Metro Cammell “Lightweight” DMU E79263/E79047

This railcar was built as a British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple unit by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham in the late 1950s. The 101s were a development of a series of prototype units which were used extensively in East Anglia including the line from Melton Constable to Sheringham, part of which is today’s North Norfolk Railway. The two vehicles are being used to represent a missing link in East Anglian rail heritage with E79263 currently in service and E79047 under overhaul.

The vehicle entered traffic in 1957 as E56062, spending much of its life in the North East before working services on branch lines out of Norwich in the 1980s. The railcar has been on the NNR since 2003 but its latest overhaul has included a degree of cosmetic reverse engineering to recreate a pioneering diesel train from the 1950s and it now carries the number E79263. The design was originally introduced in 1955 by Metro Cammell and formed the basis of later Class 101 railcars such as E56062. The trains could be driven from either end and were classified “lightweight” as they didn’t need a separate (heavy) locomotive to haul them. As they were non-standard, the “lightweights” were scrapped after a relatively short time in service with the last one disappearing in 1969 so this project provides an opportunity for passengers to once again experience these pioneering diesel trains.

E79263 is currently in service and usually paired with Class 101 51192

E79047 was originally built in 1958 as 51228.

Graham Hukins explained, “Half-term will be the first opportunity for the public to travel in this type of vehicle for over 55 years as they were taken out of service by 1969 and all were scrapped. The  and we are very grateful to

51228/56062

This Class 101 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) is formed of vehicles 51228 and 56062, the former being a Driving Motor Brake vehicle, whereas the latter is a Driving Trailer.

It has been restored to BR green livery, as carried when first introduced, the set is owned by the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society.