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Vehicle 50518 / 53518

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

4w/e 28/12/57	New to	5B (Crewe South)
Apr-63	Transferred to	5D (Cockshute)
3w/e 30/04/66	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 04/02/67	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
31/03/89	Transferred to	CP PSPX
17/05/89	Withdrawn from	CP PXXZ

Notes

10th October 1987 - Seen with no luggage racks
May 1989 - Seen with all luggage racks removed
19th June 1989 - Stored serviceable at Crewe Brook Sidings
1st July 1989 - Listed as spare at Chester depot
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
12th October 1990 - Listed as condemned at Derby depot

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50518 - original number
53518 - from Oct-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

circa early 1975 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50466	59174	50518	As delivered to 5B - 4w/e 28/12/57
	50466	59174	50518	Noted 01/01/68 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50466	59174	50518	Noted 19/09/71 - in Chester station¹
	50466	59174	50518	Noted 31/10/1972 - at Manchester Victoria²
	50466	59178	50518	Noted 22/06/74 - at Deganwy³
	50466	59174	50518	Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50466	59174	50518	Noted 05/01/77 - in Manchester Victoria¹
NH140	50466	50518		Noted circa 05/1982⁴
	51943	50518		Noted circa 10/1982⁴
	51943	50518		Noted 04/12/1982⁴
	50464	50518		Noted 22/12/1982⁴
	50464	50518		Noted circa 03/1983⁴
	53448	53518		Noted 14th April 1985
Spare	53518			Formation change - NH - Jan-86
	53451	53518		Formation change - NH - circa Feb-86
	53451	53518		Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53451	53518		Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53451	53518		Noted circa 07/1987⁴
	53451	53518		Noted 04/07/87 - on 10:17 Stalybridge - Stockport⁵
	53451	53518		Noted 10th October 1987
	53451	53518		Noted 10/10/1987⁴
	53451	53518		Listed at NH - 1st January 1988
N668	53451	53518		Listed at NH - March 1988
N668	53451	53518		Noted circa 04/1988⁴
N668	53451	53518		Listed at NH - May 1988
N668	53451	53518		Listed at NH - May-88
N668	53451	53518		Noted circa Jul-88
N668	53451	53518		Listed at NH - 16th July 1988

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Gerald Brown
4: Eddie Knorn
5: David Bellamy

Images:

28th September 1963

Two BRC&W triple DMUs led by M50518 at Longport - south of Stoke - on 28 September 1963. Michael Mensing.

11th September 1985

In hazy evening sunlight, a BRCW two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53518 & M53448 was passing the orchard at Narrow Lane Crossing, just to the West of Midge Hall whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 11th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.

16th May 1986

Class 104 power-twin M53518 + M53451 arrives into Manchester Victoria on 16 May 1986. There is another set attached to the rear which seems to be a Class 108. John Carter.

15th November 1986

M53518 leads a two-car Class 104 DMU arriving into Wigan North Western on 15 November 1986. Stuart Parkinson.

20th February 1988

BRC&W Class 104 DMU M53518 + M53451 calls at Reddish South with the shuttle from Stockport to Stalybridge, a service that ran hourly, on the 20th February 1988. Andrew J Crowther.

20th July 1988

Interior of the former first class saloon - note the 2 + 2 seating and armrests - in 53518. Photo taken after leaving New Hey on 20/7/88. The set was working the 14.30 Manchester Victoria - Manchester Victoria via Rochdale and Oldham. Leonard Rogers.

20th July 1988

Interior of the second class saloon - 3 + 2 seating - in 53518. Photo taken after leaving New Hey on 20/7/88. The set was working the 14.30 Manchester Victoria - Manchester Victoria via Rochdale and Oldham. Leonard Rogers.

Unknown date

Set number: N668

53518 at Chester with the 21:28 to Manchester Piccadilly (set N668 also apparently comprised 53451), late '89 or 1990. Driver Atherton is ex-Northwich (8E). Gazza Prescott.

30th August 1990

08889 backs onto withdrawn DMUs (53518, 53500, 53355 + 53812) and the 31 that had brought them to Derby on 30 August 1990. The description with the negative notes they came from Newton Heath, the vehicles had been stored at Crewe Carriage Shed Sidings. They would all end up at Vic Berry's. Stuart Mackay Collection.

