Of the first generation of Diesel Multiple Units introduced as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan in the 1950s, the type built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham between 1956 and 1959 was one of the longest-lived and most successful. BR hoped that by replacing steam with DMUs on lines like ours, costs would be reduced sufficiently to make such rural lines viable. The Whitby-Pickering-Malton line was thus an early recipient of units like this, which served until the closure of the line in 1965. 527 Class 101s were built and 106 of the similar class 102 (same bodywork, different engine) and the last units weren't withdrawn until Christmas Eve 2003. 

Set 101685 is made up of three coaches, all of which were built in 1956-57 but had varying independent careers. By 1997, they had been combined as a set and at this point the set was repainted in version of the old BR Green as an advertisement for the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch line. Quickly acquiring the nickname "Daisy" after the class 101 DMU featured in Rev. Awdry's Railway Stories, she was one of the last of the class to be retired, in December 2003, and was a natural candidate for preservation.

Daisy is on loan while we are refurbishing our own unit, 101680. Ironically, her centre car (59539) was originally part of unit 101685 but made her way independently to the NYMR and currently "belongs" to 101680. It is good to see the two reunited...