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: 30296
Diagram: 556
2w/e 03/05/58 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
4w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 21F (Ryecroft) | |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2G | |
w/e 10/10/64 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) | |
4w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 6G (Llandudno Junction) | |
3w/e 02/10/65 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
4w/e 06/11/65 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
May 1973 | Depot code change | LO | |
circa Feb-82 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
05/02/87 | Transferred to | CW (Cricklewood) | |
10/05/87 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
p/e 31/12/88 | Sector Change to | OO (Old Oak Common) NGBX | |
20/01/91 | Sector Change to | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX | |
22/10/93 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) NWRX | |
27/10/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) NWRX |
27th May 1987 - Repainted into blue & grey livery at Derby Litchurch Lane
12th October 1990 - Listed as in NSE livery
50540 - original number
53540 - from 1984 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
50540 | 56183 | As delivered to 5B - 2w/e 03/05/58 | |||||||
50540 | 56180 | Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
LT310 | 50540 | 56184 | Listed at Longsight - circa Dec-69 | ||||||
LT310 | 50540 | 56183 | Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70 | ||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight1 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 20/04/73 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 04/09/74 - at New Mills2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 14/09/1975 - at Stockport3 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 10/09/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted circa 04/19824 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 03/09/82 - at Bedford St Johns2 | |||||||
53540 | 54183 | Noted circa 05/19834 | |||||||
53540 | 54182 | Noted circa 08/19834 | |||||||
53540 | 54182 | Noted circa 12/19844 | |||||||
53540 | 54184 | Noted circa 01/19864 | |||||||
53540 | 54184 | Noted 23/07/1986 - at Bedford5 | |||||||
53540 | 54184 | Noted 21/11/86 - on Bletchley depot2 | |||||||
53540 | 54184 | Noted circa 01/19874 | |||||||
53540 | 59497 | 51387 | Noted circa 07/19874 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Formed at OO circa Oct-87 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Listed at OO - 1st January 1988 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Noted 11/06/19884 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Listed at OO - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Noted 6th August 1988 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Listed at - 15/05/89 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Listed at OO - 1st July 1989 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Noted circa 10/19904 | ||||||
L704 | 53477 | 53540 | Listed at OO - 12th October 1990 | ||||||
spare | 53540 | Listed at OO - 21/01/91 | |||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54289 | Noted circa 03/19914 | ||||||
53540 | 54289 | Noted 09/04/92 - on Slough - Windsor services6 | |||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54289 | Listed at OO - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool | ||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54289 | Listed at OO - 12/08/92 | ||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54289 | Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX | ||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54495 | Noted 14th May 1993 | ||||||
L263 | 53540 | 54495 | Noted 26th August 1993 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Robert Chilton
6: David Bellamy
A BRC&W twin-set arrives into Chester on an unknown rainy date led by M50540. Edgehillsignallman@Flickr.
A Class 104 DMU formed of M50540 + 56183 sits in Bedford St. Johns station on 15 May 1982 forming the 17:00 to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
BRCW Class 104 DMBS 53540 and DTS 54184 wait to work the 17.16 to Croxley Green at Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.
Blue-grey Class 104 DMBS 53540 is part of a suburban set when seen in Reading station. The other two vehicles are likely to be 59497 and 51387 which it ran with in mid-1987. Mike Bunker.
Class 104 DMBS no. 53540, repainted into blue & grey livery, matches the Class 117 suburban cars with which it is seen coupled at Radipole, Dorset on 12/06/1987. Graeme Phillips Collection.
A hybrid DMU in Oxford station on 9 July 1987, with Class 104 DMBS 53540 standing in for Class 117 DMBS. The other two vehicles are likely to be 59497 and 51387 (L410). The KDH Archive.
Class 104 set L704 at South Tottenham on 20th November 1988. Ian Buck.
L704 (53540 + 53477) at Barking on June 10, 1989. John Carter.
Freshly outshopped 53540 in Doncaster Works. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.
At Gospel Oak is class 104 set L704 (53540 and 53477) on the Barking service. Ian Buck.
Class 104 L704 consists of two DMBSs, the closest is 53540 when seen circa October 1990 in Hayes & Harlington station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 104 set L704 (53540 + 53477) is seen approaching Paddington on 20.10.1990 in Network South East livery. A handful of these units were operated by Old Oak Common. Andy Cole.
From the late 1980s a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289 (with gangway fitted) circa 1991. This shot shows the impressive paint finish given to these ageing units, except for the rough patch of filler on the cab front. The location is Greenford station, which is unusual in being a bay platform in the middle of the LT underground station. Chris McKee.
