was renumbered to it's present number to avoid confusion with the newly delivered class 56 diesel locomotives. It also lost it's first class seating in favour of further standard seating, increasing capacity to 72 seats. At this time the unit was allocated to Heaton Depot (Leeds).
By 1998 the unit was working for Regional Railways, with a unit number of 101654, and based at Longsight Depot (Manchester).

The unit was eventually withdrawn from service in 2003, and following a period of store at MOD Shoeburyness, DTC 54408 was purchased for preservation arriving at Tunbridge Wells in early 2004. The coach is being repainted, and will primarily be used as an observation car on one of our loco hauled trains, although it will also be possible to operate it with our Class 115 DMMU power cars if required.

Livery - Malachite Green

Current Status - Undergoing Repaint

Above:- 54408 as part of unit 101 564 stands at Manchester Piccadilly - Photo J. Nye

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