In the UK the Diesel Multiple Unit lies in the range of classes 100 to 200. Below class 100 are Locomotives, above class 200 are Electrical Multiple Units. The Majority of DMUs use diesel-hydraulic traction. The lower range of classes some use mechanical transmission, and the higher classes use diesel electric traction.
Notes: The majority of DMUs have a top speed of 75mph (120kph). "Express" DMUs have a top speed of 90mph (144 kph) The good news is that all ordered DMUs will have top speeds of 100mph (160kph) , and 125mph (200kph). The Type refers to how many cars are in a set, ie DMU 2 means the train comes as a 2 car set. The number in brackets after the company refers to the quantity of trains that particular company owns. A list of companies and corresponding abbreviations can be found here.
I have included links to appropriate picture directories on the European railway server.
See also: Locomotives in the UK, Electrical Multiple Units in the UK, Ordered Locomotives in the UK
|
Class |
Introduced |
# in use |
Company |
Maximum Speed |
Type |
Comments |
|
|
142 |
1984 |
9 |
RRNE (9) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Leyland Bus/BREL Railbus DMUs, modified by Barclay 1988-1989Pictures |
|
142 |
1985 |
96 |
NWT (56) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Leyland Bus/BREL Railbus DMUs, improved version of class 141Pictures |
|
143 |
1985 |
25 |
CA (12) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Alexander/Barclay Railbus DMUs, similar to class 142Pictures |
|
144 |
1986 |
23 |
RRNE (13) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Alexander/BREL Railbus DMUs, similar to class 143Pictures |
|
As above |
RRNE (10) |
DMU 3 |
|||||
|
150 |
1986 |
131 |
AR (9) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
BREL Sprinter DMUs for suburban services Pictures |
|
As above |
CT (12) |
DMU 3 |
|||||
|
153 |
1987 |
70 |
AR (7) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 1 |
Leyland Bus Super Sprinter diesel motor cars, rebuilt from class 155Pictures |
|
155 |
1988 |
7 |
RRNE (7) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Leyland Bus Super Sprinter DMUs, operate in Leeds areaPictures |
|
156 |
1987 |
86 |
CT (20) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Metro-Cammell Super Sprinter DMUsPictures |
|
158 |
1990 |
182 |
CT (36) |
90mph |
144kph |
DMU 2 |
BREL Express DMUs, for long distance servicesPictures |
|
As above |
RRNE (17) |
DMU 3 |
|||||
|
159 |
1992 |
22 |
SWT (22) |
90mph |
144kph |
DMU 3 |
BREL Express DMUs, used on on different unelectrified linesPictures |
|
165 |
1990 |
76 |
CH (23) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
BREL Network Turbo DMUs built for Chiltern Line (Marylebone) servicesPictures |
|
As above |
CH (11) |
DMU 3 |
|||||
|
166 |
1992 |
21 |
TT (21) |
90mph |
144kph |
DMU 3 |
ABB Network Express Turbo DMUs for Paddington-Oxford/Newbury servicesPictures |
|
168 |
1998 |
5 |
CH(5) |
100mph |
160kph |
DMU-4 |
New "Turbostar" DMUs from ADtranz for London Marylebone-Birmingham |
There were a few Diesel Electric Multiple units built back in the 1950s before diesel hydraulic traction was widely used for multiple units.
|
205 |
1957 |
10 |
CSC (9) |
75mph |
120kph |
DEMU 3 |
Diesel-electric DMUsPictures |
|
207 |
1962 |
4 |
CSE (1) |
75mph |
120kph |
DEMU 2 |
|
|
As above |
CSE (3) |
DEMU 3 |
|||||
In the Very early days there were some diesel mechanical trains, which use mechanical transmission for the diesel engines. These feel a bit like buses as they change gears
|
101 |
1958 |
36 |
NWT (24) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 2 |
Metro-Cammell DMUs, motor cars with driving trailerPictures |
|
As above |
NWT (2) |
DMU 3 |
|||||
|
117 |
1959 |
17 |
SR (7) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 3 |
Pressed Steel Suburban DMUs, two motor cars with trailerPictures |
|
121 |
1960 |
4 |
STS (4) |
75mph |
120kph |
DMU 1 |
Pressed Steel Suburban DMUs, diesel motor carsPictures |