Midland Railway Butterley

The Midland Railway Butterley was one of the most firmly established DMU centres in the UK, and for many years has held the record for the total number of vehicles to be found on one site.

Three DMU groups were active on this three mile line which runs between Hammersmith and Riddings (the latter just a run round loop), passing through stations at Butterley and Swanwick Junction along the way. Swanwick Junction is the location of a large museum site including many sheds and displays. However, many of the DMUs are normally based at Butterley where there is a two road carriage shed, one road of which can often contain a DMU vehicle under restoration.

Around the mid 2000's there was a move away from DMU's and two of the resident groups departed for pastures new, a number of vehicles left the line and other vehicles fell out of use, leading to many dilapidated vehicles filling sidings.

A ten year period followed where contract deals were concluded, further vehicles moved on, new vehicles brought in and existing vehicles returned to service. Slowly, the fleet was refined and a far more structured theme emerged: "Made in Derby".

Of the current resident sets, all are geographically and historically appropriate, and are a showcase of types that were originally built by the (nearby) Derby works of British Railways. The railway now hosts examples from Derby built classes 108, 114, 115, 127, 141 & 142. Notable are the final two second generation classes, which continue the Derby story into the 1980's era, having carved a niche operating many of the line's off peak services, particularly during winter months.

Additional (non Derby!) DMUs from other railways can periodically be found on the line for contract restoration and repair works, the services for which the railway has a good reputation for providing. These can be undertaken by Carriage & Wagon in the Butterley works as well as by dedicated DMU groups operating on site. At present a unique Class 100 set is one tjhe line for such work.

 
50015 Class 114 DMBS
 
50019 Class 114 DMBS
 
51118 Class 100 DMBS
 
51591 Class 127 DMBS
 
51610 Class 127 DMBS
 
51625 Class 127 DMBS
 
51669 Class 115 DMBS
 
51849 Class 115 DMBS
 
51907 Class 108 DMBS
 
56006 Class 114 DTCL
 
56015 Class 114 DTCL
 
56097 Class 100 DTCL
 
56490 Class 108 DTCL
 
59609 Class 127 TCL
 
59659 Class 115 TS
 
141113 Class 141
 
142011 Class 142
 
142013 Class 142