Vehicle 50653 / 53653
Class 120
Builder: BR Swindon Works
Layout: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30334
Diagram: 586
Allocations
| 4w/e 25/01/58 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| p/e 01/02/81 | Transferred to | DY (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 02/02/86 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| 3w/e 21/12/86 | Withdrawn from | AY (Ayr) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50653 - original number
53653 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
w/e 16/10/71 - Dual AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| CTN503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 30/10/70 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 06/11/70 - at Newport (Mon.)1 | ||||||
| CTN503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 22/05/71 - at Crewe1 | ||||||
| 503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 02/11/72 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 02/03/73 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot2 | |||||
| 563 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 06/09/73 - at Severn Tunnel Junction2 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 27/05/1974 - at Gloucester3 | ||||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 26/08/74 - at Cardiff4 | ||||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff4 | ||||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 03/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 18/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven with C526 | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 20/09/74 - on 2C36 1650 Newport-Swansea with 56289 attached | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 08/01/75 - on 2C46 1600 Weymouth-Cardiff with B468 | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 24/03/75 - at Cardiff working with C338 + 56289 + C534 | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 02/05/75 - on 2C09 1420 Swansea-Cardiff with 56289 + C601 | |||||
| C503 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 23/04/76 - on 2C12 0735 Hereford-Cardiff | |||||
| C502 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 04/09/76 - in Cardiff Central2 | ||||||
| C502 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C501 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| C501 | 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Noted 24/10/1980 - At Swansea High Street Station working a service to Llanelli5 | |||||
| 50707 | 59268 | 50653 | Transfer to DY - Feb-81 | ||||||
| EP528 | 50717 | 59289 | 50653 | Listed at DY - circa Jun-82 | |||||
| EP528 | 50717 | 59289 | 50653 | Noted circa 09/19826 | |||||
| EP528 | 50717 | 59289 | 50653 | Noted 23/04/1983 - BLS Wyvern Express Railtour 53656-59531-53725 + 50717-59289-50653 | |||||
| 53717 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 21/07/84 - at Norwich2 | ||||||
| 53717 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted circa 07/19856 | ||||||
| 53717 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 22/11/85 - on 20:25 Crewe - Nottingham service7 | ||||||
| 53717 | 53653 | Listed at AY - circa Jan-86 | |||||||
| 528 | 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Formation change - AY - Mar-86 | |||||
| 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 2nd April 1986 | ||||||
| 528 | 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 1st May 1986 | |||||
| 528 | 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Listed at Ayr - Summer 1986 | |||||
| 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 19th June 1986 | ||||||
| 528 | 53722 | 59289 | 53653 | Noted 3rd July 1986 | |||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Noted 31st July 1986 | ||||||
| 615 | 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Listed at Ayr - August 1986 | |||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Noted 7th August 1986 | ||||||
| 521 | 53730 | 59127 | 53653 | Formation change - circa Sep-86 - 53653 (ex-120528) replaced 53650 (to 120528) | |||||
| 53461 | 59560 | 53653 | Noted 19th November 1986 | ||||||
| 101354 | 53210 | 59797 | 53653 | Formation change - circa Dec-86 - 53653 replaced 51583 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Jeremy Goodyear
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
7: Martin Baumann
Images:
19th March 1972
Set number: 503
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU in Chepstow station on the 19th of March 1972. Carrying set number 503, the vehicles are presumably 50653 + 59268 + 50707. The KDH Archive.
26th February 1977
Set number: C502
A Class 120 Swindon-Cross Country DMU arrives into Cardiff Central from West Wales 26/2/77. At the front of set C502 is DMS(L) W50653, the orange curtains fitted throughout second class can be clearly seen. Stephen Burdett.
23rd April 1983
Set number: EP528
On 23 April 1983, the Branch Line Society "Wyvern Express" railtour is seen at Sinfin Central with M50653 nearest the camera. The full formation was 53656-59531-53725 + 50717-59289-50653. Jeremy Chapter.
23rd April 1983
Set number: EP528
Participants return to the Branch Line Society Wyvern Express railtour at Sinfin Central on 23 April 1983. The vehicles are 50653 + 59289 + 50717 and 53725 + 59531 + 53656. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th June 1984
An Derby Etches Park 120 and 101 with 1ZXX, a 18XX Walton On The Naze - East Midlands, passing Frinton On Sea on the evening of Thursday 28th June 1984. Colin Brooks.
28th June 1984
A Class 120 (M53653 closest) tails a 101 set on an ECS at Walton on Naze on Thursday 28th June 1984. Colin Brooks.
1st May 1985
A Class 120 set in Lincoln St Marks on the 1st May 1985 with 53653 closest. Chris Lings.
1986
A Swindon-built Cross-Country Class 120 unit seen in Edinburgh Waverley in 1986. Driving Motor Second M53653 is closest. S Saunders.
1986
M53653 is seen in Edinburgh Waverley in 1986. S Saunders.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 17th February 1981
Six DMU cars are seen between 47125 and 08303 at Derby on 17 February 1981. All but one are Class 120s: 50691, 50651 + 59290 + 50736, 59135 (104) and 50653. Possibly bound for Litchurch Lane? Andrew Bond.
Date: 23rd April 1983
The Branch Line Society Wyvern Express railtour at Sinfin Central on 23 April 1983. M53656 is closest, the Six Bells website lists the other vehicles as 59531 + 53725 and 50717 + 59289 + 50653. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 23rd April 1983
Set number: EP516
The Branch Line Society Wyvern Express railtour at Nottingham on 23 April 1983. M53656 is closest, the Six Bells website lists the other vehicles as 59531 + 53725 and 50717 + 59289 + 50653. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 23rd April 1983
Set number: EP516
The Branch Line Society Wyvern Express railtour during the lunchtime stop at Nottingham on 23 April 1983. M53656 is closest, the Six Bells website lists the other vehicles as 59531 + 53725 and 50717 + 59289 + 50653. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 23rd April 1983
Set number: EP516
The Branch Line Society "Wyvern Express" rail tour is seen at Butterley station on 23 April 1983 with (recently renumbered) Motor Second car 53656 leading. The Swindon-built Cross-Country units were always the most popular rail tour rolling stock (if not loco hauled). The Six Bells Junction lists the full formation as 53656 + 59531 + 53725 and 50717 + 59289 + 50653. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 23rd April 1983
Set number: EP516
The Branch Line Society "Wyvern Express" railtour is seen during the lunch stop at Nottingham station on April 23, 1983. Swindon Cross-Country class 120 DMU MSL car M53656 is the end car, the Six Bells website lists the other vehicles as 59531 + 53725 and 50717 + 59289 + 50653. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: circa August 1984
DMUs stabled at Leicester - M53653 on the left and a 120/101/120 hybrid. Date unknown, the slide process date was August 1984. Stuart Mackay Collection.