Societies
Many preserved railways use their DMUs simply as a cheap and convenient train, just as BR did, with no real interest in them.
Many other preserved DMUs are looked after by internal Diesel or DMU groups, often owned privately by these groups or by individuals. They can be accessed by becoming a member of the railway itself.
There are a few groups which also encourage "armchair" members, with membership open to anyone, and produce newsletters to keep members up to date.
-142055 Group preserving 142055 at the Foxfield Railway.
-Battlefield DMU Group look after the Class 116/118 and 122 sets at the Battlefield Line.
-The Birmingham RailCar Workgroup are custodians of all preserved Class 104 vehicles, and have twelve vehicles on four different railways.
-Blue Square Heritage have a Class 117 3-car set at the Strathspey Railway.
-The Bury Unit Team own the Class 105 and Class 122 at the East Lancashire Railway, and also oversee the other DMU sets based on the line.
-The Dean Forest DMU Group own 2 Class 108 sets on the Dean Forest Railway, and are one of the groups mentioned above who have a formal membership facility which caters for those who wish to support but cannot do so via volunteering physically.
-The Derby Lightweight Preservation Group own the Derby Lightweight set currently being restored at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
-Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Ltd own a class 101 set at the East Anglian Railway Museum and also have a Class 108 out on hire.
-DMU Group (West Midlands) has five Class 108 vehicles on the Severn Valley Railway.
-East Anglian Railcar Group are a consortium of private railcar owners and volunteers on the Mid Norfolk Railway and currently have custody of Class 101 & 108 sets.
-Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group restore and operate the railcars at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
-The Gloucester Railcar Trust have the sole surviving Class 119 set at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
-GWSR DMU Group were formed to relaunch DMU operations on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway and have various Class 117 vehicles and a 122 bubblecar.
-KWVR Diesel Railcar Group look after the Worth Valley's railbus, railcars and Pacers.
-L432 Preservation Group boldly took on a forgotten Class 117 3-car set in very poor condition and are bringing it back from the dead at the Mid Norfolk.
-The Llangollen Railcar Groupwith Classes 100, 104, 105, 108, 109 & 127.
- The Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group specialises in the rarer first generation units built by Derby with non standard higher powered engines. They have two Class 114 sets, a Class 115 and 127.
-Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group have the Class 108 set at the East Somerset Railway.
-North Yorkshire Pacer Group own Class 142's on the Wensleydale Railway.
-Northumbria Rail Ltd owns the quirky Swedish Railcar "Helga" and its trailer at the Nene Valley.
- Plym Valley Pacers look after the 14X stock at the Plym Valley.
-Renaissance Railcars operate vehicles at the Great Central Railway. Originally set up with just Metro Cammell vehicles (including the sole surviving Class 111 buffet) they have since expanded their remit to include Derby Lightweight, Class 117 & 122 vehicles.
-Rowsley Class 108 DMU Group were established in 2023 to support the operation of Class 108 vehicles at Peak Rail.
-South Devon Railcars undertaking restoration of a Class 117 unit.
-Suburban Preservation are based on the Colne Valley Railway and have Class 117 & 121 suburban vehicles.
-The Swindon Diesel Preservation Society with the unique Class 126 set at Bo'ness.
-Wensleydale Pacer Preservation is an umbrella group covering all the 14X units at Wensleydale.
The following groups still retain vehicles but are now believed to be inactive in physical preservation work:
-The Helston Diesel Group owners of the unique Class 103 set in Cornwall.
-Nottingham Railcar Group have the last Class 116 set at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).
-NYMR DMU Group are involved in running the Met Camms on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
-Recycled Railcars are the custodian of Class 103 M56160.
-The Railbus Trust is working to protect the future of Single Car Railbuses and Second Generation DMU prototypes.
The Railcar Association has its own Facebook group, used mainly for sharing pictures: Preserved DMU Photo Group
Several of the railcar groups described above also maintain Facebook groups:
-110 Calder Valley DMU
-142055 Group
-Birmingham RailCar Workgroup
-Blue Square Heritage
-Bury Unit Team
-Derby Lightweight Preseration Group
-DMU Group (West Midlands)
-East Anglian Railcar Group
-Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group
-Gloucester Railcar Trust
-GWSR DMU Group
-Helston Diesel Group
-KWVR Diesel Railcar Group
-L432 Preservation Group
-Llangollen Railcar Group
-Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group
-North Yorkshire Pacer Group
-Northumbria Rail Ltd
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Nottingham Railcar Group
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Peak Pacer Preservation Society
-Plym Valley Pacers
-Renaissance Railcars
-Rowsley Class 108 DMU Group
-South Devon Railcars
-Swindon Diesel Preservation Society
-Wensleydale Pacer Preservation
YouTube
Railcars are decidedly "old school" however some groups are increasingly making more use of social media including producing YouTube channels and videos.
Railcar Restorers is a video diary of the restoration of the Class 117 set at the Mid Norfolk (L432 Preservation Group)
Diaries
Like to get involved in DMU preservation? Want to know what is involved? Ian MacDonald, ex-owner of 55001/3 kept a comprehensive diary of his work on these bubble cars. It is an amazing story, giving a wonderful insight into the problems, politics and of course the pleasures involved: