Vehicle 50421 / 53421
Class 104
Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30290
Diagram: 556
Allocations
| w/e 27/04/57 | New to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| Jun-57 | Transferred to | 9D (Buxton) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 9L | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | BX | |
| 27/04/86 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 20/05/89 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) PNHX |
Notes
1st January 1988 - White cab roof dome and black window surround
May 1989 - Seen with centre saloon luggage racks removed
9th July 1989 - Seen out of service at Newton Heath depot
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
4th December 1989 - Seen stored out of service at Newton Heath depot
12th October 1990 - Listed as stored condemned at Crewe Basford Hall Yard
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50421 - original number
53421 - from 1983 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50421 | 59133 | 50425 | As delivered to 9A - w/e 27/04/57 | ||||||
| 50421 | 59133 | 50425 | Noted 19th May 1957 | ||||||
| 50421 | 59133 | 50425 | Noted 22/12/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | ||||||
| 50421 | 59195 | 50486 | Noted 18/09/1971 - at Stockport2 | ||||||
| BN456 | 50421 | 59139 | 50483 | Noted 10/09/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly, set number only on 504213 | |||||
| 50421 | 59133 | 50425 | Noted 24/05/80 | ||||||
| 50421 | 59133 | 50425 | Noted 29/06/80 - in Longsight area4 | ||||||
| BX480 | 50421 | 59148 | 50487 | Noted circa 05/19825 | |||||
| BX481 | 50421 | 59148 | 50506 | Noted circa 10/1982 - Previously BX4805 | |||||
| BX481 | 50421 | 59148 | 50487 | Noted circa 12/19825 | |||||
| BX481 | 50421 | 59148 | 50487 | Noted circa 03/19835 | |||||
| BX481 | 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Noted circa 02/1984 - in Manchester, C3 overhauled at 5458 1/845 | |||||
| BX481 | 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Noted circa 07/19845 | |||||
| BX481 | 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Noted circa 11/1984 - listed at BX5 | |||||
| 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Noted 26/01/85 | ||||||
| BX481 | 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Listed at BX - circa Jul-85 - with white roof domes | |||||
| BX481 | 53421 | 59148 | 53487 | Listed at BX - circa Dec-85 | |||||
| 53421 | 53487 | Formation change - NH - Apr-86 | |||||||
| 53421 | 53487 | Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| 53421 | 59306 | 53487 | Formation change - NH - circa Oct-86 | ||||||
| 53421 | 53487 | Listed at NH - 10/05/87 | |||||||
| 53421 | 53487 | Noted 20/06/87 | |||||||
| 53421 | 53529 | Noted circa 12/19875 | |||||||
| 53421 | 53529 | Listed at NH - 1st January 1988 | |||||||
| 53421 | 53528 | Noted 27/01/88 - on 19:59 Manchester Victoria - Southport | |||||||
| 53421 | 53529 | Noted 12th March 1988 | |||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Listed at NH - May 1988 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Listed at NH - May-88 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Noted June 1988 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Listed at NH - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Noted 6th August 1988 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Noted 26th November 1988 | ||||||
| N661 | 53421 | 53529 | Noted 12th April 1989 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
5th April 1964
Two three-car BRC&W sets operate the 4.30pm Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton service on April 5th, 1964. Seen near Lyme Park, Disley, M50421 leading. Michael Mensing.
18th September 1982
Set number: BX481
Several 104s at Buxton on September 18, 1982, 50421 closest 59148 + 50487 as set BX481. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
21st July 1984
Set number: BX481
Class 104 DMU set BX481 sits in Stalybridge station on 12 July 1984. DMBS 53421 is closest, the other two vehicles are presumably 59148 + 53487. Chris McKee.
26th January 1985
On the approach to Manchester Piccadilly is Buxton based BRC&W class 104 dmu M53421, M59148, M53487 arriving with a service from Buxton, 26th January 1985. Andrew J Crowther.
2nd March 1985
Set number: BX481
Class 104 BRCW 3-car DMU 53421 + 59148 + 53487 arriving New Mills Newtown with the 13-31 to Manchester Piccadilly on 2-3-85. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
18th June 1985
Set number: BX481
A view of he station platforms at Buxton finds a 6 car BRCW class 104 DMU rake, led by set BX481 (presumably 53421 + 59148 + 53487) sat in Platform 1. Behind it next to the depot fuel tanks is parked up 31289. 18th June 1985. John Crooks.
