Derby Lightweight DMU

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A small number of 'Yellow Diamond' Derby Lightweight DMUs were based at Leith Central Depot in the period 1966-1967.

  • Two Derby Lightweight bodyshells were used for the Battery Electric unit that worked the Aberdeen - Ballater branch.
  • Units based at Carlisle also worked into Scotland from 1965, to Glasgow Central via Kilmarnock and Dalry, and to Hawick.

  • 10 vehicles were reallocated to 64H Leith from 52J South Gosforth (NER) in August 1966: DMS 79154, DMCL 79508/511/512, TBSL 79325/328/329, TSL 79400/401/403
  • 2 DMCLs 79189/190 came from 1E Bletchley (LMR) Aug/Sep 1966.
  • 4 two-car sets, DMBS 79033/034/035/036 & DTCL 79250/251/252/625, came from East Anglia (31A/32A) in October 1966.
  • From the RTCS Railway Observer, 1966:
    • "Diesel sets have appeared from the south, E79328, 79403, 79508/11 of early Derby design being on the 12.30 Waverley to North Berwick on 27th August."
    • "Cowlairs: Two derby four-car sets were outside the works on 21st September:
      • E79512, 79325, 79400, 79154 and E79511, 79328, 79403, 79189.
      • "The latter set was apparently in use for driver training."
  • "Cowlairs. During October: A twin-set from the south E79035, 79251 was being used for driver training."
  • The four-car sets were soon reduced to three-car by removing the 794xx vehicles.
  • A December 1966 summary of DMU set numbers gives
    • Yellow Diamond twin: 97/98 (two sets)
    • Yellow Diamond triple: 234-237 (four sets)

  • All the Derby Lightweight sets based at Leith were withdrawn in June 1967.
  • The last of the type based at Carlisle were replaced by Class 108 DMUs and withdrawn in April 1969.

Departmental Use in Scotland

  • A Derby Lightweight DTCL vehicle was converted in to an Inspection Saloon for the London Midland Region and renumbered DB 999510. It moved to the Scottish region in 1967 and was based at Carstairs. It was sold for scrap in 1978.
  • After withdrawal in June 1967, two of the DTCLs 79250 (975013) & 79252 (975014) saw use as staff mess rooms at Dundee, then Craigentinny Carriage Sidings. 975014 later moved to Glasgow Salkeld Steet. They were disposed of in the late 1970s.

Departmental Visitors

  • A 2-car set was converted into BR's first Ultrasonic Test Train in 1970, numbers DB97007 & DB97008 and travelled all over the BR network checking for rail defects. It was withdrawn in 1994 and replaced by a converted EMU carriage, powered by a converted (Class 101 DMU)).
  • A single car unit, RDB 999510 was used as a Radio survey train and gained the name Iris and the red and blue livery of the BR Research Department. It saw frequent use in the mid-1980s testing the new RETB system north of Inverness.

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