Vehicle 50655 / 53655
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 22/02/58 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 4w/e 31/05/69 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | DY | |
| Apr-79 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| p/e 10/07/83 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 11/05/86 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Jun-86 | Reinstated | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Jun-86 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| 3w/e 21/12/86 | Withdrawn from | AY (Ayr) |
Notes
29th January 1958 - New at Swindon Carriage Works.
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50655 - original number
53655 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| CDF504 | 50713 | 59259 | 50655 | Noted circa Oct-59 | |||||
| 50696 | 59255 | 50655 | Noted 21/12/70 - at Norwich1 | ||||||
| 50731 | 59295 | 50655 | Noted 03/11/72 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50718 | 59293 | 50655 | Noted 02/09/73 - at Cambridge2 | ||||||
| EP581 | 50743 | 59301 | 50655 | Noted 30/08/74 - at Derby2 | |||||
| 50717 | 59255 | 50655 | Noted 13/07/75 - on the RCTS East Angian Rambler railtour with 50709/59272/50676 | ||||||
| 50717 | 59255 | 50655 | Noted 05/12/1975 - at Loughborough 3 | ||||||
| 50717 | 59255 | 50655 | Noted 13/02/76 - at Cambridge2 | ||||||
| 50736 | 59290 | 50655 | Noted 12/06/76 - at Leicester2 | ||||||
| 50736 | 59290 | 50655 | Noted 14/08/76 - on 1320 Crewe-Lincoln St Marks | ||||||
| 50697 | 59263 | 50655 | Noted 12/12/76 - at Bury St Edmunds2 | ||||||
| 50697 | 59263 | 50655 | Transfer to CH - April 79 | ||||||
| 50697 | 59263 | 50655 | Noted 28/08/1979 - at Dovey Junction on service to Aberystwyth3 | ||||||
| 50697 | 59263 | 50655 | Noted 25/10/1980 - At Shrewsbury Station4 | ||||||
| 50655 | 59263 | 50697 | Noted circa 08/19825 | ||||||
| 50697 | 59263 | 50655 | Noted circa 01/19835 | ||||||
| 53697 | 59263 | 53655 | Noted circa 04/19835 | ||||||
| 53697 | 59263 | 53655 | Noted 19/05/85 | ||||||
| 53697 | 59263 | 53655 | Listed at NH - circa Jan-86 | ||||||
| 350 | 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Formed at AY Jul-86 | |||||
| 350 | 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Noted 31st July 1986 | |||||
| 350 | 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Listed at Ayr - August 1986 | |||||
| 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Noted 9th August 1986 | ||||||
| 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Noted 6th September 1986 | ||||||
| 51182 | 59807 | 53655 | Noted 16th October 1986 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
11th June 1958
Two Swindon Cross-Country DMUs form the 12.25pm Birmingham Snow Hill - Cardiff service seen passing Acocks Green on 11 June 1958. W50655 leads - note the 'C' just behind the cab door denoting the coach for seat reservations. Michael Mensing.
mid-May 1966
A two-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU led by W50655 is seen at Llangunllo / Llangynllo (on the Central Wales Line) with a Llanelly service in mid-May 1966. Michael Mensing.
circa 1970
A Swindon Cross-Country set with DMS M50655 closest at Norwich Thorpe. Circa 1970, this would be a Derby Etches Park set. Graham Clark.
12th October 1985
Trackside at Farington Junction during a major engineering possession at Euxton on October 12th 1985. A well-filled three-car Swindon Cross Country Class 120 DMU with DMSL M53655 leading on a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service, was getting underway on the Up Fast, having been brought to a stand at the adjacent signal number PN052. With major remodelling work taking place at Euxton Junction, all Southbound trains were being hand signalled through the area beyond Farington Junction. The signalman and his wooden cabin can be seen between the Up Slow and Down Fast lines next to signal PN051. Martyn Hilbert.
7th December 1985
A three-car Swindon Class 120 DMU, with Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) M53655 closest, was stabled in Croft Street Sidings, adjacent to the Preston Power Box on December 7th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
28th December 1985
A Swindon Class 120 three-car 'Cross-Country' DMU with Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) M53655 leading, was passing through Leyland station on the Up Slow with a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service on December 28th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
1986
Set number: 350
Set 350 has a handpainted number, seen on arrival at Ayr circa 1986. This is presumed to be 53655, with 59807 behind. Andrew McConnell.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: May 1966
A two-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU (furthest is W50655) about to enter the tunnel at Llangunllo / Llangynllo (on the Central Wales Line) with a Llanelly service in mid-May 1966. Michael Mensing.
Date: 19th May 1985
53697 + 59263 + 53655 + 51586 + 59532 + 51577 at Blackpool North with the 11:20 to Manchester on 19/5/85. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 9th November 1985
With three different types of first generation dmu's in view, a Newton Heath allocated Swindon Cross-Country class 120 dmu set comprising of cars M53696 + M59263 + M53655, waits to leave Manchester Victoria's platform 14 with a Blackpool North service, 9th November 1985. This view has totally changed beyond recognition, all the platforms are now straight with a 21,000 seat arena built on top of them. Andrew J Crowther.