Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30211
Diagram: 553
May-57 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
May-73 | Depot code change | TS | |
4w/e 27/05/95 | Withdrawn |
19/05/84 - Tyseley formation 53055 / 59611 / 53116 + 53890 / 59603 / 53867 was an unusual visitor to the Hastings area on 19 May 1984 on a working from Bicester.
50055 - original number
53055 - from May-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
50055 | 59005 | 50097 | As delivered to WR - May 1957 | ||||||
TYS305 | 50051 | 59001 | 50055 | Noted March 1958 | |||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 01/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
TY523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted circa Jun-69 | |||||
TY523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Listed at 2A - 16/08/70 | |||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 30/10/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 05/11/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 06/11/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 14/07/1973 - at Birmingham New Street2 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 31/05/1975 - at Tyseley3 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 31/07/76 - in Birmingham New Street4 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 08/09/76 - at Tyseley4 | ||||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 23/07/77 - on 2F76 1715 Birmingham New Street-Leicester | ||||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted circa 01/19785 | |||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Listed at TS - 12/08/79 | |||||
50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted 24/05/80 | ||||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted circa 01/19815 | |||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59023 | 50116 | Noted circa 10/19815 | |||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59019 | 50116 | Noted circa 05/19825 | |||||
TS523 | 50055 | 59019 | 50116 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||
50055 | 59365 | 50116 | Noted circa 04/19835 | ||||||
TS523 | 53055 | 59641 | 53116 | Noted circa 02/19845 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted circa 06/19845 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted 09/06/1984 - BR Ruddington Requiem Railtour 53190-59130-53857 + 53055-59611-53116 + 53318-59114-53328 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted circa 10/19845 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted circa 01/19855 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Listed at TS - May-85 | |||||
53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted 13/07/85 - at Norwich4 | ||||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted circa 11/19855 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted 01/06/1986 - Coalville Depot open day shuttles to and from Leicester TS611+TS615 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted 05/07/86 - at Norwich4 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted 23/04/1987 - at Birmingham New Street - as 4 car set with TS0536 | |||||
TS611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Noted circa 06/19875 | |||||
T611 | 53055 | 59611 | 53116 | Listed at TS - Jul-87 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Formation change - TS - 2w/e 13/03/88 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Listed at Tyseley - 7th April 1988 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Noted circa 05/19885 | |||||
53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Noted 13/07/88 - on 16:30 Doncaster-Skegness | ||||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Noted circa 05/19895 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Listed at TS - 01/09/89 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Listed at TS - 01/12/89 | |||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Noted circa 05/19905 | |||||
53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Noted 06/05/1990 - at Tyseley depot2 | ||||||
T342 | 53055 | 59673 | 53056 | Listed at TS - mid May-90 | |||||
T412 | 51867 | 59591 | 59446 | 53055 | Noted circa 05/19915 | ||||
spare | 53055 | Listed at TS - Jul-91 | |||||||
T327 | 53055 | 59674 | 53921 | Listed at TS - Jul-91 | |||||
T327 | 53055 | 59674 | Listed at TS - Aug-91 | ||||||
spare | 53055 | Listed at TS - Aug-91 | |||||||
T412 | 51867 | 59446 | 59591 | 53055 | Listed at TS - Aug-91 | ||||
T327 | 53055 | 59589 | Listed at TS - Dec-91 | ||||||
T327 | 53055 | 59589 | 53916 | Listed at TS - 02/07/92 | |||||
T327 | 53055 | 59589 | 53916 | Noted circa 08/19925 | |||||
T327 | 53055 | 59589 | 53916 | Listed at TS - 24/09/92 | |||||
T407 | 53055 | 53916 | 53060 | 53321 | Listed at TS - Nov-92 | ||||
T415 | 53055 | 59603 | 53916 | 51151 | Noted circa 11/19925 | ||||
T415 | 53055 | 59603 | 53916 | Listed at TS - 10/12/92 | |||||
53055 | 59603 | 53101 | Noted 10/12/92 - on 17:18 Longbridge - Blake Street7 | ||||||
T424 | 53055 | 59603 | 51329 | 51314 | Noted circa 08/19935 | ||||
T224 | 53055 | 51329 | Listed at TS - Nov-93 | ||||||
51144 | 53055 | 53116 | Noted 09/08/94 - on 11:12 Nottingham to Birmingham New Street | ||||||
119432 | 51079 | 51107 | 53055 | Formed at TS circa Nov-94 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Robert Chilton
7: David Bellamy
The 1.0pm Wellington-Leamington local service arrives into Hatton (where passengers should change for the Stratford-upon-Avon line) on Sunday 18th May 1958. It is formed with a Derby suburban triple set (later known as a Class 116) with DMBS W50055 leading. Michael Mensing.
A Derby suburban triple DMU at Acocks Green in early 1961. W50055 seems to be the closest vehicle. Michael Mensing.
