Vehicle 55002
Class 122
Builder: GRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30419
Diagram: 539
Allocations
| 3w/e 17/05/58 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
| 30/06/68 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Oct-68 | Transferred to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| Jan-69 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Mar-72 | Transferred to | 65A (Eastfield) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | ED | |
| w/e 18/10/75 | Transferred to | HN (Hamilton) | |
| 7w/e 27/05/78 | Transferred to | IS (Inverness) | |
| 4w/e 29/03/80 | Transferred to | DE (Dundee) | |
| 01/03/82 | Transferred to | HA (Haymarket) | |
| 12/08/84 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) | |
| 16/09/84 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| Dec-86 | Withdrawn from | TS (Tyseley) |
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 55002 | 56292 | Noted 5th July 1958 | |||||||
| 55002 | 56291 | Noted 27/05/70 - at Glasgow Central1 | |||||||
| 55002 | 56291 | Noted 15/08/70 - on Hamilton depot1 | |||||||
| 02 | 55002 | 56291 | Listed at 66C - 1972 | ||||||
| 55002 | 56291 | 51536 | Noted 05/08/19742 | ||||||
| 55002 | 59326 | 50879 | Noted August 1975 | ||||||
| 158 | 55002 | 59326 | 50879 | Noted 25/08/75 - in Glasgow Central3 | |||||
| 52028 | 56388 | 55002 | Noted 01/09/1975 - at Glasgow Central4 | ||||||
| 55002 | Noted 05/09/76 - on Hamilton depot3 | ||||||||
| 50821 | 59329 | 55002 | Noted 30/03/1977 - at Glasgow Central 2 | ||||||
| 55002 | Noted 28/08/1978 - Branch Line Society The Fiddichburger Railtour | ||||||||
| 152 | 55002 | Noted circa 09/19795 | |||||||
| 101 | 55002 | Noted August 1981 | |||||||
| 402 | 55002 | Listed at HA - 17/06/84 | |||||||
| TS510 | 55002 | 59448 | 53093 | Noted circa 10/19845 | |||||
| TS052 | 55002 | Noted circa 05/19855 | |||||||
| TS052 | 55002 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| TS052 | 55002 | Noted circa 06/19865 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Gerald Brown
4: Jeremy Goodyear
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
15th June 1960
GRC&W double-ender W55002 is substituting for a Derby power car on the 8.04am Lapworth - Birmingham Snow Hill, seen between Widney Manor and Solihull on 15 June 1960. There was also a Swindon Cross-Country DMU in the formation, normally a steam working. Michael Mensing.
13th May 1964
Set number: 100
GRC&W 'double-ender' M55002 is seen south of Baptist End on 13 May 1964. Dudley is on the destination blind and it carries set number 100 in the cab window. Michael Mensing.
14th July 1976
Class 122 "bubble" 55002 is standing in for a Class 107 DMBS on the rear of this DMU formation departing from Glasgow Central on 14 July 1976. At the front is a Class 116. George Woods.
3rd May 1978
Sc55002 is in the loco-hauled formation on the overnight service from Glasgow Queen Street (where pictured) to Inverness, on May 3rd 1978. In ex-works condition (with GG logo) it had just been transferred from Hamilton to Inverness. Arnie Furniss.
28th August 1978
55002 at Burghead on the 28th August 1978 with the "Fiddichburger" BLS railtour Norman Smart.
27th August 1979
Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No. 2" rail tour 27 August 1979. Gloucester single railcar Sc55002 (class 122) is seen at Burghead. Passenger services here ceased in 1931. Jeremy Chapter.
27th August 1979
On 27 August 1979, the Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No 2" railtour is seen at Forres Goods loading dock. This class 122 "bubble car" was built by Gloucester RC&W Co. It was new in 1958 and at the time of the tour was allocated to Inverness. Jeremy Chapter.
27th August 1979
Loco 25049 stands in the yard at Keith Junction while "bubble car" SC55002 is in the platform during the Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No. 2" rail tour on 27 August 1979. Jeremy Chapter.
27th August 1979
Set number: 152
The Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No 2) railtour is seen at Keith on 27 August 1979 formed of Gloucester RC&W Co "bubble car" 55002, new in 1958. Diesel loco 25 049 is stabled (I think) in the yard. Jeremy Chapter.
27th August 1979
Set number: 152
The Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No 2) railtour is seen at Burghead on 27 August 1979 formed of Gloucester RC&W Co "bubble car" 55002, new in 1958. The station closed to passengers in 1931 but was still open at this time for the delivery of grain to the maltings. Jeremy Chapter.
27th August 1979
Set number: 152
Branch Line Society "Fiddichburger No. 2" rail tour 27 August 1979. Gloucester single railcar Sc55002 (class 122) is seen at Dufftown. This unit was new in 1958 at Tyseley and would run until December 1986. Dufftown station closed for passengers in 1968 but is now the headquarters for the Keith and Dufftown railway. Jeremy Chapter.
Unknown date
Set number: 101
Class 122 SC55002 working as the DMBS in a Class 101 set seen at Stirling circa early 1980s. Paul Redmond.
