Set Numbers / Formations

Tyseley 117 / 118 Sets Allocation History

by Robert Chilton

L = RG Reading (London)
B = BR Bristol Bath Road
P = LA Plymouth Laira
T = TS Tyseley (Birmingham)

The formations for each set remain the same for all years as in the Tyseley 1988 list, except T314, see note. Set numbers carried in the following years (officially):

* T314 - In 1988, as B439, this set was listed as a 2-car set with no centre trailer; the trailer was already allocated to Tyseley. Although previously allocated to BR and still listed by it's B-set number, the actual vehicles of the 2-car set in 1988 were shown as actually allocated to LA, but the set number was not altered to a P prefix. When it arrived at Tyseley, it regained the original centre trailer car.

** T316 - One of the class 118 sets, this was transferred to Tyseley by April 1988, but checking back in my notes I recorded seeing this set in service at Birmingham New Street on 13 August 1988 still bearing set no. B464. This set was withdrawn in 1991, before the other two 118 sets, and the two power cars were taken into Sandite use: 51306 became 977752 and 51321 became 977753, 51321 was subsequently preserved by the Shackerstone DMU Group.

*** T318 - By 1993 this set was still formed of the same three class 118 cars, but was now set T401 - one of the "go-faster" sets with the addition of class 116 DMS no. 53102 on one end.  Three power cars in a 4-car set!

T317 was withdrawn by this time.

So in summary, all 117 / 118 sets T301 - T318 came from Bristol Bath Road, except T314 which came from Plymouth Laira and T301 - T304 which came from Reading.