Vehicle 59278
Class 120
Builder: BR Swindon Works
Layout: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Lot Number: 30336
Diagram: 561
Allocations
| 4w/e 17/05/58 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| w/e 06/12/80 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 22/11/82 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) |
Notes
4th May 1958 - new at Swindon Works
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 31/12/68 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 15/04/69 - at Selly Oak1 | ||||||
| CTN520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | |||||
| CTN520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 20/08/1971 - at Abergavenny2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 26/08/1971 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 18/09/1971 - at Crewe2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 02/11/72 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/06/1973 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 05/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 13/08/1973 - on 16:35 Shrewsbury to Hereford with 55029 locked out of use.3 | ||||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot4 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/03/1974 - at Cardiff Central3 | ||||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 25/05/74 - on 2M67 1135 Cardiff-Crewe attached 55025 and C504 50715 + 59588 + 50665 | |||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 19/08/74 - on 1913 Cheltenham-Cardiff | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 26/08/74 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Crewe3 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/08/1974 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| C552 | 50723 | 59278 | 51573 | Noted 06/08/1976 - at Cardiff Central - 2 DMBCs3 | |||||
| 51573 | 59278 | 51578 | Noted 04/09/76 - at Bristol (two DMBSs)1 | ||||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 12/01/1978 - Cardiff Central5 | |||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 25/08/78 - 2C58 1820 Bristol TM-Cardiff with C612 | |||||
| C505 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 27/02/1980 - At Newport Station 09455 | |||||
| C505 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted circa 08/19826 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
Images:
circa June 1976
An official image (1 of 27, negative D766/3381/1) from a internal BR photo album titled "Part Refurbished Class 120 Prototype 1 and 'CIBA Giegy' Ceiling". This shows the ends of centre car W59278 and a DMBC, presumably long term partner W50723. The paint date on the underframe is 17/12/75. The exhausts have a grille over them to prevent anyone touching them, in particular anyone climbing up the steps from track level to reset the 'butterfly' or to split the gangways. British Rail.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: circa 1974
Set number: C520
Two Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country DMUs approaching Church Stretton from the Shrewsbury direction circa 1974. Leading is set C520 - W50723 and presumably W59278 (with red stripe for the buffet) and W50674. John Clark / Adrian Sutterby Collection.
Date: circa June 1976
An official image (2 of 27, negative D766/3381/2) from a internal BR photo album titled "Part Refurbished Class 120 Prototype 1 and 'CIBA Giegy' Ceiling". This shows the ends of centre car W59278 and DMS W50674. The paint date on the buffet underframe is 18/12/75, the power car has a works date of June 1976. Note the exhaust is painted rail blue and only has a grille over the lower part, unlike the DMBC in image 1. The four sets of four studs to the left of the exhaust once held footsteps, normally the bottom one would be left in place. Also note the two different bottoms to the water filler pipes, the one on the buffet signifies that it is for drinking water. British Rail.
Date: 30th June 1979
Set number: C508
A line up at Gloucester Horton Road depot on the afternoon of Saturday 30th June 1979, with Worcester Class 08 shunter 08 778, Stratford depot visitor 37 263, and Class 120 Swindon Cross Country unit C508 (presumably 50674 + 59278 + 50723). Gordon Edgar.