Vehicle 50083 / 53083
Class 116
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
Allocations
| Aug-57 | New to | 88A (Cardiff Cathays) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88B | |
| Mar-62 | Depot code change | 88M | |
| by Jun-62 | Transferred to | 82B (Bristol Marsh Junction) | |
| circa Jun-64 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| Apr-66 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| Oct-66 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| Mar-67 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Apr-68 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | RG | |
| May-81 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 16/05/82 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 03/10/82 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 15/05/83 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| circa Jun-84 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 04/10/87 | To Parcels Sector at | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
| circa Jul-88 | Reinstated | OO (Old Oak Common) | - returned to passenger use |
| 4w/e 03/12/88 | Sector Change to | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX | |
| p/e 30/03/91 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| 22/09/92 | Withdrawn from | RG (Reading) NWRX |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50083 - original number
53083 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
5w/e 10/06/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 06/09/75 - WR AWS removed
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 18/11/1977 released in white/blue stripe livery50083 was involved in the following incident:
24/11/60 - Between Pontrhydyfen and Cwmavon, WR
Collision involving Class 116 / Steam
Info from Bill Read, Railway Observer January 1961 p14
A 3-car DMU (set CAT343, 50125 + 59343 + 50083) working the 4.55pm Swansea High Street to Barry Island was in a head-on collision with an unfitted goods train (weighing 620 tons) hauled by a Class 57XX Tank locomotive (9737) running bunker first. 2 persons killed and 26 injured. The point of collision was on a single-line section with a gradient of 1 in 42. The locomotive drove some five feet into the leading power car which telescoped some ten feet into the intermediate trailer. The locomotive was also extensively damaged and 8 wagons were wrecked. The goods train was travelling too fast down the gradient and had an insufficient number of wagon brakes applied to enable it to stop at the Pontrhydyfen signal.
Disposal
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50083 | 59033 | 50125 | As delivered to WR - August 1957 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59509 | 51399 | Noted 24/12/701 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59492 | 51382 | Noted 28/08/73 - in Paddington1 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59504 | 51394 | Noted 29/10/1973 - at Reading2 | ||||||
| L340 | 50083 | 50819 | Noted 13/12/73 - at Royal Oak, set number only on 50819, 86572 attached3 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 08/04/1974 - at Reading2 | ||||||
| L406 | 50083 | 59495 | 51385 | Noted 30/04/75 - at Royal Oak, set number L360 on 500833 | |||||
| spare | 50083 | Formation change - RG - circa Oct-75 - ex-L360 | |||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 24/03/761 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 23/04/76 - (51399 presumed)1 | ||||||
| L440 | 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 04/05/76 - (50083 presumed)1 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 11/09/76 - in London Paddington1 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 12/10/761 | ||||||
| 50083 | 59543 | 51399 | Noted 02/11/761 | ||||||
| L440 | 50083 | 59500 | 51399 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| L440 | 50083 | 59500 | 51399 | Noted 16/07/1978 - Reading Station4 | |||||
| L440 | 50083 | 59500 | 51399 | Noted 11/02/1980 - At Oxford4 | |||||
| L440 | 50083 | 59500 | 51399 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||
| 440 | 50083 | 59500 | 51399 | Transfer to LA - May-81 | |||||
| C321 | 50083 | 59031 | 50820 | Formation change - circa Aug-82 - may be running with centre car other than this official listing, and may be marked as C307 | |||||
| C307 | 50083 | 59031 | 50820 | Listed at LA - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| B307 | 53083 | 59550 | 53820 | Formation change - BR - 15/05/83 - Now B prefix with 59550 replacing 59031 (now spare). | |||||
| B307 | 53820 | 59550 | 53083 | Noted circa 07/19835 | |||||
| 307 | 53083 | 59550 | 53820 | Transfer to CF - circa Jun-84 - from BR | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59550 | 53820 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59482 | 53820 | Formation change - Jul-85 - 59482 added from B472, 59550 to spare | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59482 | 53820 | Formation change - CF - circa Aug-85 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59482 | 53820 | Noted 04/03/19865 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Noted 26/04/19865 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Noted 06/05/19865 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Noted 05/06/19865 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 51319 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Formation change - CF - circa Aug-86 - 53820 replaced 51319 (to L413) | |||||
| 53835 | 53083 | Noted 04/07/1987 - at Rugby6 | |||||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Noted circa 08/19875 | |||||
| C307 | 53083 | 59472 | 53820 | Listed at CF - Aug-87 | |||||
| L307 | 53083 | 53820 | Formed at OO circa 10/87 - Two DMBSs, Parcels Sector | ||||||
| L307 | 53083 | 53820 | Listed at - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| L210 | 53083 | 54289 | Noted circa 11/19895 | ||||||
| L210 | 53083 | 54381 | Listed at OO - 21/01/91 | ||||||
| L210 | 53083 | 54381 | Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Robert Chilton
Images:
22nd September 1972
Set number: L360
Marlow station on September 22 1972. Already rationalised, although a GWR platform seat survives. Unit L360 (W50083 with W56285 locked out of use) awaits departure with the branch train to Maidenhead. Tom Burnham.