17th August 1985
Set number: BX481
A six-car set, headed by set BX481 and M53421 (presumably with M59148 + M53487), enters Manchester Piccadilly on 17/8/85. Malcolm Clements.
17th August 1985
Set number: BX481
M53421 enters it's platform at Manchester Piccadilly on 17/8/85. Malcolm Clements.
28th September 1985
Set number: BX481
Class 104 DMU set BX481 with M53421 closest stabled at Buxton on 28 September 1985. Phil Bevan.
13th October 1985
Set number: BX481
53421 of set BX481 is stabled beside a Class 108 in Buxton station on the 13th October 1985. Chris Lings.
22nd December 1985
Set number: BX481
A White roofed Buxton based BRC&W class 104 3 car dmu BX481 (M53421 + M59148 + M53487), climbs the 1-60 bank up towards Norbury Hollow level crossing whilst working a Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton service, 22nd December 1985. These units truly worked nationwide, but it was the Buxton route which they became synonymous with. Andrew J Crowther.
6th May 1987
Complete with retro Buxton style white cab roof sections, a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53487 was diverging from the Up Slow at Farington Curve Junction with the 18.00 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 6th 1987. Both cars were withdrawn from Newton Heath Depot in 1989 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
6th May 1987
As a Class 86 was heading for London Euston on the Up Fast, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53487 was joining the Down Slow at Farington Curve Junction with the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston service on May 6th 1987. The unit was one of many first generation sets given an extended life due to the then ongoing issues with the Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.
14th January 1988
A two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53529, was heading over Farington Moss on its way towards Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on January 14th 1988. As a nod to its past life at Buxton Depot, the Driving Motor Brake Second M53421 had received a customised white cab roof. Alongside the unit are remnants of the former Up Line that was taken out of use in 1983, and removed piecemeal from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until the early 1990's. Martyn Hilbert.
19th March 1988
53421 / 53529 are seen at Normanton on 19/3/88 while working the 15:43 Leeds - Sheffield. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15th September 1990
Golden light at Newton Heath Depot at dawn as the sun illuminated first generation DMU cars stabled on September 15th 1990. In the foreground are withdrawn Class 104s, M53421 & M53464, with out-of-service M53493 & M53444 on a parallel siding, the units being separated by a 20 Ton Brake Van. In the left background is a split 2-Car Class 101, the bodyside damage suggests the DMBS is 51227. Also present were two Class 116 Suburban DMU cars, 53839 & 53842. Martyn Hilbert.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 2nd September 1979
Buxton station on Saturday 2 September 1978 with a 6-car Class 104 formation about to depart. According to my notes these will be 50427/59138/50440, 50421/59148/50490 and 59198. There are 3 trailer cars listed here, but only 2 3-car units in my photo and I can only guess that the "extra" trailer was visible at the diesel depot. The Class 08 on the right will be 08611 and a Class 40 is also just visible; there were 4 Class 40s at Buxton on this day. Lewis Bevan.
Date: 2nd March 1985
Set number: BX481
Class 104 BRCW 3-car DMU 53487+59148+53421 departing Middlewood with the 13-38 to Manchester Piccadilly on 2-3-85. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 20th June 1987
M53487 + M53421 are seen in Leyland station during their stop with the 06:20 Preston - Liverpool Lime Street service on June 20, 1987. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 4th April 1988
With Globe Mill at Midge Hall in the far distance, a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of DMSL M53529 - complete with a Network South East logo on the cab front - and the DMBS presumably being M53421, was passing Pages Crossing with a Preston to Ormskirk service on April 4th 1988. This was the period when first generation DMU sets that were past their best, were kept operational to cover for the then almost new ailing Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 5th April 1988
A Class 104 (53529 + 53421) with a Class 116 (53920 + 59372 + 53867) on the 1527 Southport - Manchester Victoria awaiting departure at Wigan Wallgate (at 1557) on Tuesday 5th April 1988. Colin Brooks.
Date: 8th June 1990
Amongst the DMUs at Newton Heath on 08.06.90 were M53444 and M53493 and in the foreground M53421. Nicholas Youngman.