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Set L123

These formations have been noted:

55023 Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
55023 Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
55023 Listed at RG - 03/03/80
55023 Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
55023 Noted circa 02/19861
55023 Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
55023 Noted 24/01/19871
55023 Noted 29/06/1987 - at Willesden depot2
55023 Listed at OO - Aug-87
55023 Noted circa 02/19891
55023 Listed at OO - 21/01/91
55023 Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
55023 Listed at BY - November 1993 - Sector NNDX

Formation Sources
1: Eddie Knorn
2: Robert Chilton

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

29th December 1972

Class 121 no. W55023 (L123), awaits departure from Ealing Broadway for Greenford on 29 December 1972, while an unidentified English Electric type 3 (class 37) passes light engine westbound. Paul Braybrook.

Class 121 DMU at Henley

19th January 1973

A single car Class 121 DMU (which appears to be L123/55023) is seen approaching Henley on the 19th of January 1973. The KDH Archive.

Class 121 DMU at Henley-on-Thames

1st June 1974

Class 121 'Bubble Car' L123 (W55023) slumbers in Henley-on-Thames station before returning to Twyford on 1 June 1974. The original buildings and train shed were demolished in 1975, being rebuilt slightly to the south. Kevin Lane.

Class 121 DMU at West Ealing

February 1975

Pressed Steel 2-car dmu set made up of Class 121 railcar L123 (No.W55023) & Class 149 Driving Trailer (designed to work with Class 121 & 122 railcars) No.L281 (W56281) both in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends at Weat Ealing on a Greenford - Ealing Broadway service, 02/75. Hugh Llewelyn.

Class 121 DMU at Reading or Southall

circa late 1970s

Class 121 W55023 (and W56281 behind), possibly on Southall or Reading depot circa late 1970s. Paul Redmond.

Class 121 DMU at Swindon Works

13th September 1979

W55023 at Swindon Works on the 13th September 1979. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Swindon Works

13th September 1979

Swindon works on the 13th September 1979 sees W55023 in amongst Class 116/120 and Met-Camm vehicles. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

23rd October 1979

Sunlight & shade as a grimy Class 121 single-unit W55023 had arrived at Ealing Broadway with the shuttle service from Greenford on October 23rd 1979. The 121's operated the 3.3 mile service from the Great Western main line at Ealing Broadway to the single bay platform at Greenford that was flanked either side by London Underground Central Line tracks. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 121 DMU at West Ealing

28th December 1980

In the last of the evening light 55022 takes the Greenford branch at West Ealing on the 28th December 1980. Ian Buck.

Class 121 DMU at Banbury

26th January 1981

Class 121 W55023 is seen in platform 2 of Banbury station with a DTS on 26 January 1981. Rob Edwards.

Class 121 DMU at Maidenhead

4th August 1981

Class 121 55023 standing in for a DMS in a 117 set (with 59519 + 51367) departing Maidenhead, 4th August 1981. Paul James.

Class 121 DMU at Twyford

15th August 1981

55023 at Twyford after arriving from Henley, 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.

Class 121 DMU at Henley

15th August 1981

55023 at Henley on the 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.

Class 121 DMU at London Paddington

1982

55023 and another Class 121 bubble car in Paddington station in 1982. John Law.

Class 121 DMU at Banbury

24th December 1982

Class 121 unit 55023 departs from Banbury with a local service for Oxford on Christmas Eve, 1982. Lewis Bevan.

Class 121 DMU at Windsor and Eton Central

1985

55023 and a trailer car after arrival at Windsor and Eton Central in 1985. John Law.

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

Unknown date

A Greenford-bound single car (L123, 55023) enters Ealing Broadway in the 1980s. Ian Docwra.

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

1985

55023 working the Greenford - Ealing Broadway shuttle in 1985. Ian Docwra.

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

circa 1985

A hopeful guard waits for custom at Ealing Broadway, working the Greenford shuttle with 55023 circa 1985. Ian Docwra.

Class 121 DMU at Shiplake

1987

L123 arrives at Shiplake in 1987. John Law.

Class 121 DMU at Oxford

May 1987

Class 121 bubble car 55023 in Oxford station, May 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Greenford

18th August 1987

Class 121 Set L123 on a 12XX West Ealing - Greenford service departs Greenford (at 13XX) on Tuesday 18th August 1987. Colin Brooks.

