The Severn Valley Railway’s permanent home fleet is to increase with the addition of a three-carriage Class 101 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU.)

The DMU will arrive on Wednesday 11 September from its former base at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

Nos 50170 and 50253 have previously appeared at the SVR during the Railcar 50 event in 2004. Together with the third vehicle, 59303, they’ve been returned to their original, as-built condition in BR green livery.

‘These latest residents will be a welcome addition’ said the SVR’s managing director, Jonathan ‘Gus Dunster. ‘We already have a Class 108 DMU well established at the railway, and the return-to-service of three of its vehicles last year has proved incredibly useful.

‘These agile vehicles are ideal for running shuttle services along part of the line, and for providing services at times when a full-size train wouldn’t be economic. Before the closure of the Severn Valley by British Rail in the 1960s, DMUs like these were a familiar site on passenger services. Their quirky, retro appearance is very popular with our visitors who particularly enjoy the forward-facing view of the line you can see from the front carriage!’

The Class 101 DMU is owned by the SVR-based DMU Group (West Midlands) and its purchase was made possible thanks to a generous donation.

The board of the Severn Valley Railway Company Limited has approved the vehicles coming onto the line, as is required for any additional permanent rolling stock.

Apart from a small amount of cosmetic work to one unit, the set is fully operational.

‘This is an exciting development for the DMU Group (West Midlands),’ said the Group’s chairman James Cooper. ‘Acquiring the Class 101 will allow us to provide the SVR with an operational DMU of suitable passenger capacity, at the same time as allowing regular downtime for maintenance of all our DMU vehicles.’

Metro-Cammell built the set built in 1957 in Saltley, Birmingham, and it was allocated to the eastern region of British Railways. It was one of the final sets to be withdrawn from main line service in 2003 as set No 101692.

‘The Class 101s share many common parts with the Class 108, including the engines,’ added James, ‘And because they are what’s termed “blue square rated”, they can work in multiple or combined with Class 108 vehicles.

‘Of the existing Class 108 DMUs on the SVR, 52064 has recently been repainted at Bridgnorth, and the other two operational vehicles are scheduled to be painted before the 2025 season. They have performed well in service this year with a few repairs required recently. We’re looking at options to get the bogies overhauled on the remaining two Class 108 vehicles.’