The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association

Metropolitan-Cammell Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second no. 50253 was built new in 1957 to BR Lot No. 30266, diagram 523. Weighing 32t, it was delivered to the Eastern region of British Railways as a power twin set. The set was allocated to 51A Darlington in September 1957 and worked services around the Middlesborough area in early British Railways lined green. Through the years, the vehicle carried various liveries including BR Blue with full yellow end as well as BR Blue and Grey. 

In the early 1980s, the vehicle was renumbered to 53253 so as not to confuse vehicle numbers with the Class 50 locomotives being introduced.

Eventually though, in 1996, the vehicle was paired with 50170 to form set 101692 and was transferred to the Scottish region. This set earned ‘celebrity’ status being painted in the unique Strathclyde PTE livery of blue with orange and yellow stripes by Scotrail for the introduction of services between Motherwell and Cumbernauld. After spending a few years working in this area, the pair were transferred south of the border and allocated to Longsight. The vehicle spent the rest of its working life operating services around the Manchester area with First North Western and remained in the unique Strathclyde livery.

Withdrawn on the final day of Class 101 operations on the main line, 31st December 2003, the set was swiftly purchased for preservation in time to star at the Railcar50 celebration at the Severn Valley Railway in 2004. Arriving here from the Midland Railway Butterley, 50253 is reunited with partner 50170 once again to operate services along the Ecclesbourne Valley. The vehicle re-entered service on Saturday 26th September 2015 at the Multiple Memories DMU gala.

Seats: 52 second
BR Set No.: 101692