Class 121 DMU at Twyford

24th October 1987

Class 121 W55023 Twyford 24 October 1987. Alistair Ness.

Class 121 DMU at Reading

November 1987

A pair of single unit Bubble Cars on the Bedwyn shuttles seen at Reading in November 1987. Blue / grey 55023 at the eastern end and Network South East liveried 55020 is at the western end. Murray Liston.

Class 121 DMU at Paddington

January 1988

55023 leaves a smoky trail behind as it leaves Paddington on the rear of this formation in January 1988. MIke Cooper.

Class 121 DMU at Greenford

May 1989

Class 121 55023 waits in the bay at Greenford, May 1989. Alistair Ness.

Class 121 DMU at Greenford

May 1989

Class 121 55023 rests in the bay at Greenford, May 1989. Alistair Ness.

Class 121 DMU at Southall

circa August 1989

Pressed Steel bubble car 55023 on the rear of a Class 117 departing from Southall circa August 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Taplow

26th October 1989

Fallen down bubble 55023 at Taplow near Maidenhead on 26/10/89. It had hit a bogie which had become detached from one of the derailed wagons while working a staff train. Martin Callaghan.

Class 121 DMU at Taplow

26th October 1989

Class 121 bubble 55023 lies on its side after hitting a bogie which had become detached from a derailed wagon while working a staff train at Taplow near Maidenhead on 26/10/89. Martin Callaghan.

Class 121 DMU at Ealing Broadway

circa 1990

Pressed Steel bubble 55023 at Ealing Broadway circa 1990. Peter Brabham Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Southall

circa late 1990

55023 at Southall, working as part of a Class 117 set circa late 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Paddington

Unknown date

A very nice line up at Paddington, with 55023 closest. Undated. Gazza Prescott.

Class 121 DMU at London Paddington

31st January 1991

Class 121 55023 sits alongside 47715 in London Paddington on 31 January 1991. The blind displays Sorry not in Service. Keith Miller.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

1993

W55023 at Bletchley in 1993. John Law.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

1993

55023 awaiting departure from Bedford with a Bletchley service, 1993. John Law.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

17th April 1993

Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55023 and 55027 stand at Bedford before working the 13:40 service to Bletchley on 17 April 1993. Brian Creasey.

Class 121 DMU at Lidlington

29th May 1993

Towards the end of its working life, Pressed Steel class 121 W55023 was repainted in an approximation of its original livery. Here it is seen working a Bletchley to Bedford service near Lidlington on the 29th May 1993. Mike Dean.

Class 121 DMU at Stewartby

5th June 1993

Bubble car 55023 enters Stewartby with a service for Bletchley, 5th June 93. 54A South Dock.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

30th July 1993

Retro green 55023 at Bletchley on the 30th July 1993. Mark Fletcher.

Class 121 DMU at Wolverton Works

25th September 1993

1960 built Pressed Steel Co. Diesel railcar no.55023 (set L123) is seen in the works sidings at Wolverton Carriage Works on September 25, 1993 carrying early BR green which had been applied in March 1993 so the railcar joined the BR heritage livered fleet despite being operated by Network South-East. This railcar had been allocated to Bletchley Depot from 09/12/92 for use on the Bedford to Bletchley 'Marston Vale' line having moved from Old Oak Common Depot on the Western Region. After rail privatisation the unit moved to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in March 1997 ahead of formal withdrawal which came on 09/04/1997. Adrian Nicholls.

Class 121 DMU at Wolverton Works

25th September 1993

Class 121 single unit 55023 exhibited at Wolverton Works Open Day on 25 September 1993. This unit was in regular use at the time on Bletchley-Bedford trains. Lewis Bevan.

Class 121 DMU at Lidlington

19th January 1994

The 13.50 Bletchley-Bedford arrives at Lidlington on 19 January 1994. The train is formed by Class 121 no. 55023 (in green livery) with Class 117 set L709 (51344/51386). Lewis Bevan.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

20th January 1994

Two Pressed Steel bubble cars, 55023 closest, at Bletchley on 22 January 1994. AndrewHA.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

22nd January 1994

Retro-green Class 121 55023 at Bletchley with a classmate on 22-01-94. AndrewHA.

Class 121 DMU at Stewartby

March 1994

Retro-green bubble 55023 at Forders Sidings, Stewartby's outer distant on the Marston Vale line, in March 1994. Nicholas Youngman.

