GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Moor Street Station: gwrms2755

View of a three-car, four wheel ACV Lightweight Diesel Unit standing at Moor Street's Platform 1 with a local service. The Great Western Railway led the field with their fleet of diesel railcars, designed for both branch passenger and lightly loaded main line trains, which came in single unit, multiple unit, passenger and parcels versions. After nationalisation the British Transport Commission also started thinking along these lines and one result, in many ways the precursor of the DMUs that eventually took over the branchlines of Britain, was the ACV lightweight diesel train. Powered by two AEC 125hp diesel engines, as used in London's buses, the train was formed of three four-wheeled cars and was noted for its quick acceleration, although the ride was a little rough if the track was anything other than smooth! Finished in a grey livery, Car Nº 1 had a driving compartment and two saloons, each seating 16, a Guard's compartment and luggage compartment with a second driving position. Car Nº 2 (at other end of the unit) had two saloons, with 24 and 21 seats respectively, and a driving compartment whilst in the middle of the unit was Car Nº 3 with 52 seats in two saloons. The units could, therefore, be assembled as a single, a two-car or a three-car train. Gangways were provided between the cars enabling the Guard/Conductor to check tickets and/or collect fares. The seats were bus-type and upholstered in strawberry pink. As mentioned above acceleration was brisk, to about 45 mph, though the rather low top speed of 50 mph would have been a problem if used on the main line. It was to be another three years before the 'production' DMUs based on the heavier Mk I coach were to be introduced to traffic. In hindsight a low-cost, easy-maintenance, lightweight unit such as the ACV might have enabled some of the more marginal branchlines to avoid closure.

The Railway World, January 1954

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