MULTIPLE UNITS

B.R. Derby Class 108 DMU "Spirit of Speyside"

The vehicles of this standard DMU were built by BR's Derby workshops in 1958 and 1959 respectively numbered M50623 (53628) and M56223 (54223). Little is known at present about the vehicles' early histories, but by 1977 both had found their way to the Manchester / Chester area where they worked until the late 1980s. 53628 then headed South to Oxfordshire, while 54223 headed further to Marylebone for a year prior to joining its sister in Oxfordshire. 54223 became the last Class 108 in public service prior to its withdrawal in October 1993 from Old Oak Common depot (53628 was withdrawn in June of that year) and both cars were stabled at Southall until 1998 when they moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum. The unit arrived at Dufftown on 7th March 2000. It can seat 117 passengers. 54223 was exchanged for M56491 built by BR's Derby Workshop in 1960. M56491 is a Driver Trailer Composite (DTC) with 3 saloons and toilet facilities. The leading saloon behind the driver's compartment was formerely the 1st class section but was declassified to 2nd class late in its BR career. This unit arrived at Dufftown in BR green livery and 53628 was repainted to match. 53628 is a Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) having a guards compartment.

B.R. Derby Class 108 DMU (51568+52053) "Spirit of Banffshire"

Two more Class 108 vehicles arrived at the railway in summer 2001. Both are in green livery and, like "Spirit of Speyside," have been supplied by Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Ltd. The unit is unusual in being formed of two Driving Motor non-brake vehicles, providing no guards accommodation, however the "power-twin" arrangement proved very effective on the line's steep gradients in the early days. This unit has not seen much use lately.

BREL/Leyland Class 140 DMU, 140001

This important prototype unit was built in 1981 and pioneered the use of road-bus bodywork on a railway chassis. The design was later developed into British Rail's Pacer units of Classes 141, 142, 143 and 144. The unit ran for many years in evaluation service before entering use as a driver training unit at Neville Hill Depot, Leeds. Falling out of use, consideration was given to converting it to a Sandite unit, but this never took place, and the unit was withdrawn. The unit was moved to Dufftown in 1994 and is currently waiting restoration.

INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES

"SPIRIT O' FIFE" English Electric 0-6-0 DM

Loco history by Colin Frost

This loco is on loan from UDV (Distilling) Ltd of Leven, Fife. It was built in 1967 by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire and delivered new to the Seaham Harbour Dock Co for transfer duties. With a works number of D1193, it was plated to operate over BR metals in this role, although would have done so only in exchange sidings. Rail traffic to Seaham ceased in 1989 and the loco was sold to Scottish Grain Distillers for use at the Cameronbridge Distillery. Overhauled in 1997, the loco saw another year's service before rail traffic ceased to the site. The loco has been outshopped by UDV in their corporate yellow livery and the loco arrived at Dufftown on 15th March 2000.

"THE WEE MAC" Clayton 0-4-0 DM

The first locomotive on the line under KDRA auspices was this Clayton 0-4-0 Diesel Shunter, known as "The Wee Mac". The locomotive, built in 1979, spent its short career as a pilot at the Royal Navy Dockyard, Rosyth. It was bought and donated to the Railway by the Macallan Distillery, and currently bears their livery, complete with whisky bottle on the exhaust!

COACHING STOCK

Pullman Car: SR 5-BEL DMBTO, 91

Built in 1932 by Metro-Cammell, this coach together with no. 87 below, formed part of an all-Pullman, five-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), number 2052 (later 3052), operated by the Southern Railway, and classified 5-BEL. This was one of the two driving motor vehicles (DMBTO - Driving Motor Brake Third-class Open) and was originally fitted with traction motors on the leading bogie. A guards area was also provided, with a driving cab at the outer end. Power was collected via a shoe on the power bogie from the third-rail.

Three units of this type were built to serve the business traffic between Brighton and London and were christened 'Brighton Belle' units. The units operated on this route for their entire careers, except for a period of storage betweem 1939 and 1945, finally being withdrawn on 30 April 1972.

Along with the other 15 vehicles of the fleet, number 91 was preserved and eventually moved to the North Norfolk Railway where it and no. 87 below were used for Wine and Dine trains offering luxury passenger accommodation. No. 91 was fitted with a disabled-access area in 1986 and still retains this feature. They remained in use until 2002 when they were displaced by more modern stock and moved to Dufftown. The vehicles arrived on 6 June 2002 for a 5-year loan.

Pullman Car: SR 5-BEL TTO, 87

Number 87 was built as part of the same EMU as No. 91 above, although this vehicle was a TTO (Trailer Third-class Open, with pantry). Interior decor, like No. 91, comprises plush seating, marquetry panelling and polished brash fittings. Each seat also has a steward-call button!

This car followed no. 91 to the North Norfolk Railway following withdrawal, and thence to Dufftown on 6th June 2002.

Kitchen Car: BR Mk1, 81295

Carriage history by Colin Frost

Built in 1957 as a full brake vehicle (BG), this coach spent its working life as a guards and luggage/parcels van. Following withdrawal it was acquired by the East Anglian Railway Museum and fitted with a kitchen and buffet counter. Having been used in this form for several years, it became redundant and moved to Dufftown on 15 June 2000 for continued static use in its converted role. A major rebuilding exercise was undertaken to bring the kitchen and serving area up to modern hygiene and safety standards, and car is now in operation at Dufftown.

Cafeteria Car: BR Mk1, 975758

This coach was built in 1957 at BR Wolverton, numbered M25430. Formerly a Corridor Second seating 48 passengers in eight compartments, it was modified at Horwich Works to form part of an Overhead Line Maintenance Train based at Romford, Essex. The modifications included completely gutting the interior of all fittings and fitting with a flat roof with walking boards, which can still be seen. It was secured from Booth's scrapyard in Rotherham for the Railway by members of The AC Locomotive Group, and moved to Dufftown on 14th June 2001.

It is now fully fitted out with loose chairs, tables and curtains for its new role as a cafeteria, connected to the Kitchen Car, and was put into use in early 2002.

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