Class 121 DMU at Millbrook

March 1994

55023 is working a Marston Vale line service when seen at Millbrook in March 1994. Nicholas Youngman.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

28th March 1994

The 17:50 to Bletchley at Bedford on March 23, 1994, operated by 55023. John Carter.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

16th April 1994

Class 121 DMU No. 55023 stands at Bletchley working the 14:50 service to Bedford on 16 April 1994. Brian Creasey.

Class 121 DMU at Chalfont & Latimer

May 1994

In May 1994 55023 worked the shuttle service to Chesham as part of the "Steam on the Met". Here at Chalfont & Latimer. Ian Buck.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

25th June 1994

55023 at Bletchley on 25.6.94. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Kempston Hardwick.

26th November 1994

55023 calls at the little halt of Kempston Hardwick on the 26th November 1994. Ian Buck.

Class 121 DMU at Stewartby

26th November 1994

55023 seen at Stewartby on the 26th November 1994. Ian Buck.

Class 121 DMU at Kempston

Unknown date

Class 121 bubble 55023 at Kempston, date unknown. John Grey Turner.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford Midland Road

1995

Retro-green 55023 in Bedford Midland Road, 1995. Graham Baker.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

circa 1995

Retro-green Class 121 "bubble car" 55023 seen at Bletchley. Date unknown, the white buffer edges suggest the 1994-6 period. Robert Forsythe.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

29th March 1995

On a murky day 55023 waits departure to Bedford at Bletchley on the 29th March 1995. Ian Buck.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

circa 1995

The Bletchley - Bedford line employed vintage class 121 single units in the late 1990s pending replacement by class 150s. Here is 55023 in the branch platform at Bletchley in circa 1995. Stephen Burdett.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford Midland

circa 1995

Class 121 55023 waits departure for Bletchley from Bedford Midland in circa 1995. Stephen Burdett.

Class 121 DMU at Woburn Sands

15th June 1995

As a change to the ubiquitous NSE stripey livery unit L123 in BR Green livery is seen on the approach to Woburn Sands station on 15 06 1995. Paul Fleet.

Class 121 DMU at Millbrook

13th November 1995

Class 121 55023 forming a Bedford to Bletchley service departs Millbrook station on 13 November 1995. Andrew Walker.

Class 121 DMU at Millbrook

13th November 1995

Class 121 55023 pulls into Millbrook on a rather grim 13 November 1995 with a Bedford to Bletchley service. Andrew Walker.

Class 121 DMU at Millbrook

13th November 1995

The signalman goes to open the level crossing gates at Millbrook station on the Bedford-Bletchley line as 55023 departs on a rather dismal 13th November 1995. Andrew Walker.

Class 121 DMU at Bletchley

August 1996

Retro-green 55023 with a NSE-liveried classmate at Bletchley in August 1996. Nicholas Youngman.

Class 121 DMU at St Albans Abbey

11th August 1996

At St Albans Abbey Pressed Steel Class 121 DMBS 55023 heads the 08.44 to Watford Junction attached to two-car Class 117 set 117704 (presumably 51383 + 51341) on 11 August 1996. Dave Warby.

Class 121 DMU at St Albans Abbey

11th August 1996

At St Albans Abbey Pressed Steel Class 121 DMBS 55023 heads the 08.44 to Watford Junction attached to two-car Class 117 set 117704 (presumably 51383 + 51341) on 11 August 1996. Dave Warby.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

12th October 1996

Class 121 55023 at Bedford, probably taken at the open day on October 12, 1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

12th October 1996

Class 121 55023 at Bedford, probably taken at the open day on October 12, 1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford depot

12th October 1996

55023 at Bedford open day, 12th October 1996. John Grey Turner.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

12th October 1996

Class 121 no. 55023 displayed at Bedford Open Day on October 12, 1996. Lewis Bevan.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford depot

12th October 1996

55023 on display at a Bedford depot open day, 12th October 1996. John Grey Turner.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

Unknown date

Set L123 - Pressed Steel bubble car 55023 - in Bedford station, date unknown. John Grey Turner.

Class 121 DMU at Bedford

Unknown date

Retro-green Class 121 bubble car 55023 at Bedford, date unknown. John Grey Turner.


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