Two unlined Derby suburban triples sets at Solihull in late July 1962. W50055 leads, which would spend its whole career allocated to Tyseley. Michael Mensing.
The 6.0pm Wellington - Leamington Spa service is seen passing over Lapworth troughs on July 29 1962. It is formed of Tyseley set 323 with DMBS W50055. Michael Mensing.
M50055 leads set 323 at West Bromwich in April 1964. Michael Mensing.
In lined green livery a Derby suburban set led by M50055 passes Perry Barr North Jct in June 1966. Michael Mensing.
The guard of M50055 gets ready to buzz away his charge at Spring Road circa 1970. Stuart Mackay Collection.
DMBS M50055 leads Class 116 set TY523 (presumably with 59023 + 50116) and another set at Old Hill station heading for Lichfield City in late 1973. Michael Mensing.
M50055 at Sutton Coldfield on 15/09/79. Steve Jones.
The Grid Iron Grice railtour of August 1982 offered the novelty of class 56 haulage from the Southern Region for a tour of the West Midlands on 7 August 1982. 56 003 has backed onto the rear of the train at Redditch, as one of Tyseley’s mixed up class 116 sets (TS523, M50055 and possibly M59019 + M50116) arrives and has to use the adjacent platform. Murray Liston.
Class 116 DMBS M50055 formed with refurbished TS, possibly 59019, and DMS M50116 of Tyseley set 523 at Redditch, Saturday 7th August 1982. Visible in the background is 56 003 waiting to continue the 'Grid Iron Grice' railtour back to London Bridge Iain Reid.
Class 116 DMBS 53055, set number TS611, is seen at Tyseley on 04.01.1986. It carries an unusual livery addition of an extended grey stripe past the cab windows and black window surrounds. Andy Cole.
Class 116 set TS611 53055 + 59611 + 53611 at Leamington Spa on 24/02/86. Roddy MacPhee.
TS611 (53055 presumably with 59611 + 53116) in it's unusual livery seen at Coalville depot on the 1st June 1986 when it was working shuttles to Leicester and Burton-on-Trent for the open day. Chris Lings.
In the summer of 1986 there was a dated train between Birmingham New Street and Barry Island. Two 3 car class 116s from Tyseley were used for this service and on 14 June 1986 the leading set (TS 611, 53055 + 59611 + 53116), pictured at Longbridge, was one of the sets with a slightly modified paint job on the front end. It's amazing what a difference a few brush strokes makes to the appearance of an otherwise standard unit. I suspect that the passenger accomodation for this long journey was a sight more comfortable in 1986 than would be provided in 2020 for an equivalent trip. Peter Tandy.
Taken on 19/9/87 at Birmingham Moor Street, a week before closure of the terminal platforms, class 116 set TS611 (53055 and presumably 59611 + 53116) waits to leave for Dorridge. The platforms reopened in 2010 and the station is now the 2nd busiest in Birmingham and arguably the best!! Stephen Burdett.
Tyseley's four car sets were mostly formed of class 115, 116 and 127 as was the case on 6 May 1991 when I photographed T412 (53055 + 59446 + 59591 + 51867) passing the now demolished Smethwick West signalbox with a Hereford to Birmingham New Street train. The class 47 waiting at the signal was 47813 working a railtour that had just visited Handsworth in the days before the line was re-opened through to Snow Hill. Just behind the camera the Handsworth line crossed the Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton route. This is now the site of Galton Bridge Station interchange where passengers can change trains between the two lines thus making the old Smethwick West station redundant. It's worth noting that any train leaving the Handsworth branch including this railtour had to run wrong line as far as Rood End Yard between here and Langley Green. Peter Tandy.
Class 116/127/116 hybdrid set T327 (53055 + 59589 + 53916) arriving into Hereford station on 16 June 1992. Stuart Mackay Collection.
First generation DMUs were far from from common on the Birmingham to Derby line by 1993 so it was a surprise when T324 formed of 53055 (class 116) + 59603 (class 115) + 53101 (class 116) appeared at Lea Marston working a Nottingham service, if the headcode panel is to be believed, on 26 March. I can only assume that it was a replacement for an unavailable sprinter and was definitely not an ECS train as there were many passengers visible on board. Peter Tandy.
T324 M53055 + M59603 + M53101 on the approaches of New Street 7-4-93. Kevin Dowd.
T424 (53055 + 59603) with 118s 51314 + 51329 at Longbridge on an ECS to form the 16:54 to Lichfield City, 9/9/93. Gazza Prescott.
Class 116 set TY523 (presumably 50116 + 59023 + 50055) seen departing from Chester Road (Birmingham) circa April/May 1977. Michael Mensing.
The Ruddington Requiem railtour at East Leake (GCR) on 9/6/84. It was formed 53910 + 59130 + 53857 / 53055 + 59611 + 53116 / 53318 + 59114 + 53328. Mel Smith.