28th October 1990

M53518, M53500 and 53464 (right - left) at Vic Berrys, Leicester, 28-10-90 Kevin Dowd.

10th November 1990

Class 104s 53518 (left) and 54179 at Vic Berry's on 10 November 1990. Dave Warby.

25th November 1990

Set number: N668

M53518, M54179 at Vic Berrys, Leicester, 25-11-90. Kevin Dowd.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 8th May 1982

Newton Heath depot holding sidings, left to right are Class 104 DMC 50518, Class 108 DMBS 51939 and Class 104 DMBS 50442 8-5-82. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Date: 28th March 1985

Class 104 BRCW DMU 53448 + 53518 at Colne on Thursday 28 March 1985. Ian 10B.

Date: 26th April 1986

A two-car Class 104 formed of cars M53451 & M53518 arrives at Burscough Bridge with a Southport to Manchester Victoria service on April 26th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 9th August 1986

After bashing Peaks over the Pennines, and sampling the ale in Stalybridge station bar I took the opportunity to photograph the little-recorded local DMU service to Stockport on 9 August 1986. The 19:18 service was being operated by a tired looking Class 104 B.R.C. & W. DMU 53451 + 53518, seen in the bay platform 3, bathed in the late afternoon sunshine, with the hills in the distance. I made a number of tape recordings to capture the railway scene of the time and you canexperience the audio magic of this vintage DMU making its characteristic sounds. The driver slams the cab door at the start and then revs up the engine in the familiar manner before departing. https://soundcloud.com/sound-vision-10193594/class-104-2-car-dmu-5345153518-leaves-stalybridge-on-a-local-service-to-stockport-9th-aug-1986 Chris McKee.

Date: 15th February 1988

Class 104, 53451 (front) and 53518 at Guide Bridge on 15th February 1988. David Slack.

Date: 20th July 1988

Dean Lane, Newton Heath, station at 15.53 on 20/7/88. 53451/53518 approaches on the 15.45 Manchester Victoria - Rochdale via Oldham. In the centre, beyond the bridge, on Newton Heath depot, is 53087/54398. In the distance is 142 006 and on the right is 142 089 forming the 15.36 Shaw to Manchester Victoria via Oldham. Leonard Rogers.

Date: 15th October 1988

A Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53451 & M53518 was departing from Salwick with a Blackpool South to Colne service on October 15th 1988. This was the period when Salwick still retained its former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway platform canopy. A location that is no longer accessible on the former goods yard cobbled roadway. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 15th October 1988

Set number: N668

With peeling paint and corrosion erupting around the cab windows, a well-worn looking Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second M53451 was coupled to Driving Open Second Lavatory M53518, stood at a run-down Squires Gate with a Blackpool South to Colne service on October 15th 1988. The Coast Line from Blackpool South to Kirkham had fallen on hard times, with just a single track remaining on this once busy route that in the days gone by, buzzed with activity. Despite being close to the Pontins Holiday Camp and Blackpool Airport, the facilities at Squires Gate had been reduced to a bare platform. A far-cry from the days when there were even Camping Coaches located here. The 104 was into its last period of extended operation due to ongoing problems with the Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 18th July 1990

Set number: N699

Carrying the set number N699 on its cab end, Cravens Class 105 DMU, DMS M53812 awaits its final journey to the scrap yard in the sidings south of Crewe Carriage shed. The date of the photo is either 18th or 19th July 1990. Behind is its partner of recent years, Class 100 M53355, and a couple of Class 104 vehicles, likely DMSLs M53500 and M53518. Paul James.

Date: 30th August 1990

M53355 + M53812 with the Class 31 that has just brought them into Derby on 30 August 1990. There were also two Class 104 DMSs in the formation, M53500 (partly seen, note how its jumpers are connected to the Class 100) and M53518. The description with the negative notes they came from Newton Heath, the vehicles had been stored at Crewe Carriage Shed Sidings. They would all end up at Vic Berry's. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 24th October 1990

Set number: N699

53355 seen at Vic Berrys yard at Leicester on 24/10/90 with 53812. The 104s behind are likely 53500 and 53518. Ian Francis.

Date: 11th November 1990

Set number: N699

M53812, M53500, M53518 and 33015 at Vic Berrys, Leicester 11-11-90. Kevin Dowd.

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