| 55005 | Noted circa 10/19811 | |||||||
| 55005 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||||
| 55005 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||||
| 55004 | Noted circa 01/19851 | |||||||
| 55004 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 |
Formation Sources
1: Eddie Knorn
Lichfield City 8/9/1981. A selection of Tyseley's finest units make up a Cross City service laying over at Lichfield City. Closest is a hybrid with a class 122 (55005) standing in for a 116 DMS. On the rear is a 116 unit in refurbished WMPTE livery. It has a thin white stripe running down the centre of the blue line, meaning it was probably the set specially decorated for the royal wedding earlier in the year. Stephen Burdett.
A class 122/116 combination (55004 is the 122) approaches Langley Green with a Birmingham New Street to Kidderminster service on 20/9/1985. In the foreground is the branch to Oldbury used mainly for chlorine traffic. The station here was once known as Oldbury & Langley Green. Stephen Burdett.
Class 122 55004, set number TS054, is seen stabled at Tyseley on 07.12.1985. Andy Cole.
Here is one of my few shots on the Stourbridge town branch, taken on 5 March 1986. It shows 55004 arriving at Stourbridge Junction after a journey of just a couple of minutes from the town station. Another single car unit is just visible behind the signalbox, indicating that the daily changeover was imminent. The size of the signalbox is testament to the area's importance in earlier days, with considerable numbers of freights heading for Brierley Hill and Dudley sites, or to the Handsworth line via Langley Green. Even at this relatively late date a class 25, 25 205 is in position ready to bank freights along the now-closed line to Bescot via Wednesbury. Peter Tandy.
It was quite common on the 1980s for a 3 coach DMU to be strengthened with the addition of a single coach unit largely to improve the power-to-weight ratio of the train. On this occasion the leading unit was 55004 (TS054). I photographed it at Hatton North Junction on 30 April 1986 before the junction was upgraded and a tall footbridge erected to carry the public footpath across the line. The boarded crossing was made of old sleepers and was slippery in wet conditions - not great for a line with a lot of quite fast-moving freight! Peter Tandy.
Two of Tyseleys collection of single car units, 55004 and 55009, are seeming to struggle away from Claverdon station, the train was the 12.25 Leamington to Stratford-upon-Avon service on 21/02/1987. Claverdon is a depressing sight, the roadside booking office is closed as is the waiting room on the one remaining platform. The whole station site is a mess of snow flattened grass. Geoff Dowling.
The inside of a Class 122 DMU (the last number in the cab sadly obscured!), with the seat cushions and backs removed at the floor washed. Taken on Tyseley Depot, circa 1987. This is thought to be 55004. The vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and this could be just prior to this. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Part of the drivers desk in a Class 122 taken at Tyseley depot circa April 1987. The reflection in the window of the set number is TS054, which should be 55004. The vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and this could be just prior to this. The bubble cars had an extra duplex vacuum gauge, seen to the left of the brake valve, which showed the vacuum on the top side of the vacuum cylinders. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The emergency valve, lighting control, and heater controls in a Class 122 DMU. Taken at Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is thought to be 55004, the vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and this could be just prior to this. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The air/axle panel on a Class 122 DMU, taken at Tyseley depot circa 1987. Above is the buzzer, missing its cover. This is thought to be 55004, the vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and this could be just prior to this. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The driver's controls a Class 122 DMU. Taken at Tyseley depot circa 1987, this is thought to be 55004, the vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and could be just prior to this. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The header tank in a Class 122 DMU, the float switch is on the lower left. Taken in an unknown vehicle at Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is thought to be 55004, the vehicle was transferred to Bletchley in April 1987 for Kettering - Corby services and this could be just prior to this. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Do you have any images of the set you can add?