22nd September 1972
Set number: L360
Unit L360 (W50083 with W56285 locked out of use) at Bourne End station on 22 September 1972. The footbridge is in process of being removed. Tom Burnham.
22nd September 1972
Set number: L360
Unit L360 on a Marlow branch train in platform 5 of Maidenhead on September 22 1972. It comprised W50083 and driving trailer W56285, the latter being non-gangwayed and locked out of use. Tom Burnham.
circa 1974
Set number: L360
This is the scene at the back of Southall shed, where we can see two of the spare DMU vehicles that were used at the time, replacing damaged Class 117 Pressed Steel cars. Class 116 W50083 was the only one of the class that worked out of Paddington and W59543 was one of only three Met Cams - all centre cars - both seen in this shot, along with W55991 one of the two allocated Class 128 parcels units. I would have been on one of my frequent 'after school' visits to Southall footbridge to do a bit of train-spotting, circa early to mid 1970s. Sometimes I would venture down to the trackside, as in this shot, and even bunk round the shed as on this occasion. I used to like 'running the gauntlet' to try and get to the back of the shed, and then wend my way back slowly so I could 'cop' as many units on the walk back before I got thrown out ;) There was often a collection of interesting stray vehicles stored at the back of the shed, as seen in this view. Chris McKee.
16th August 1976
Set number: L440
Class 116 DMBS W50083 leads set L440 into Paddington on 16 August 1976. The other vehicles are presumably 59543 (101) and 51399 (117). Phil Bevan.
Unknown date
Class 116 DMBS stabled on its own at the east end of Southall shed, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
1984
Set number: B307
Set B307 is a Class 116 / 101 hybrid containing W53083 + W59550 + W53820. It's seen approaching Ashton Jct leading a Class 104 on a Bristol TM - Ashton Gate service in 1984. Robert Tarling.
Unknown date
Set number: B307
B307 was a Class 116 with two DMBSs and a 101 centre car, W53083 + W59550 + W53820. It's seen at Stapleton Road, circa 1984. Robert Tarling.
5th July 1984
Set number: C307
Class 116 DMBS 53083 from set C307 at Newport on 5th July 1984. Jonathan Hazan.
24th August 1985
Set number: C307
Two Class 116 sets, C307 (presumably 53083 closest with 118 centre car 59482 and 53820), leaving Bournemouth station with the 12:56pm Weymouth - Bristol TM service on August 24, 1985. Michael Mensing.
1987
Set number: C307
Class 116 DMBS W53083 at Cardiff in 1987. Shayne Lewis.
15th April 1987
Set number: C307
The 18:50 (SX) Chepstow-Newport worked by suburban set C307 (Class 116 53083 and presumably Class 118 59472 and Class 116 53820) passes down light engines 37 149 and 37 213 at Severn Tunnel station. Robert Thomas.
20th November 1988
Set number: L307
At South Tottenham on 20th November 1988 is class 116 set L307 (53083 + 53820). Ian Buck.
circa March 1989
Set number: L208
Looking recently painted into NSE livery is Class 116 DMBS 53083 carrying set number L208 standing in for a Class 119 DMSL. Oxford station, the slide process date was March 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.
