BR Class 101
101 695
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Metro-Cammel
British Rail Class 101
1959
Bo-Bo
4 x B.U.T 6 Cylinder
Diesel-Mechanical
Undergoing Repairs
Mid-Norfolk Railway
British Railways Class 101 Diesel Multiple Unit
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The British Railways Class 101 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath between 1956 and 1959, with a total of 527 cars produced.
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The Class 101 quickly became one of the most long-lived and successful first-generation DMUs, serving a wide variety of regional and local services across the UK. By the late 2000s, however, the units were showing their age, and reliability began to decline. Withdrawals commenced, with the last mainline service operated on 24 December 2003.
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Of the original 527 cars, 41 have survived into preservation, and they remain a common and popular sight on many heritage railways throughout Britain.
101 695 (51499 & 51226)
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Diesel Multiple Unit 101 695 is formed of vehicles 51499, a Driving Motor Composite Lavatory, and 51226, a Driving Motor Brake Second. Vehicle 51226 was built in 1958, while 51499 followed in 1959.
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The unit spent its final years of mainline service working in Scotland for Strathclyde PTE, during which time 51226 suffered minor fire damage to its cab at Mossend.
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The unit arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway in late 2003, where it was restored and repainted into its original green livery. Unfortunately, due to a mechanical failure in late 2019, the unit was withdrawn from service.
It is currently undergoing repairs and restoration inside the Dereham Traction & Rolling Stock Restoration & Maintenance Shed, a facility built with support from the EU LEADER Funding Rural Development Programme (Project Ref. 109532).