Caption:

The BR Modernisation plan as set out in 1955 foresaw

the complete withdrawal of steam power to be replaced by diesels and strategically situated electrification. It was a coherent and extremely comprehensive plan except for the approach to dieselisation which was basically scattergun in that it involved the ordering of new equipment from many different suppliers assuming at least one would be the right choice. Not only was this costly but difficult to control leading to many different types of train and locomotive being built, often without success. DMUs were not immune and whilst this Class 100 built by the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Co lived a long life and one is here waiting at Chester with a stopping train to Manchester Piccadilly, there were very few of them, amongst the more common BR/Derby units, which required more spare parts than necessary and different skills to maintain them.