Vehicle 50303 / 53303
Class 101
Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: AEC 150 hp / Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30275
Diagram: 523
Allocations
| Feb-58 | New to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| Mar-58 | On loan to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| Apr-58 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| Jun-58 | Transferred to | 3E (Monument Lane) | |
| 20/06/60 | Depot code change | 21E | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2H | |
| w/e 07/01/67 | Transferred to | 2A (Tyseley) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | TS | |
| w/e 22/10/77 | Transferred to | DE (Dundee) | |
| 2w/e 22/07/78 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| Mar-85 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 14/05/89 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) PCFX | |
| p/e 07/10/89 | Sector Change to | CF (Cardiff Canton) PZQZ | |
| 26/10/89 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) PZQZ |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50303 - original number
53303 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 01/12/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | As delivered to 5D - February 1958 | ||||||
| TY400 | 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Listed at 2A - 16/08/70 | |||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 30/10/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 06/09/73 - on Worcester depot2 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 30/05/1975 - at Solihull with Class 120 (50744, 59295 and 50677)3 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 23/08/75 - in Tyseley station2 | ||||||
| TS400 | 50303 | 50321 | Noted circa Apr-76 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 08/09/76 - at Birmingham Proof House2 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 11/04/1977 - 2D66, 07.52 Wolverhampton to Chester, extended to Rhyl.4 | ||||||
| TS400 | 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 13/09/1977 - at Solihull3 | |||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Transfer to DE - w/e 22/10/77 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Transfer to TS - 2w/e 22/07/78 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 29/07/1978 - Seen at Barmouth in blue livery4 | ||||||
| 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted 23/07/79 - at Norwich2 | ||||||
| TS400 | 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Listed at TS - 12/08/79 | |||||
| TS400 | 50303 | 59114 | 50321 | Noted circa 01/19814 | |||||
| TS403 | 50303 | 59114 | 50336 | Noted circa 10/19814 | |||||
| TS403 | 50303 | 59114 | 50336 | Noted circa 09/19824 | |||||
| TS403 | 50303 | 59114 | 50336 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||
| TS403 | 53303 | 59114 | 53336 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||
| TS403 | 53303 | 59114 | 53336 | Noted circa 09/19834 | |||||
| TS403 | 53303 | 59528 | 53336 | Noted circa 12/19834 | |||||
| 53303 | 59120 | 53336 | Noted 20/01/84 - at Chester depot | ||||||
| TS403 | 53303 | 59120 | 53336 | Noted circa 02/19844 | |||||
| 53303 | 59530 | 53336 | Formation change - CH - circa Feb-86 | ||||||
| 53303 | 59120 | 53336 | Formation change - CH - circa Mar-86 | ||||||
| 53303 | 59120 | 53336 | Noted circa 05/19864 | ||||||
| 53303 | 59120 | 53336 | Listed at Chester - Summer 1986 | ||||||
| CH291 | 53303 | 53336 | Listed at CH - May 1988 | ||||||
| CH291 | 53303 | 53336 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| C992 | 53303 | 53325 | Listed at CF - 15/05/89 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
Images:
23rd March 1968
Set number: 400
Tyseley Met-Camm set 400 (M50303 and presumably M59114 + M50321) at Henley-in-Arden with the SLS 'Farewell to the Honeybourne Cheltenham Line' tour on March 23, 1968. Note the location of the BR logo, and the smaller 3" vehicle numbers. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd November 1969
The Met-Camm DMU used for the RCTS Reunion tour stabled in the centre road at Leicester on 22 November 1969. DMBS M50303 is closest. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1973
Set number: TY400
Class 101 Met-Camm set TY400 (presumably 50303 + 59114 + 50321) and a Class 116 are seen just north of Great Bridgeford (Stafford) on a snowy day in early 1973. Michael Mensing.
28th May 1979
Set number: TS400
Class 101 DMU set TS400, M50303 and presumably M59114 + M50321, in Stratford-upon-Avon station on Monday 28 May 1979. David Russon.
circa December 1981
Set number: TS403
Refurbished Tyseley Class 101 set TS403 (presumably 50303 + 59114 + 50336) getting loaded with mail at Swindon. The slide process date is December 1981. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1983
A Class 101 DMU in refurbished livery on Tyseley depot. The DMBS closest is M53303, unusual in carrying the 53xxx number in this livery, but dates the image between April 1983 when it was renumbered and July 1984 by which time it was in blue/grey. Mike Bunker.
4th July 1984
Set number: TS403
M53303 & 310 050 at Birmingham New Street on 04/07/84. Steve Jones.
20th October 1986
Birmingham Moor Street station on 20 October 1986. The Class 101 dmu on the left is formed of a four-car Class 101 unit 53336/59529/59120/53303 and I recorded it as the 15.10 to Stratford-upon-Avon, despite the destination board showing "Shirley". The Class 116 unit on the right is formed of 51130/59615/51143 (set TS624) and will be working the 14.55 to Leamington Spa. Lewis Bevan.
27th February 1988
Our means of getting from Bidston Junction station, a Met-Cam Class 101 DMU sits in Platform 4 at Wrexham General station, (formally Wrexham Exchange), before continuing onto Wrexham Central. 27th February 1988. The DMBS appears to be M53303. Paul James.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 20th August 1972
Set number: TY400
Barmouth on Sunday 20/8/1972. In a more enlightened era, Sunday services were offered to West Midlanders to enable them to spend a day on the Cambrian Coast. This 101 unit (with TY400 closest, presumably (50321 59114 50303) is preparing to run into Barmouth were it will work back to Birmingham New St. Another unit (CR251) rests in the excursion platform. Stephen Burdett.
Date: 1973
Set number: TY400
Tyseley allocated Class 101 DMU set TY400 (50321 and presumably 59114 + 50303) is seen at Hartlebury with a Hereford service in mid-1973. Michael Mensing.
Date: 16th May 1983
Set number: TS403
I’m not sure how often West Midlands DMUs made it to Devon but it seems a long way to me and certainly would not have been my preferred choice of transport for such a journey. However, this six car set comprising a Class 116 Derby Triple and Class 101 Metro Cammell Triple (TS403, 53336 and presumably 59114 + 53303) arrived at Exeter St Davids from the north on Monday 16th May 1983. In spite of the “Bristol Temple Meads” destination(!) this very busy train terminated at Exeter and was shunted into the sidings on the up side of the station. My attempts to identify the train from the timetable proved fruitless and it still remains something of a mystery. Brian McDevitt.
Date: 24th August 1983
Set number: TS403
Set TS403 (53336 + 59114 + 53303) in seen sitting in Leamington Spa station at 20:19 on Wednesday 24/8/83. Mel Holley.
Date: 20th January 1984
A Class 101 Met Cam 3-Car DMU, 53303 + 59120 + 53336, driving cars in refurbished livery and centre car in blue/grey, on Chester depot on 20th January 1984. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 2nd May 1988
Set number: CH291
M53336 + M53303 at Hooton with the 11:23 to Chester on May 2nd, 1988. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 30th May 1989
Set number: 992
Carrying an improvised set number, Cardiff Class 101 set 992 (53325 and 53303) is seen in Cardiff Central on 30 May 1989 while working the 17:27 (SX) from Aberdare. Robert Thomas.