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Vehicle 56315 / 99900

Class 100

Builder: GRC&W
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30445
Diagram: 537

Allocations

w/e 09/02/58	New to	64A (St Margarets)
c. summer-58	Transferred to	Leith Central
Aug-59	Transferred to	66C (Hamilton)
3w/e 05/03/60	Transferred to	64H (Leith Central)
Jul-60	On loan to	66C (Hamilton)
2w/e 28/01/61	Transferred to	64H (Leith Central)
3w/e 30/04/66	Transferred to	66C (Hamilton)
4w/e 30/06/67	Transferred to	64H (Leith Central)
19/05/68	Transferred to	31A (Cambridge)
4w/e 30/05/70	Transferred to	32A (Norwich)
May-73	Depot code change	NO
Sep-73	Depot code change	NR
11/10/73	Withdrawn from	NR (Norwich)
p/e 29/12/73	Reinstated	NR (Norwich)	- (store)
w/e 12/01/74	Withdrawn from	NR (Norwich)

Notes

24/03/75 - noted at Cambridge
15/05/84 - noted at Norwich

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56315 - original number
FA99900 - from Mar-75 (to private ownership)

Department Use as FA99900

Private Owner - Fisons Weedkiller train From 3/75 to 1988.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51123	56315	As delivered to 64A - January 1958
	51119	56315	Transfer to Hamilton - Aug-59 - from Leith Central
	51123	56315	Transfer to 66C - 4w/e 07/05/66
	50339	56315	Noted 05/11/70 - at Birmingham New Street with 51277 + 56437¹
	51277	56315	Noted 21/12/70 - at Cambridge¹
	51204	56315	Noted 04/06/71 - at Bury St Edmunds²
	51204	56315	Noted 12/06/71 - at Bury St Edmunds²
	51114	56315	Noted 01/09/71 - at Doncaster¹
79	51223	56315	Noted circa e1972 - at Bury St Edmunds²
62	51283	56315	Noted circa late 1972 - at Bury St Edmunds²
76	51217	56315	Noted circa late 1972 - at Ipswich³
72	51126	56315	Noted 10/02/73 - on Norwich depot³
76	51217	56315	Noted circa e1973 - at Bury St Edmunds²
	51120	56315	Noted 18/08/1973 - at Peterborough⁴
	51120	56315	Noted 01/09/73 - at Peterborough¹
69	51120	56315	Noted 27/10/73 - at Bury St Edmunds²

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Ipswich Transport Society
4: Peter Wallwork

Images:

15th March 1958

A GRC&W twin set heading for North Berwick at Craigentinny on 15 March 1958. DTCL Sc56315 leads. Stuart Mackay Collection.

1962

A GRC&W twin awaits departure from Platform 7 of Stirling station on its next trip to Larbert. DTC Sc56315 is closest, it was allocated to Leith Central at the time, and later became part of the Fisons weedkiller train. corriebob.

7th April 1974

Experimental liveries applied to E56315 (yellow) and E56317 (red), seen at Wolverton on 7th April 1974. Neither vehicle seems to have returned to passenger traffic, 56315 became part of the Fisons weedkiller train in July '74 and 56317 was in preservation by 1975 at the Gwilli Railway. Keith Gunner.

7th April 1974

Views of the experimental liveries applied to E56315 (white-orange) and E56317 (blue) at Wolverton on 7th April 1974. Keith Gunner.

March 1975

56315 during conversion at St Rollox to 99900. The car was still in it's experimental livery. A replacement front window has been fitted in the front saloon. March 1975. Ken Barnes.

March 1975

56315 at St Rollox for it's conversion to 99900. The car was still in it's experimental livery, but this shows that a blue stripe was also tried as well as the earlier orange stripe, this one having the BR Logo below rather than on the stripe. March 1975. Ken Barnes.

18th May 1978

The Fisons Weedkilling Train had been stabled in the yard of what was once Lostock Hall MPD on the evening of May 18th 1978. The spray coach numbered FA99900, had been converted from a Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company Class 100 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) DMU car E56315 that had been built in 1958. Lostock Hall MPD had been the last operational BR steam depot, and following the end of steam in August 1968, the depot serviced and stabled diesels in the Preston area until 1973. The depot then became a railway wagon repair facility until closure in 1990. Martyn Hilbert.

