Vehicle 50493 / 53493
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: 30294
Diagram: 558
Allocations
| Aug-57 | New to | 9D (Buxton) | |
| Sep-57 | Transferred to | 5A (Crewe North) | |
| Dec-57 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| 4w/e 01/07/61 | Transferred to | 18A (Toton) | |
| 4w/e 29/12/62 | Transferred to | 17A (Derby Etches Park) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 16C | |
| 11/09/65 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | NH | |
| 11/06/90 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) PZQZ |
Notes
1st January 1988 - Has roofed exhausts and window bars
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19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use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:
50493 - original number
53493 - from Sep-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Dec-71 - Friction Control Springs Removed
Oct-86 - Window Bars Fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50441 | 59149 | 50493 | As delivered to 9D - August 1957 | ||||||
| 50441 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 08/07/66 - at Brough with 50437 + 59145 + 504891 | ||||||
| 50441 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 05/08/66 - at Bradford Exchange with 52083 + 59815 + 520731 | ||||||
| 50441 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 01/01/68 - in Manchester Victoria1 | ||||||
| 50441 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 20/07/68 - between Blackburn and Accrington1 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 02/01/70 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 15/08/70 - at Chester2 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 19/04/73 - on Newton Heath depot2 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 07/10/1973 - at Southport3 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 28/08/75 - on Newton Heath depot2 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted 14/02/1976 - at Bolton4 | ||||||
| 50443 | 59149 | 50493 | Noted circa 08/19815 | ||||||
| 50443 | 50493 | Noted circa 12/19825 | |||||||
| 53443 | 53493 | Noted circa 06/19855 | |||||||
| 53443 | 53493 | Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| 53474 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 10/05/87 | |||||||
| 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 1st January 1988 | |||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa 04/19885 | ||||||
| 53444 | 53493 | Noted 23/04/1988 - Barrow connection from BR Fort William to Lancaster excursion | |||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - May 1988 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa May-88 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 23rd April 1989 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 24/04/89 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 24th April 1989 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 1st July 1989 - withdrawn |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
21st September 1961
A BRC&W triple DMU at Croft, between Nuneaton and Leicester, on 21 September 1961. M50493 leads with four crew members in the cab, it was allocated to Toton at the time. Michael Mensing.
July 1970
A Blackpool white-stripe set at Newton Heath in July 1970. DMC M50493 is closest. Mel Smith.
24th April 1984
53493 passes Manchester Exchange on 24th April 1984. Dennis Taylor.
29th May 1984
53493 seen in Manchester Victoria station on the 29th May 1984. Dennis Taylor.
September 1984
A 104/101 formation at Southport circa September 1984. The 104 DMS is 53493 and it looks like it is paired with 53443. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
A Class 104 DMU in Preston station with M53493 closest, date unknown. Mike Bunker.
22nd July 1985
M53493 + M53443 in Leeds on July 22, 1985. John Carter.
29th November 1986
Having been used on a service to Blackpool South, Class 104, M53493 was stabled with several other sets of first generation DMU's at Croft Street Sidings, adjacent to Preston power box on November 29th 1986. The sidings and power box are situated on the site of the former Preston MPd that closed in 1961 following a roof fire in 1960. Dominating the skyline is St Walburges Church dating frpm 1854 and designed by Joseph Hansom of Hansom Cab fame, it has the tallest parish church spire in England at 309ft. Martyn Hilbert.
1st January 1987
A class 104 DMU (closest appears to be 53493) at Manchester Victoria station on 1st January 1987. Jonathan Hazan.
1st January 1987
A Class 104 (thought to be 53493) at Manchester Victoria on January 1, 1987. Jonathan Hazan.
24th April 1989
Set number: N666
This was the last time I saw a BRC&W Class 104 on the Buxton line on a service train, as they had long since been displaced on the Buxton line by this time, interesting too the second time I had seen a 2 car example, as all Buxton units were 3 cars. This is Newton Heath allocated N666 led by 53493 heading back to Manchester on the outskirts of Hazel Grove, 24th April 1989. Andrew J Crowther.
24th October 1990
Set number: N666
53493 and 53511 head a long line of vehicles awaiting disposal at Vic Berrys on 24/10/90. Ian Francis.
28th October 1990
Set number: N666
M53493 at Vic Berrys, Leicester on 28-10-90. Kevin Dowd.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 1st June 1985
Two Class 104 DMUs in Bolton station on 1 June 1985. The set on the left is 53533 + 54178, on the right is 53443 + 53493. Keith Long.
Date: 1st June 1985
M53443 and M53493 waiting departure from Bolton with a Manchester Victoria to Blackburn train 1st June 1985. Keith Long.
Date: 22nd July 1985
A Class 104 BRC&W DMU formed of M53443 + M53493 at Bradford Interchange on July 22, 1985. John Carter.
Date: 1st January 1987
A class 104 DMU (closest appears to be 53493) at Manchester Victoria at 10:36 on 1 January 1987. Jonathan Hazan.
Date: 10th September 1988
The sidings at Southport on September 11th 1988 include a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars 53444 & 53493 (With a small Network South East Logo), and a two-car Class 101 Metro-Cammell DMU in blue/grey was also stabled alongside, formed of cars 51520 & 51456. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 17th October 1988
Set number: N666
A pair of Class 104 BRC&W 2-car DMUs - 53444 + 53493 (set N666) and a sister - come ECS from Red Bank into Manchester Victoria 17-10-88. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 24th April 1989
Set number: N666
A BRC&W Class 104/Derby Class 108 combination on a peak hour working, 24th April 1989, having just left Furness Vale on their way up to Buxton. This is Newton Heath allocated N666 comprising of 53444 + 53493. Andrew J Crowther.
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.
Date: 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.