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Railcar of the Year 2025

Congratulations to the winner of the Railcar of the Year award:Class 118 51321

2025 was the first year after the award format changed from public vote to judging by panel. As a result, there would be no "race" to report on over the month as public votes came in. Instead, we had a series of comments and sentiments from railcar preservation experts the length of the UK:

It became clear very quickly that the Class 118 overhaul was the favoured choice to be honoured as the winner, with many comments on the value of restoring a vehicle that is the last survivor of its class. A recurring theme was admiration that the vehicle had been completed with an extremely small team, along with the quality of the end result.

Leading runner up was Class 101 51192 which attracted the attention of judges with an engineering angle, praised for the unique modifications to the unusual engine variant to get the vehicle back into service.

The Class 108 was complimented for being properly different but tasteful, with the idea of DMU's attracting extra custom to the line being well worth it.

The 3-car Class 101 was noted for the speed of the overhaul works and preventing an entire set from being lost to storage.

Finally, 142023 was a very worthy representative of the second generation fleet, restored again my a modestly sized team and in the right colour at the right location.

The Nominations

Class 101 E50253/E59303/E50170 (Severn Valley): The DMU Group (West Midlands) have been based on the Severn Valley for 35 years and have built a five-strong Class 108 fleet. However, in 2019 all vehicles were stopped with the group arguably facing their greatest challenge. Since then, not only have they appeared to return stronger than ever, with vehicles being recommissioned at an impressive rate, they have also embarked on a shift change to bring new variety into the fleet. A major part of this shift has been the purchase of the former “101692” Metro Cammell 3-car set from a group at the Ecclesbourne Valley in 2024 which had been withdrawn at the start of the Covid pandemic. The following 12 months has seen an astonishing amount of repair, cosmetic and recommissioning work to bring the set back into operating condition, with the full 3-cars entering SVR service in August. The DMU Group (West Midlands) are now the only current operator able to field two 3-car sets (the other being their original Class 108 3-car) thanks to their efforts in restoring the sole surviving Class 101 Trailer Second (E59303) to service. It is also the only Class 101 3-car set able to be experienced in preservation as the other three Metro Cammell centre cars are out of service. The set is therefore nominated for returning a rare 3-car formation to service, the speed and quality of the recommissioning works, and the value of bringing a contrasting class to the previously Class 108 centric fleet.

Class 101 M51192 (North Norfolk): The North Norfolk Railway has had a fleet of Metro Cammell Class 101 vehicles since 2003 as they are appropriate in representing East Anglian DMU history. Having struggled to operate intensive summer timetables with just one set, a loan agreement with the National Railway Museum was reached in 2012 bringing M51192 to the line to support. From 2013 to 2017 the vehicle ran regularly before suffering an engine failure instantly knocking it out of traffic. With resources for the repair unavailable at the time, it was stored awaiting a return to service. Slightly embarrassingly, it would be 2023 before works were seriously able to restart. Thankfully this is where fortunate changed, with a great deal of mechanical and interior work being undertaken to lift the vehicle back into an operating state. A dilapidated guards van interior was renewed and the seating reupholstered, complimenting an interior freshen up to reverse the effects of damp storage. Mechanically many damaged and missing parts were replaced but most notably, two Leyland 680/4041 engines were fitted. This variant of 680, common in Scotland, is usually seen on Derby or suburban vehicles and is believed to have been used on a Class 101 for the first time. Due to Class 101’s having their engines mounted higher than many Derby types, the 4041’s had to have some engineering modifications to allow them to fit the 101. Finally, the exterior was refreshed and revarnished, being finished in the transitional era of BR Green with a full yellow end. Rarely seen, this is the first time this variant has been fully carried by a 101 in preservation. The vehicle is nominated for returning a long-stored vehicle to traffic, the resourceful modifications of the engine sub type, and the representation of a long-lost livery.

Class 108 51568 (Keith & Dufftown):The Keith & Dufftown Railway has operated a fleet of Class 108’s since their opening in 2000, which has been built up from an initial hire fleet to today with a wholly owned collection of three operating sets. As part of continuing to build the railway and its business, in 2022 a trailer car was converted into a Whiskey bar and saloon known as the “Dram Tram”, attached onto the rear of selected services for private hires etc. The success of this initiative was astonishing, with a swift uptake in sales of the upgraded product, which fitted in perfectly with the ingrained distillery identity of the area through which the railway runs. Whilst most railways’ selling point is recreating the steam era, the Keith & Dufftown’s clientele are brought to the area by Whiskey, and DMU’s have consequently remained a mainstay of operations at the line, rather than being a supporting act as they are in most locations. The success of the “Dram Tram” trailer car has led to a second conversion being undertaken in 2025, Class 108 DMCL 51568, in a similar style to join the trailer as a 2-car “Dram Tram”. Whilst the exterior remains standard, the interior is radically modified with longitudinal facing seating in the front compartment to encourage socialising. The middle saloon has comfy individual chairs and round tables with the rear saloon given open to an open dancefloor complete with sound system in the former toilet. The interior décor is varnished timber with silver fittings. The completed 2-car set now meets increased demand for upsold Whiskey trains, often on ordinary running days in multiple with a second (ordinary) 108 set for standard passengers. 51568 is nominated for the business ingenuity of utilising a DMU for a unique form of front-line service and the quality of the conversion.

Class 118 W51321 (Battlefield):One of the rarest DMU’s in preservation that hides in plain sight is Birmingham RC&W Class 118 W51321 at the Battlefield Railway, which despite being the sole survivor of the entire class is often mistaken for the far more common Class 117. It has therefore led a modest life quietly paired with fellow suburban Class 116 51131, itself the only currently operational Class 116. Over the past few decades, the Battlefield Line has been steadily progressing a sustainable and rotational programme of working through its three resident vehicles undertaking major bodywork repairs to set them up for the future. As all suburban designed vehicles eventually require these works if they are to survive, the programme represents a very sensible approach for preserving the long-term futures of these rare vehicles. Previous successes included Class 122 55005 (2006-2011) and Class 116 51131 (2011-2017) before W51321 itself was withdrawn in 2017. Eight long years of work have followed transforming the exterior and undertaking the essential welding repairs needed. With the pandemic delaying the project significantly and the restoration team involved being modest in size, getting such a large project over the line has been a major achievement. Additionally, the vehicle has been outshopped in BR Green livery, the first time a Class 118 has carried this scheme in preservation. It is nominated for giving several generations the chance to see a Green 118 for the first time along with recognition for the fine work protecting a unique vehicle for the future with just a small dedicated team.

Class 142 142023 (Plym Valley): This year’s Second Generation nomination is 142023 at the Plym Valley. Many Class 142’s, having only been in preservation for around five years, have continued in use or even been stored in their as-withdrawn (often “Northern”) liveries and have steadily been getting rougher round the edges cosmetically. With repainting and exterior works now being required, some owners have been more proactive than others. The Plym Valley’s example was withdrawn in 2024 and received external repairs with a repaint being required. The set has been out-shopped in 1980’s Chocolate & Cream “Skipper” colours, and is a genuine example being one of six preserved. This is particularly appropriate as it is the only surviving example to be preserved in the area for which the livery was intended. The set is nominated partly for investing in the future of a Second Generation set but mainly for representing local history correctly on a suitable vehicle in a suitable location.