The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society has announced that they have acquired Class 101 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) set (Formed of Power Car No.E51228 and Trailer Unit E56062) from the North Norfolk Railway (NNR).
Buying the Class 101 DMU set from NNR provides the railway with further funds to help the line survive the impact of COVID-19, but also secures the set for future use on the NNR.
The set forms the backbone of both Yellow and Off-Peak timetabled services when in operation, being suited to the line as the Class 101 made up a large number of the units in use on the East Anglia area under British Railways ownership.
Neil Sharpe, Chairman of the M&GNHRS, said
“We are pleased that the NNR Board has now agreed the sale. Together with other elements in the support package, the Society's Trustees believe this will contribute significantly to securing the future of the Railway during this “down time” and as it plans for the restoration of services once the emergency passes.”
“This is an important acquisition for the Society. ‘Met Cam' units feature large in East Anglia's rail history during the second half of the 20th Century, first in the form of the visually similar “Met Cam lightweights” [until 1969] and then the Class 101s.”
‘Met Cam' units featured large in East Anglia's rail history during the second half of the 20th Century, first in the form of the visually similar “Met Cam lightweights” [until 1969] and then the Class 101s.
The Class 101 was one of the largest and most successful of the first generation diesel units. They were certainly the longest lived. Over 600 vehicles in all were built at Metropolitan Cammell's Washwood Heath plant in Birmingham between 1956 and 1959. The final five units continued in service until the end of 2003
Under Society ownership, we see the unit continuing to make a major contribution to services on the NNR and look forward to seeing it do just that once the present emergency is over.”
For more information or to support The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society, please visit their website here.
For more information or to support the North Norfolk Railway, please visit their website here.
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Speaking of the British Rail Class 101/2 Diesel Multiple Unit,
This First Generation DMU (which I find nostalgic and full of character, as well as Colourful) forms the basis for non-other than … Daisy the Diesel Railcar (from The Railway Series books and the forever popular Thomas & Friends Television Series),
Which marks/celebrates 75 years of the Most Remarkable and Colorfully Appealing franchise all-round.
Daisy the Diesel Railcar (whom is a one/single coach class 101 in character) is now even voiced by the actress Tracy-Ann Oberman.
The purchase of this remarkably nostalgic first generation DMU, Especially to continue roaming the Painstakingly-Restored Rails of the NNR/Poppy Line by said Joint Society (whom of which acquired said DMU)… is indeed quite A Clever Idea.
The sort of clever idea to help keep the NNR/Poppy Line through such a difficult time, let alone cover costs to helpfully fight back this ”Bloody Awful Virus”.