FGDMUs - Part 5 - Metro-Cammell Lightweight (MCLW) Sets

First Generation Diesel Multiple Units - Part 5

Basic Facts for the Metro-Cammell Lightweight (MCLW) Sets

This is Part 5 of an occasional series of basic facts for my uploaded FG DMU repaints for MSTS.

This part covers the Metro-Cammell (MCLW) sets. The make-up of the sets is defined in the Consists section of the UKTS uploads, and these represent the typical formation for 2 car sets. (It should of course be pointed out that no formation was ever “cast in tablets of stone”!)

The Metro-Cammell (MCLW) and Derby Lightweight (DLW) DMUs were a result of the deliberations of a committee set up in 1951 as part of the Modernisation Plan.

The first sets began work in early 1956 on the Bury-Bacup service with some continuing through to Manchester Victoria via Heywood. They continued to operate on this route until 1961, when they were replaced by Cravens sets. Between 1961 and 1965 they were transferred to Buxton and Macclesfield, and it was from these locations that they were scrapped in 1967.

During 1956 further sets were allocated to Lincolnshire and East Anglia areas, although by 1957 they were all in East Anglia. They were based at Norwich or Stratford operating on numerous routes in the East Anglia region; e.g. Thetford-Swaffham, Harwich-Ipswich, Witham-Maldon, Wickford-Southminster.

These sets were eventually taken out of service and scrapped circa 1968/1969, although two power cars were taken into departmental use at Derby for the Railway Research Department, and these were scrapped in 1981.

For more detailed information on these I would recommend “Lightweight DMUs” by Evan Green-Hughes published by Ian Allan Publishing.