10th June 1982
A pair of Class 122 Gloucester Bubble Cars, Sc55002 and Sc55007, approach journey’s end at Carnoustie with the 09:07 service from Dundee, Thursday 10th June 1982. Brian McDevitt.
circa 1984
Set number: 402
55002 on Haymarket depot circa 1984. S Saunders.
14th July 1984
Set number: 402
Sc55002 is seen stabled at Haymarket on the 14th July 1984. To it's left is 55000. Hamish Stevenson.
8th October 1984
Set number: TS052
Trains from Stratford-upon-Avon waited in the up platform at Leamington for a path to let them run south out of the station before crossing over to return ready for their next trip. On 8 October 1984 the lights have been changed from white to red and as soon as the class 116 T608 has left for Birmingham Moor Street 55002 will be able to take its place in the down platform. Peter Tandy.
8th October 1984
Set number: TS052
The GRC&W class 122 single units were often to be found on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa shuttles. On 8 October 1984 55002 with unequal length exhaust pipes was on these duties and is seen here arriving at Leamington with the 10.12 from Stratford. The GWR signal box was replaced within a few years with a new solid-state facility on the other side of line and this was subsequently closed when control moved to the West Midlands Signalling Centre near Saltley in Birmingham. Peter Tandy.
14th December 1985
Set number: TS052
Class 122 55002, set number TS052, is seen outside the factory at Tyseley from the exhaust end on 14.12.1985. This was scrapped by Vic Berry in 1987. Andy Cole.
4th January 1986
Set number: TS052
Class 122 55002, set number T052, is seen outside the factory at Tyseley from the plain end on 04.01.1986. Andy Cole.
28th March 1986
Set number: TS052
55002 arrives at Stourbridge Junction some 3 minutes after leaving Stourbridge Town. 28/3/1986. Stephen Burdett.
18th May 1986
Set number: TS052
Stranger in the camp. Gloucester RCW Class 122 DMU 55002 sits in No4 Bay platform at Hereford station on Sunday 18th May 1986. John Crooks.
18th May 1986
Set number: TS052
Gloucester Class 122 DMU 55002 heads out of Hereford past the yard, bound for Worcester Shrub Hill according to the destination blind, with a passenger service on Sunday 18th May 1986. John Crooks.
28th August 1986
Set number: TS052
In 1986 Stratford-upon-Avon's platform 2 was the main departure platform into which arriving trains had to shunt after dropping off any passengers. On 28 August 1986 single unit 55002 was on the two-hourly Stratford to Leamington Spa shuttle and it's shown here leaving with 10.12 alongside a class 116 which had just arrived from Birmingham Moor Street. The exhaust smoke from 55002 clearly shows the individual firing strokes of the engines: the amount of smoke being typical after the long layover between trips. Peter Tandy.
25th September 1986
55002 and a companion sit in the sidings at Leamington Spa on 25th September 1986. Ian Buck.
October 1986
55002 is working the short lived Corby to Bedford service in October 1986 at Bedford. Ian Buck.
15th November 1986
Class 122 55002 is seen withdrawn at Tyseley on 15.11.1986. It had been stripped of useful parts and was waiting to go to Vic Berry's for scrapping. Andy Cole.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 17th June 1983
Sc55007 with Sc55002 at Perth. Phil Bidwell.
Date: 1984
Set number: 411
55011 is the nearest of three Class 122 bubble cars seen at Haymarket depot in 1984, the other two are probably 55000 and 55002. S Saunders.
Date: circa 1984
This is presumed to be 55011 (left) and 55002 (right, with a cabside damage). Taken at Haymarket depot circa 1984. S Saunders.
Date: 14th July 1984
55000 is sandwiched between classmates 55011 (left) and 55002 (right) at Haymarket depot on the 14th July 1984. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 14th July 1984
Set number: 411
Sc55011 sits in front of Sc55000 and Sc55002 at Haymarket on 14/7/84. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 28th June 1986
Set number: TS201
In Longbridge station on 28 June 1986 is Class 108/101 set TS201 (presumably 51910 + 54361) with 55002 attached in the down platform with a service from Four Oaks to Redditch. A 6 coach class 116 led by T624 heads towards Birmingham New Street at high(ish!) speed on the up through road. I don't know the working but assume that it was one of the infrequent Cheltenham to Birmingham trains or possibly a service from Hereford to Birmingham New Street via Bromsgrove. Peter Tandy.
Date: 28th June 1986
Set number: TS201
Given the number of trains on the Birmingham Cross City Line and the reliability problems being suffered by Tyseley depot it is hardly surprising that quite a few mixed-up sets were around. In 28 June 1986 T201 formed of classes 101 and 108 (presumably 54361 + 51910) along with class 121 55002 was about to stop at Longbridge with a service from Four Oaks to Redditch. Peter Tandy.
Date: 23rd October 1986
Set number: TS401
I saw this 5 coach set arrive at Stratford upon Avon from my nearby home on the afternoon of 23 October 1986. I picked up a camera and went to the line, after speaking to the signalman, to take this shot of the return working showing a 4 car class 101 set coupled to single unit 55002 forming the 16.30 to Birmingham Moor Street. Stratford's well-known gasholders, not to mention the semaphore signalling and the associated signal box, have long since disappeared. Peter Tandy.