Railcar Reunion

DMU Group (West Midlands)
based at
Bewdley

on the Severn Valley Railway

Railcar Reunion

The DMU Group (West Midlands) and The Severn Valley Railway successfully hosted the 2010 annual convention of the Railcar Association on 7th, 8th & 9th October 2010. The event was called the Railcar Reunion.

About the Railcar Association

The Railcar Association brings together owners, operators and restorers of the first generation of Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) vehicles, as a forum for discussion, information, and resources. The annual convention event is held on a different preserved line each year..

The SVR last hosted the event in 2004, this was a very special year as it celebrated 50 years since the introduction of these 1st generation DMU’s. It was called Railcar50. This years’ event will be on a smaller scale than Railcar50, but will see visiting units and the normal list of events for members of the Association.

On Saturday afternoon (9th October 2010) the Railcar Association held it’s annual meeting in the Engine House at Highley, with a special private train, laid on from Kidderminster to Highley for the delegates only.

Thursday 7th October 2010

A special day only for Railcar Association members and offered qualified drivers from other DMU groups the opportunity to drive various DMU units along 12½ miles of the Severn Valley line in Shropshire & Worcestershire.
Note that members of the public were not permitted to ride on these trains.

Friday 8th October 2010

Friday was the first public day and all the visiting and the resident DMU’s were put into service along the SVR line. We intended that all visitors to the Severn Valley Railway, particularly DMU and diesel enthusiasts, should have an entertaining and enjoyable time. Note that all services on this day were operated by DMU’s.,

Saturday 9th October 2010

Saturday’s operation was again open to the general public and DMU enthusiasts. On this day there was a mixture of steam and DMU services.

In the evening a selection of DMU vehicles will be coupled together at Kidderminster to form a special Fish & Chip run to Bridgnorth and return. Open to all - just turn up and buy your ticket on board the train.

Units in service

Three car set of London Midland Class 150 2nd Generation DMU, 150 001, this was built in 1984 as a replacement for the 1st generation type of DMU’s.

This unit was on SVR metals from Friday morning until Saturday evening

Chiltern Railways Class 121 ‘bubble’ car 121 020 normally based at Aylesbury and works the branch to Princess Risborough. Originally numbered 55020, it was built in 1958 and fully re-built for Chiltern in 2003. An example of an early DMU still in use today, although modified to comply with modern regulations.

121 020 went into Chiltern’s Aylesbury Depot for refurbishment to the vehicle prior to attending the SVR event. The unit was on the SVR from Thursday afternoon and remained here until Monday morning, due to an engineering possession on the mainline rail network.

Class 122 ‘bubble’ car 55006 – This vehicle was built in 1958 and worked the last service trains over the full SVR route from Shrewsbury to Hartlebury. It is normally resident on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

This unit is similar to 121 020, but is still in it’s original form, and had a partial external repaint prior to attending our Railcar Reunion.

Derby Lightweight single car 79900 (Iris), the earliest fully restored DMU vehicle, built in 1954, and is also normally resident on the Ecclesbourne Valley line.

779900 was also being up in preparation for attendance at our Reunion event.

Two Wickham permanent way maintenance trolley's were on display at Highley.

They are both ran between Highley & Arley on Friday and Saturday afternoons during the Reunion for PW volunteers from other railways.

The DMU Group (West Midlands) own five car set of heritage Class 108 railcars which are normally resident on the Severn Valley Railway line. Car numbers 56208, 50933, 51941, 59250 & 52064 all built during 1959 & 1960.

Car 50933 came straight from the carriage workshop at Bewdley after receiving bodywork repairs, external re-paint and internal work in the guards area. The event marked its return to passenger services and will become the first DMU vehicle in the Class 108 fleet suitable for the conveyance of wheelchair passengers.

Car 56208 had the 1st class passenger accommodation area partially refurbished prior to the event

Disclaimer:- All information is shown in good faith, in an attempt to demonstrate the DMU Group (West Midlands)/Railcar Association’s determination to attract patronage (to generate income) to ensure the continuing preservation of the historic diesel multiple units in the UK. Please note all information could be subject to change or cancellation, even at short notice. No responsibility or liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or any loss, injury, inconvenience, delay or damage sustained from whatever cause. Inclusion on this web site does not imply a recommendation.

Railcar Reunion

The timetable for this event and also the ‘Classic Car’ day event on Sunday 10th October and the public facing details were available from this web site in one downloadable document.

Fish and Chip Special

A seven car ‘Fish and Chips’ DMU special train ran between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth on Saturday 9th October. And was open to members of the public. Extra seating capacity was available by making use of some of the visiting heritage railcars.

This page last updated
24 October 2011