Gala Dates 2025
Below is a summary of the main DMU Galas which are of primary interest to the movement.
-6th & 7th September - Midland Railway Butterley
-19th-21st September - Great Central Railway Nottingham
(Railcar Association Convention)
-4th & 5th October- Llangollen Railway
-8th & 9th November - East Lancashire Railway
Running Dates 2025
Below is a list of the known DMU running days in the UK as provided by railways and groups which operate DMUs. All information is published in good faith and should be taken as a guide only.
Running days are now listed alphabetically by railway:
Dean Forest Railway
Services in 2025 are planned to be operated by Class 108 2-car set 51914/56492, except on dates marked * where these vehicles will be used and may be supplimented by one or more of 51566 and 59387:
May - 28th
June - 28th & 29th
July - 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th
August - 2nd*, 3rd*, 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 25th*, 27th
September - A fish and chip charter, date TBC
October - 29th
East Lancashire Railway
Services are currently operated by Class 104 50455/50517, Class 105 51485/56121, Class 122 55001 & Class 144 144009. A more regularly updated page than this one exists on another site which shows all diesel workings. Look out for DMU's in the listings: elrdiesel.info/locomotive-roster
Llangollen Railway
Services are currently operated by Class 104 50454/50528, Class 108 51933/56504, Class 109 50416/56171 & Class 127/108 51618/56223. The days where railcars are booked out are marked on the railways timetable page.
North Norfolk Railway
2025 services (except in June) will normally be provided by a 2-car set drawn from either Class 101 51192/79263 or Class 101/104 51188/56182. During the month of June all DMU services will be operated by W&M Railbus 79960 which is returning home for one month only!
Use the Opening Dates page on the NNR website to check DMU running days, services on the timetables are marked "Railcar". Ordinary days which feature DMU's are the Green and Maroon timetable days.
DMU's are not used during many special events, but are booked to feature at Rails & Ales*, Vintage Week, The Golden Years** & Victorian Sundays. (*Rails and Ales will feature both Railbus and DMU operation) (**Golden Years should see a 4-car formation, the only one booked for 2025)
The Festival on Rails and Fiftieth Finale events are still TBC whether railcars will feature or not. Timetables will be released on the railway's website closer the time.
Your railway or DMU missing? Feel free to submit your running dates.