History

The British Rail Classes 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham, England from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. These classes proved to be some of the most successful and longest-lived of BR's First Generation DMUs, second in longevity only to the Class 121, with the final five units being withdrawn on 24 December 2003. The oldest set was, by then, just over 47 years old.

Class 101 DMUs were used across much of the British Rail network (with the notable exception of the Southern Region - apart from some inter-regional workings across the North Downs line to Redhill). Notable services included:

East of Scotland (to/from Edinburgh Waverley)

South Glasgow

West Midlands

Teesside

Tyneside

West Yorkshire

Cardiff 

Thames Valley

Greater Manchester