When new, both cars of this set, the other being M51565, were originally paired together and started their working life from the depot at Neville Hill, Leeds. The pair were eventually split and coupled to other members of the class, each probably having several partners during their working lives. Having worked services on the K&WVR for many years, the pair are now stored out of use at Haworth, where this photo was taken on 24/06/2023, awaiting attention to bring them back into service although this maybe sometime yet. The driving cars of these Class 108s were powered by a BUT-Leyland 150hp units and had a maximum speed of 70mph. A more recent Class 144 can be seen the other side of the 'EWS' Class 08 shunter, 08993. The class 144's were designed as a low cost solution to replace some of the original first generation DMUs, dating from the 1950s like the two other units seen in this view. They were designed and built by British Rail and Walter Alexander, the Scottish based coachbuilders, in 1985 and introduced to passenger service in 1986. The class was delivered new to Neville Hill depot, Leeds, and soon took over operations on the Airedale Line between Leeds/Bradford and Skipton and was the mainstay of the local services through Keighley until electrification in the late 1990s. After electrification, they continued to be regular visitors through Keighley, mainly operating on the Leeds – Skipton – Morecambe service, something they could still be seen regularly operating until 12/2019. The Class 144 units have spent their entire working lives operating local services throughout West Yorkshire. Only twenty-three were built, something I didn't know until researching for a previous photo. Originally powered by Leyland 205hp units, they were replaced by Cummins LTA10-R units. For more details on these units in this view, please see kwvr.co.uk/locos/?fwp_locos_categories=in-service and associated links. © Peter Steel 2023.
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This extremely well presented DMU is seen here at the Midland Railway - Butterley Swanwick Junction station, during their Transport Festival, on 10/07/2022. This Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) was originally numbered 56490 and it is coupled to its life partner, M51907, a Driving Motor Brake Second(DMBS), which is powered by a Leyland 150hp engine. More details can be found here at www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/54490 and here www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/51907. This set, in its latter days of operation received set number LO262 while working out of Longsight. It is awaiting departure on the 12:06 Riddings - Butterley, via Hammersmith. © Peter Steel 2022.
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This extremely well presented DMU is seen here departing the Midland Railway - Butterley - Swanwick Junction station, in true DMU fashion, during their Transport Festival, on 10/07/2022. This Driving Motor Brake Second(DMBS), seen nearest the camera, is powered by a Leyland 150hp engine. It is coupled to its life partner M54490, a Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) which was originally numbered 56490. More details can be found here at www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/54490 and here www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/51907. This set, in its latter days of operation received set number LO262 while working out of Longsight. It is operating awaiting the 12:58 Riddings - Butterley, via Hammersmith. © Peter Steel 2022.
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A total of 56 of this class were built between 1963-5, all at BR Swindon Works, this one in 1965. Powered by a Paxman Ventura, they could reach a speed of 40m.p.h. Nicknamed Teddy Bears they only had short lives with BR. On loan from the East Lancashire Railway, this one is seen here departing from Haworth, when working the delayed 15:25 Keighley - Oxenhope service, during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Diesel Gala, on 24/06/2023. In the sidings sits former British Railways DMU car M50928, Class 108 Derby Lightweight. © Peter Steel 2023.
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This extremely well presented DMU is seen here at the Midland Railway - Butterley Swanwick Junction station, during their Transport Festival, on 10/07/2022. This Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) was originally numbered 56490 and it is coupled to its life partner, M51907, a Driving Motor Brake Second(DMBS), which is powered by a Leyland 150hp engine. More details can be found here at www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/54490 and here www.railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/51907. This set, in its latter days of operation received set number LO262 while working out of Longsight. It is awaiting departure on the 12:58 Riddings - Butterley, via Hammersmith. © Peter Steel 2022.
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