18th May 1978

In the yard of the former Lostock Hall Depot then used for wagon repairs, the Fisons Weedkilling Train was stabled between duties on May 18th 1978. The spray coach, FA99900 was a former Gloucester RC&W DMU car E56315, built in 1958. The other vehicles in the consist were an LMS coach and two GWR full brakes. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 100 DMU at Oxenhope, Keighley & Worth Valley

June 1979

99900 at Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley line in June 1979. It was converted to blue star for remote control of the loco at the other end. Ken Barnes.

14th June 1979

99900 on the Fisons weedkilling train coming into Exeter from the Crediton direction at Cowley B Jct, with a Class 25 at the other end. 14th June 1979. Neil Cannon.

19th August 1980

The Fisons weedkiller train at Southport on 19/8/80. Robert Frise.

19th August 1980

FA99900 at Southport on 19/8/80. Robert Frise.

15th July 1982

The Fisons weed control train was stabled between duties at the former Lostock Hall MPD on July 15th 1982. The nearest vehicle was FA99900 in use as a spray control coach, and was originally a Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company DMU car E56315 dating from 1958. Lostock Hall MPD was the last operational steam shed on the British Railways standard gauge network, and after steam finished in August 1968, it became a diesel depot until 1973. It then was used for repairing wagons & coaches, until closed completely in 1986, when the site remained derelict until demolition in 1990. The area remains undeveloped and the shed area with the footprint of the buildings and filled-in inspection pits, is still clearly defined. Martyn Hilbert.

3rd July 1983

Ex-Class 100 Gloucester RCW DTC 56315 as FA99900 in the Fisons weedkilling train, on Chester MPD 3-7-83. Converted from E56315 at Glasgow Works in early 1975. The Fisons train was based at Chesterton Junction at this time. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

May 1984

FA99900 leads the Fison's weedkiller train into Walton on Naze in early May 1984. Colin Brooks.

3rd July 1984

Gloucester RC&W Fisons weedkiller spray coach FA99900 at Chester MPD on 3-7-84. Just visible on the bodyside is 'FBC Limited'. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

28th June 1985

No longer having the two digit headcode box, 99900 is on the rear of the Fisons weedkilling train passing Clay Cross, 28/6/85. Paul Moxon.

12th September 1985

FA99900 - the former 56315 - on the rear of the Fisons weedkilling train seen at Machynlleth on the 12th September 1985. Hamish Stevenson.

circa June 1986

Class 100 FA99900 tails the Fisons weedkiller passing W & G Garden Garden centre at Colchester circa June 1986. Colin Brooks.

6th October 1986

The Fisons Weedkilling train stabled in the engineers sidings at Sutton Bridge Junction on 6th October 1986. The formation of the train is Spray Coach FA99900, ex-Class 100 DTC 56315, then two ex-GWR full brakes as stores van (order unknown), FA99901 - Gangwayed Passenger Brake 150 and FA99902 - Gangwayed Passenger Brake 164, then Staff & Dormitory Coach FA99904, LMS Corridor Composite (Lot 1405), . The water tanks can just be seen at the very back. Photo taken from the cab of my passing loco at the head of the return empties Albion tanks. Paul James.

8th May 1987

FA99900 is now in green when seen passing through Leeds on 8/5/87. Malcolm Clements.

9th May 1987

56315 is seen as FA99900, part of the Fison's weedkilling train, at Huddersfield on the 9th May 1987. Malcolm Clements.

2nd July 1988

The Fisons weed control train had a former Gloucester RC&W DMU trailer used a spray control vehicle. Formerly numbered E56315, FA99900 was seen on the July 2nd 1988 stabled between duties at Dock Street Sidings Preston. These sidings were at one time adjacent to the former Lancaster Canal Basin, the site of which was occupied by the Preston Division Offices, Ladywell House - which can be seen behind the train. Martyn Hilbert.

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