If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Royal mail DMU s?

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by class8mikado, Feb 24, 2015.

  1. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,610
    Likes Received:
    1,438
    Occupation:
    Print Estimator/ Repository of Useless Informatio.
    Location:
    Bingley W.Yorks.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    For some time now there has been a train of what appear to be red ( now royal scot pink) windowless dmus parked at Hellifield... what are these please, and what is to become of them...!
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  3. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    They are not Class 325, they are mail vehicles based on mk1 stock and seem to include some manner of unpowered driving vehicle. (Sorry don't know class)

    Sure read somewhere that WCRC have purchased for the bogies and spares though don't quote me on this.
     
    class8mikado and Martin Perry like this.
  4. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,610
    Likes Received:
    1,438
    Occupation:
    Print Estimator/ Repository of Useless Informatio.
    Location:
    Bingley W.Yorks.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks Martin, pending a closer look i'm not convinced that this is what is parked there, the 325 is far too modern looking...
     
    Martin Perry likes this.
  5. rule55

    rule55 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2009
    Messages:
    310
    Likes Received:
    219
    What you see at Hellifield are propelling control vehicles (PCV) typically used for low-speed propelling moves in and out of the PRDC at Willesden when there were still loco-hauled mail trains . The class 325 EMUs are still being used for what they were originally designed for.
     
  6. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    040.jpg

    late lamented W55991 or 2
     
  7. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    4,634
    Likes Received:
    1,921
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  8. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  9. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    5,250
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance photo - journalist
    Location:
    Southport
    rule55 likes this.
  10. Britfoamer

    Britfoamer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    2,175
    Likes Received:
    2,028
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Chemist (semi-retired)
    Location:
    Within 2 miles of the ELR
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Perhaps faulty memory (easy now at this stage!), but weren't these propelling cab units converted from the Southern electric single MPV's? The profile looks very EMU-ish.
     
  11. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    4,634
    Likes Received:
    1,921
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Class 307 emu's according to this:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propelling_Control_Vehicle
     
  12. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,610
    Likes Received:
    1,438
    Occupation:
    Print Estimator/ Repository of Useless Informatio.
    Location:
    Bingley W.Yorks.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thats what they look like.
    Potentially useful on the end of a charter train, but of course the whole train would have to be wired through...
    A good starting point for a 'bespoke' fitted out support coach for steamies perhaps
     
  13. flaman

    flaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2012
    Messages:
    2,292
    Likes Received:
    2,048
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Semi-retired farmer, railway & museum owner
    Location:
    Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
    They had a particularly long and chequered history. Originally built as 1500v DC units, with Mk. 1 bogies, for the Liverpool St.- Southend Victoria & Chelmsford electrification in 1956. They were converted to 25 kv AC, with Gresley bogies, about 1960, "modernised", i.e. converted into open configuration, with Mk 4 bogies, in the mid-'80s and later transferred north to work Leeds-Doncaster services, before their final conversion to mail vehicles.
     
  14. Bramblewick

    Bramblewick Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Messages:
    736
    Likes Received:
    200
    Didn't the NRM claim a DMU in the late 80s, restore it, and then hand it back to BR for conversion to a parcels unit, or am I misremembering?
     
  15. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    5,250
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance photo - journalist
    Location:
    Southport
    You're thinking of Class 127 "BedPan" Diesel hydraulic DMU Motor Coach 51591 which was modified in 1988 (after designation by the Railway Heritage Committee but before being handed over to a heritage body) and renumbered 55966 but later restored to original condition and is maintained at the Midland Railway Centre.
     
    Bramblewick likes this.
  16. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    Messages:
    1,330
    Likes Received:
    2,113
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carriage & Wagon
    Location:
    Sheringham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Ref the comment about charter trains. Through wiring wouldn't be a problem, as these vehicles use the TDM system which runs on existing RCH coach lighting wires/connections. Therefore theoretically mark 1/2/3/4 can all work with these PCVs. The limiting factor is the number of locos that have the apparatus to do the "pushing". 47/7's are fitted along with I think 67's, and a whole host of AC electrics (86-91). There may well be other classes I've missed.
     
    class8mikado likes this.

Share This Page