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 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.
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 '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.
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 W55023 (and W56281 behind), possibly on Southall or Reading depot circa late 1970s. Paul Redmond.
W55023 at Swindon Works on the 13th September 1979. Steve Davies Collection.
Swindon works on the 13th September 1979 sees W55023 in amongst Class 116/120 and Met-Camm vehicles. Steve Davies Collection.
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.
In the last of the evening light 55022 takes the Greenford branch at West Ealing on the 28th December 1980. Ian Buck.
Class 121 W55023 is seen in platform 2 of Banbury station with a DTS on 26 January 1981. Rob Edwards.
Class 121 55023 standing in for a DMS in a 117 set (with 59519 + 51367) departing Maidenhead, 4th August 1981. Paul James.
55023 at Twyford after arriving from Henley, 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.
55023 at Henley-on-Thames on the 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.
55023 and another Class 121 bubble car in Paddington station in 1982. John Law.
Class 121 unit 55023 departs from Banbury with a local service for Oxford on Christmas Eve, 1982. Lewis Bevan.
55023 and a trailer car after arrival at Windsor and Eton Central in 1985. John Law.
A Greenford-bound single car (L123, 55023) enters Ealing Broadway in the 1980s. Ian Docwra.
55023 working the Greenford - Ealing Broadway shuttle in 1985. Ian Docwra.
A hopeful guard waits for custom at Ealing Broadway, working the Greenford shuttle with 55023 circa 1985. Ian Docwra.
L123 arrives at Shiplake in 1987. John Law.
Class 121 bubble car 55023 in Oxford station, May 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 121 Set L123 on a 12XX West Ealing - Greenford service departs Greenford (at 13XX) on Tuesday 18th August 1987. Colin Brooks.
Class 121 W55023 Twyford 24 October 1987. Alistair Ness.
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.
55023 leaves a smoky trail behind as it leaves Paddington on the rear of this formation in January 1988. MIke Cooper.
Class 121 55023 waits in the bay at Greenford, May 1989. Alistair Ness.
Class 121 55023 rests in the bay at Greenford, May 1989. Alistair Ness.
Pressed Steel bubble car 55023 on the rear of a Class 117 departing from Southall circa August 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.
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 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.
Pressed Steel bubble 55023 at Ealing Broadway circa 1990. Peter Brabham Collection.
55023 at Southall, working as part of a Class 117 set circa late 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A very nice line up at Paddington, with 55023 closest. Undated. Gazza Prescott.
Class 121 55023 sits alongside 47715 in London Paddington on 31 January 1991. The blind displays Sorry not in Service. Keith Miller.
W55023 at Bletchley in 1993. John Law.
55023 awaiting departure from Bedford with a Bletchley service, 1993. John Law.
Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55023 and 55027 stand at Bedford before working the 13:40 service to Bletchley on 17 April 1993. Brian Creasey.
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.
Bubble car 55023 enters Stewartby with a service for Bletchley, 5th June 93. 54A South Dock.
Retro green 55023 at Bletchley on the 30th July 1993. Mark Fletcher.
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 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.
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.
Two Pressed Steel bubble cars, 55023 closest, at Bletchley on 22 January 1994. AndrewHA.
Retro-green Class 121 55023 at Bletchley with a classmate on 22-01-94. AndrewHA.
Retro-green bubble 55023 at Forders Sidings, Stewartby's outer distant on the Marston Vale line, in March 1994. Nicholas Youngman.
55023 is working a Marston Vale line service when seen at Millbrook in March 1994. Nicholas Youngman.
The 17:50 to Bletchley at Bedford on March 23, 1994, operated by 55023. John Carter.
Class 121 DMU No. 55023 stands at Bletchley working the 14:50 service to Bedford on 16 April 1994. Brian Creasey.
In May 1994 55023 worked the shuttle service to Chesham as part of the "Steam on the Met". Here at Chalfont & Latimer. Ian Buck.
55023 at Bletchley on 25.6.94. Stuart Mackay Collection.
55023 calls at the little halt of Kempston Hardwick on the 26th November 1994. Ian Buck.
55023 seen at Stewartby on the 26th November 1994. Ian Buck.
Class 121 bubble 55023 at Kempston, date unknown. John Grey Turner.
Retro-green 55023 in Bedford Midland Road, 1995. Graham Baker.
Retro-green Class 121 "bubble car" 55023 seen at Bletchley. Date unknown, the white buffer edges suggest the 1994-6 period. Robert Forsythe.
On a murky day 55023 waits departure to Bedford at Bletchley on the 29th March 1995. Ian Buck.
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 55023 waits departure for Bletchley from Bedford Midland in circa 1995. Stephen Burdett.
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 55023 forming a Bedford to Bletchley service departs Millbrook station on 13 November 1995. Andrew Walker.
Class 121 55023 pulls into Millbrook on a rather grim 13 November 1995 with a Bedford to Bletchley service. Andrew Walker.
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.
Retro-green 55023 with a NSE-liveried classmate at Bletchley in August 1996. Nicholas Youngman.
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.
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 55023 at Bedford, probably taken at the open day on October 12, 1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 121 55023 at Bedford, probably taken at the open day on October 12, 1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.
55023 at Bedford open day, 12th October 1996. John Grey Turner.
Class 121 no. 55023 displayed at Bedford Open Day on October 12, 1996. Lewis Bevan.
55023 on display at a Bedford depot open day, 12th October 1996. John Grey Turner.
Set L123 - Pressed Steel bubble car 55023 - in Bedford station, date unknown. John Grey Turner.
Retro-green Class 121 bubble car 55023 at Bedford, date unknown. John Grey Turner.
Do you have any images of the set you can add?