27th March 1991
Set number: L210
Class 116/101 hybrid L210 with 53083 leading enters Reading on 27/3/91. 53083 lost it’s original working partner as long ago as 1961 when 50125 was written off by a runaway coal train in the Afan Valley, South Wales. The 101 DTC is presumably 54381. Mac Winfield.
16th April 1991
Set number: L210
The hybrid L210 (Class 116 53083 / Class 101 DTC presumably 54381) is seen at Oxford on 16-4-91. Mike Cooper.
6th September 1991
Set number: L210
Class 116/101 hybrid set L210 (53083 and presumably 54381) at Slough on 6 September 1991. John Carter.
25th June 1992
Set number: L210
Two hybrid DMUs at Langley on Thursday 25/06/1992: 116/101 set L210 (53083 + 54381) and 117/101 set L205 (51367 + 54385). Andrew Malloy.
4th May 1993
Set number: L210
53083, 51220, 54371, 51443 & 51445 sit with 20199 at M.C. Metals, Springburn 4-5-93. Kevin Dowd.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 4th March 1980
Set number: L440
DMU set L440 at Didcot on 3 March 1980. Leading is Class 117 DMS W51399, the other two vehicles are presumably Class 117 TCL W59500 and Class 116 DMBS W50083. Brian Daniels.
Date: 1987
Set number: C307
Class 118 centre car W59472 seen at Cardiff in 1987. On it's left is 53083. Shayne Lewis.
Date: 30th March 1987
Set number: C307
Set C307 is seen at Porth station on March 30, 1987, 53820 closest presumably with 59472 + 53083. Michael Mensing.
Date: 30th March 1987
Set number: C307
On March 30, 1987, Class 116 set C307 is seen at Tonypandy station, 53820 closest presumably with 59472 + 53083. Michael Mensing.
Date: circa 1987
Set number: C307
W53820 of C307 displays its white roof dome and red buffer beam, a-la Buxton style. This was CFs only white dome unit and later became one of only two 116s to gain NSE livery the other being W53083 which is the other DMBS in this set at Cardiff Central circa 1987. Mac Winfield.
Date: circa 1987
Set number: C307
Class 116 set C307 is seen at Rhymney, which has two DMBSs, closest is probably 53820. The centre car is probably 59482 and the other power car 53083. Undated, the white dome dates it to circa 1987. Tom Clift.
Date: 1987
Set number: C307
In 1987 Class 116 set C307 is seen in Cardiff Central station in 1987. The set has two DMBS vehicles, presumably 53820 (closest) and 53083. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: circa December 1987
Set number: L287
Class 121 DTS 54287 is seen attached to a couple of Class 116 DMBSs - 53083 + 53820 - at Oxford circa December 1987. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 8th February 1988
Set number: L307
This is set L307 a 2 Car Class 116 Power Twin Parcels Unit, formed at Reading Depot in October last year. It is seen here approaching Reading Station from the east with an ECS working formed of W53820+W53083 ..... 8th February 1988. Nigel Mack.
Date: 5th July 1990
Set number: L210
54289 leads the 14.00 to Didcot out of Reading on 5/7/90. Coupled behind the cl.121 DTS is 53083. Leonard Rogers.
Date: circa August 1990
Set number: L210
NSE-liveried set L210 (54289 and presumably 53083) is seen at Radley. The slide process date was August 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: circa 1991
Set number: L210
Class 101/116 hybrid set L210 (54381 and presumably 53083) at Southall circa 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 22nd March 1991
Set number: L210
Class 101/116 hybrid DMU set L210 (presumably 54381 + 53083) at Appleford on 22 May 1991 with Reading displayed on the destination blind. Brian Daniels.
Date: 29th February 1992
Set number: L210
Class 101/116 hybrid DMU set L210 (54381 + 53083) departs from Radley with a Banbury service on 29 February 1992. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 25th June 1992
Set number: L205
Two hybrid DMUs arriving at Langley on Thursday 25/06/1992: 101/117 set L205 (54385 + 51367) and 101/116 set L210 (54381 + 53083). Andrew Malloy.