Close up view of Class 104 53540 and Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 - descending the steep incline from Greenford station circa 1991. This shot accentuates the steep incline that the Greenford branch makes as it reaches the terminus. Chris McKee.
Class 104 53540 and Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 seen departing Greenford station circa 1991. Chris McKee.
A close up cab view of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 at Greenford station circa 1991. It shows the impressive paint finish given to these ageing units, except for the rough patch of filler. The location is Greenford station, which is unusual in being a bay platform in the middle of the LT underground station. Chris McKee.
Class 104 53540 with Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 passes Pressed Steel Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55029 near West Ealing station circa 1991. From the late 1980s, a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289. The unit is about to pass one of the traditional Greenford branch Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55029. Ealing Broadway station is in the background. I think I'm being yelled at by the driver! What happened to railway uniforms? Chris McKee.
Class 104 DMBS 53540 from set L263 seen in Slough station on 3 April 1991. Andrew Malloy.
L263 53540 + 54289 at Slough on the 13:20 to Windsor And Eaton Central, 24-3-92. Kevin Dowd.
Slough station on 22 May 1992 contains a Class 117 on the left and a Class 104/121 hydrid - L263 53540 + 54289 in the Windsor platform. Neil Smith.
Class 104 DMBS 53540 in Slough station while on Windsor duties on 22 May 1992. Neil Smith.
Class 104/121 DMU set L263 (53540 + 54289) in Slough station after arriving from Windsor Central on 22 May 1992. Neil Smith.
Class 104/121 DMU set L263 (53540 + 54289) in Slough station after arriving from Windsor Central on 22 May 1992. Neil Smith.
NSE BRCW Class 104 + Pressed Steel Class 121 DMU Set L263 53540 + 54289 depart Slough station on a service to Windsor Central on 22 May 1992. Neil Smith.
NSE BRCW Class 104 + Pressed Steel Class 121 DMU Set L263 53540 + 54289 at Windsor and Eton Central station on a service from Slough on 22 May 1992. Neil Smith.
L263 (53540 + 54495) at Reading with the 16:00 to Didcot on 5/11/92. Hamish Stevenson.
Class 104 DMBS (53540) with a class 121 DTS (presumably 54289) form unit L263 leaving Slough for Windsor in 1993. Tony Walmsley.
Withdrawn class 104 car 53540 at Old Oak Common depot on 17th January 1995 awaiting decision. Ian Buck.
53540, the last 104 to remain in service, Gwent Demolition, Margam 16-10-95. Kevin Dowd.
Cutting is started on 53540, Gwent Demolition, Margam 17-10-95. Kevin Dowd.
A Class 104 BRCW DMU - M56183 and (most likely M50540) - at St Albans Abbey station in the early 1980s. Curly42.
BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 wait in Watford Junction to work the 17.16 to Croxley Green on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.
In Watford High Street station BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 are seen working The 17.27 Croxley Green-Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.
BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 in Watford West station working the 17.50 Croxley Green-Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.
In Watford West BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 are working the 17.50 Croxley Green-Watford Junction service on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.
Class 104 DTSL 54184 with DMBS 53540 arrives at Watford Junction with the 11.12 ex-St Albans Abbey on 20 September 1986. Dave Warby.
Class 104 53539+53540 arrives at Barking from Gospel Oak in September 1988. Nicholas Youngman.
Gospel Oak station on 4 November 1988, with BRCW Class 104 unit L704 awaiting departure with the 15.38 to Barking. I recorded the set as consisting of 53477/53479, the later DMBS still in plain blue standing in for regular partner 53540 in the set. Lewis Bevan.
Class 104 53540 with Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 approaches Pressed Steel Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55029 near West Ealing station circa 1991. From the late 1980s, a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289. The unit is about to pass one of the traditional Greenford branch Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55029. West Ealing station is in the background. Chris McKee.
The Class 121 closest appears to be 55031, the 104/121 on the rear is set L263 (presumably 53540 + 54289). Taken around 11:15 at West Ealing Sunday 30 June 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Set L263 (presumably 54289 + 53540) and a Class 121 which is thought to be 55031, seen around 11:00 at West Ealing on Sunday 30 June 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Set L263 - Class 121 DTS 54289 and Class 104 DMBS 53540 - is seen with a Greenford service in platform 10 of Paddington station on 9 November 1991. A Class 117 is seen to the left. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Hybrid class 108/104 unit 263, formed of 54495 + 53540, leads another unit E.C.S. through Reading on 5/5/93. Sparegang.
53539, 59437, 53540 (540 being scrapped during the following week) at Gwent Demolition, Margam, 3-12-95. Kevin Dowd.