M79900 "Iris"

M79900 is the only survivor of a type that numbered just two: the Derby Lightweight "Double Ender". The vehicle, and companion M79901 were put to use on the Buckingham branch in the 1950's & 60's before that line closed. Unfortunately being a very early DMU the Derby Lightweights were non standard and all were withdrawn by 1969, a time when DMU preservation was non existant. Fortunately though the vehicle survived as it was taken into Departmental use as a route learner by Derby RTC and later became "Test Coach Iris". This 30 year life extention was enough for the vehicle to be preserved at the Midland Railway Centre in 2000 and restoration soon followed reversing all the changes that had been made since it carried passengers in the 60's. One of the more interesting changes made in preservation was converting the unit from the yellow diamond coupling code that made it non-standard to the more common blue square. The unique single unit made its debut at the MRC's 2005 DMU Gala.

In 2007 the decision was made to move M79900 to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Derbyshire. It visited the CVR as a stop between the two railways, and was here between August 2007 and February 2008. Unfortunately the way 2007's running dates worked meant that although Iris was here for six months, it was only out for three public days. After an initial test run in August, Iris was the star attraction at our 2007 Gala weekend, running alongside M50455 & M50517 on the Saturday (making the first DMU passing on the CVR for over 40 years) and in multiple with them on the Sunday. The same 3-car formation was in use for the Ghost Train event. In February it appeared at an EMRPS photo charter and was moved soon after to Wirksworth where it now operates.