The Ruddington Requiem railtour at Lawfield on 9/6/84. It was formed 53910 + 59130 + 53857, 53055 + 59611 + 53116, 53318 + 59114 + 53328. Chris Lings.
TS061 (presumably 55011) leads Class 116 set TS611 (including 53055 + 59611) at Dorridge on 4 May 1985. 54A South Dock.
A mixed DMU formation with "WM" branding, led by a Class 122 "Bubble Car" approaches Warwick on a working to Leamington Spa on 4th May 1985. While the bubble is unknown, the Class 116 is easily identifiable as set TS611 (53055 + 59611 + 53116). Bob Belcher.
Class 116 set TS611 (53116 presumably with 59611 + 53055) with an afternoon Birmingham Moor St - Stratford Upon Avon service waiting time at Small Heath on Monday 10th June 1985. Colin Brooks.
Set TS611, headed by DMS 53116 (presumably with 59611 and 53055), all in an experimental WMPTE, (WM) livery, on the last few yards of its journey into Hereford, past the yard, with a passenger service from the Worcester direction. 31st August 1985. John Crooks.
On 7 September 1985, a derailment at Carnforth led to severe delays to trains between Scotland and England, resulting in this 6-car dmu formation running in the path of a the Glasgow / Dundee - Poole service between Birmingham and Reading. Seen at Oxford, closest is the distinct Class 116 set TS611 (53116/59611/53055). On the rear appears to be a 116/101/116 hybrid. On the right is a Class 121 bubble. Robert28194.
A Birmingham - Reading DMU (one set formed of class 116 and 101 vehicles, the far set is TS611 presumably 53055 + 59611 + 53116) running in the path of a heavily delayed service from Scotland to the South Coast pauses at Oxford. 7th September 1985. Robert28194.
One of my favourite morning shots at Stratford-upon-Avon was this taken with the bracket signal prominent in the picture. The DMU is Tyseley set 611 (53116/59611/53055) which stood out amongst the other becauses of a slightly different paint job on the front window surround and the West Midlands PTE logo on the yellow front end. The date was 3 July 1986 with the unit was arriving at Stratford-upon-Avon forming the 06.20 from Birmingham Moor Street. Peter Tandy.
The unusually liveried class 116 DMS 53116 at the head of set TS611 formed with class 127 TSL 59611 and class 116 DMBS 53055, at Birmingham New Street on 12/Jul/1986. I recall that 53055 at the other end of the set was painted to match and I wondered at the time whether on one or other driving car the livery was inspired by a mistake in the grey band being taken too far beyond the saloon windows and then taken complete with white lining round the cab ends to make the best of a bad job. Having said that, the black cab window surrounds and the fact that the sides of every car and the cab ends were emblazoned with 'WM' logos probably suggests that it was a deliberate attempt at a special livery. Robert Chilton.
Class 116 units M53116 + M59611 + M53055 / M53837 + M59604 + M53919 at Tapton Junction, Chesterfield on the 6th September 1986 with a Birmingham New Street-Sheffield football excursion. Kevin Law.
A Class 116 / 127 hybrid set (53116 + 59611 + 53055) working a Leicester - Scarborough service at Rotherham Masborough on 18 July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 116 DMU set T342 (presumably 53056 + 59673 + 53055) in Birmingham Snow Hill station circa summer 1988. Brian Ward.
Class 116 Derby DMU Tyseley set T342 53056+59673+53055 (DMBS+Class 115 TCL+DMBS) Birmingham New Street with 'Longbridge' on the destination blind, 20-4-88. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.
Tyseley 116/115/116 set T342 - presumably 53056 + 59673 + 53055 - circa 1988-90. John Law.
Set T342 (presumably 53055 + 59673 + 53056) + T313 on a Birmingham New St - Llandudno service passes 150 204 as it departs Deganwy at 12:20 on Wednesday 30th August 1989. Colin Brooks.
Class 116 Derby Suburban unit T342 at Duddeston on 27/10/89, 53056 is closest, presumably with 59673 + 53055. Sparegang.
Tyseley's set T342 53056 - 59673 - 53055 at Barnt Green heading for Redditch on 3/Mar/1990 (formed 116DMBS - 115TCL - 116DMBS - unusually with a DMBS at both ends). Note that the driver has already altered the destination blind to 'Lichfield City' for the return journey - having just come off the main line, at Barnt Green heading south there is nowhere else to go other than Redditch! Robert Chilton.
Class 116 DMU set T327 (presumably 53916 + 59589 + 53055) at Water Orton in 1992. Stuart Mackay Collection.
By September 1994 any diesel-mechanical unit from the first generation classes were quite unusual on the main line so I was to take a good sunny shot of Tyseley's 117332 passing Catholme, near Wychnor Junction, on the 17th of that month. The depot was really scratching about for serviceable units by this time and the vehicles are believed to be 53116 attached to 53055 + 51144 (all 116s despite the set number). This was an ECS move which was probably on its way to Tyseley from Derby after some attention not possible at the Birmingham facility. Peter Tandy.