Iris 1 & 2

Test vehicles Iris 1 and 2

The R&D Division of BR utilised two diesel units which were known as Iris 1 (No: RDB975010) - a single car Derby Lightweight unit, and Iris 2 (also Lab 19), a two car Metro Cammell Class 101 unit, converted from two power cars Nos:53222 and 53338.

The author caught up with these stalwarts in their latter years when they were being operated by Railtest and took part in several test series with both units.

Iris 1 was originally built as a two-car Derby Lightweight DMU in 1954 and was later converted into two single cars. This contemporary article from the September 1956 issue of the London Midland Region magazine describes the intended use of the singe car unit M79900 on the Buckingham branch. John Spencer Gilks also has a number of photographs of M79900 in his excellent trilogy of books 'Dawn of the Diesels'.

It was used by the R&DD for radio survey work and also general testing and was originally painted in the Division's red and blue livery and designated 'Test Coach Iris '.

Prior to its retirement the unit was re-painted into BR green and carried both its original running number as well as its Departmental one.

Iris 1 is now retired and has been restored at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley Derbyshire to virtually original condition and was used occasionally in passenger service on the MRC.

In early 2008 it made a visit to the Churnet Valley and then to its new home on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway where it runs regular passenger diagrams most weekends. For more information see the railway's site at www.e-v-r.com.

Iris 2 was retired at the end of the 1990's but was back in action in 2004 conducting yet more radio surveys. However, it has been given the all-over yellow livery favoured by Network Rail. At least it looks better than the hideous Railtrack livery of lime green and dark blue.

In late 2007 Iris 2 was finally retired and was offered for sale. In March 2008 it moved to the West Somerset Railway at Dunster, where it is now painted green and used by the Permanent Way Department.

Here is a selection of photos of Iris 1 and 2.

Click on the picture for a bigger image - photos are the author's where not credited

Iris 1
	Pictured at High Wycombe in its earlier red and blue R&DD livery, Test Coach Iris heads off towards Marylebone whilst a class 50-hauled Down express approaches behind 50004. Colin Berry
	Here's Test Coach Iris inside Stanton Tunnel on the Old Dalby test track conducting radio tests on a leaky feeder cable in the 1970's Author's collection
	A colour version of the above photograph - you can almost smell the exhaust! Author's collection
	Test Coach Iris emerges into the daylight at the south end of Stanton Tunnel Author's collection
	Test Coach Iris is seen at Grimston on the Old Dalby test track during trials of a shoegear gauging device in May 1997. It was also used at the test track to trial the prototype TPWS system.
	In July of 1997 the unit was based at Bletchley depot whilst gauge-clearing the route from Bletchley to Northampton prior to the introduction of class 319 units on the Rugby to Gatwick services. Note it displays its original number on the side and departmental number on the end.
	Another shot but this time at an unknown location - probably during radio survey work
	In the summer of 1999 Iris 1 stands at Littlehampton whilst the train crew nip off to buy some rock. This was during an extensive radio survey on Railtrack's Southern Zone
	Iris 1 restored to its original condition pictured at the MRC, Butterley on 18th August 2005
	Amongst other DMU's Iris is pictured at Cheddleton on the CVR on 2nd February 2008
Iris 2
	Not long after conversion Iris 2 (Lab 19) is seen here passing Salisbury Tunnel Junction wearing the later R&D livery of grey and blue. Geoff Gillham
	Another shot in the grey livery - possibly at Reading Steve Dyks
	In 1999 Iris 2 is pictured at the end of the Colnbrookdale branch from West Drayton whilst carrying out a radio survey on GW Zone. This is next to the end of one of the runways at Heathrow.
	Inside Iris 2
	Pictured at Paddington during the GW Zone radio survey in 1999 Chris Ward
	Iris 2 at Bourne End ..................
	...............and this time at Marlow
	Another view of Iris 2 on its travels on the GW Zone in 1998
	And in its latest incarnation in yellow with a new set number 901002 at RTC in June 2004
	Still going strong on 8th March 2005
	Iris 2 at Dunster on the West Somerset Railway on 14th June 2008
	The unit has now been repainted into a strange hue of green - a livery it never carried in R&DD use. It should make the Pway gangs on the WSR a very nice comfortable messing unit. Pictured at Dunster on 2nd October 2008

Together

Iris 1 and Iris 2 pictured in the workshop at the RTC in the mid 1990's

Author's collection

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