Vehicle 50701 / 53701
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: 30335
Diagram: 587
Allocations
| Oct-57 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| by Oct-60 | Transferred to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
| 3w/e 01/02/64 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| Jun-64 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| Feb-65 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| Apr-70 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| 20/06/82 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| p/e 04/09/82 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Oct-85 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| Nov-85 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Nov-85 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50701 - original number
53701 - from May-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
4w/e 07/08/71 - Dual AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| TYS501 | 50701 | 59290 | 50651 | Listed at TYS - circa Oct-60 | |||||
| 50701 | 59286 | 50681 | Noted 14/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| CTN604 | 50701 | 50681 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | ||||||
| CTN604 | 50701 | 50681 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | ||||||
| 50701 | 50681 | Noted 27/05/1974 - at Bristol TM 2 | |||||||
| 50701 | 59262 | 50681 | Noted 25/08/1974 - at Carmarthen3 | ||||||
| 50701 | 59262 | 50681 | Noted 27/08/1974 - at Swansea3 | ||||||
| 50701 | 59262 | 50681 | Noted 28/08/1974 - at Llanelli3 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 04/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven with C509 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 20/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven | ||||||
| 50701 | 50681 | Noted 01/05/76 - on 10.49 Shrewsbury – Swansea4 | |||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 23/10/76 - on 2C49 1720 Carmarthen-Swansea | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 02/07/1978 - Swansea Area5 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 16/07/1978 - Cardiff Central5 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 14/04/1979 - at Cardiff Central5 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted 23/10/1980 - At Newport Station5 | ||||||
| C604 | 50701 | 50681 | Noted Sep-81 | ||||||
| 50701 | 50681 | Noted circa 08/19826 | |||||||
| 50681 | 59207 | 50701 | Noted circa 12/19826 | ||||||
| 50681 | 59794 | 50701 | Noted circa 02/19836 | ||||||
| 50681 | 50701 | Noted circa 03/19836 | |||||||
| 53480 | 59794 | 53701 | Noted circa 05/19836 | ||||||
| 53701 | 59794 | 53681 | Noted circa 06/19836 | ||||||
| 53701 | 59153 | 53681 | Noted circa 06/19856 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Phil Shatford
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
Images:
15th March 1958
Swindon Cross-Country DMBC W50701 gets some attention at Birmingham Snow Hill on March 15, 1958. It will depart on the 3:40pm to Swansea (Swansea was Saturdays only, other days it just went to Cardiff) via Stratford-upon-Avon. The other set was the 12.10pm ex-Cardiff. Michael Mensing.
22nd March 1958
W50701 (with tail lamp) leads the stock to form the 6-car 3.40pm to Swansea (Swansea was Saturdays only, other days it just went to Cardiff) via Stratford-upon-Avon into Birmingham Snow Hill on the 22nd March 1958. Note that coach letters are carried, 'A' being visible between the cab and first passenger windows. Michael Mensing.
20th September 1961
Three Cross-Country sets form a nine-car DMU formation with a tail load (possibly a horsebox) working the 4.08pm Birmingham Snow Hill - Oxford - Paddington over Lapworth troughs on 20 September 1961. Two sets (front and rear) are of Swindon build, the centre one a GRC&W, the two types can be told apart by the quantity of roof vents. DMBCL W50701 leads, W59290 is behind. With three buffet cars on the train, and no through access between the three sets, would all three buffets be manned? Michael Mensing.
19th August 1962
The 11.55am ex-Worcester is seen at Malvern Wells on 19 August 1962. It is being worked by a Swindon Cross-Country DMU with Great Malvern on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
19th August 1962
Set number: 501
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU forms the 5.15pm Leamington Spa - Great Malvern service seen in Worcester Foregate Street station on 19 August 1962. DMBC W50701 is closest with Tyseley set number 501 in the cab window and Worcester Shrub Hill on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
5th June 1972
Set number: C604
Cross-Country DMUs at Shrewsbury on 5 June 1972. On the left is Cardiff allocated Swindon set C604 (W50701 nearest) on the 10.27 to Llanelli via the Central Wales line. Right is Chester allocated GRC&W set CR554 on the 09.43 to Wolverhampton, probably with 51104 visible. Tom Burnham.
July 1975
Set number: C604
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 2-car dmu (Class 120) No.C604 (presumably 50701 + 50681) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, at Whitland, having arrived on a service from Milford Haven, and awaiting the arrival of a 3-car Class 120 from Pembroke Dock to join-up on a continuing service to Swansea (High St), 07/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
July 1975
Set number: C604
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 2-car dmu (Class 120) No.C604 (presumably 50701 + 50681) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, at Whitland, having arrived on a service from Milford Haven and having coupled up to two 3-car dmus - another Class 120 and a BR (Derby) Class 116 - from Pembroke Dock to continue onto Swansea (High St) - all 8 coaches! Those were the days; 07/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
July 1975
Set number: C604
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 2-car dmu (Class 120) No.C604 (presumably 50701 + 50681) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, at Whitland, having arrived on a service from Milford Haven. It will be coupled-up to two 3-car dmus - another Class 120 and a BR (Derby) Class 116 - from Pembroke Dock to continue onto Swansea (High St) - all 8 coaches! Those were the days; 07/75 Hugh Llewelyn.
Unknown date
Set number: C604
C604 / 50701 seen on the Central Wales line at Llandrindod Wells. Undated. Ian Francis.
1977
Set number: C604
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country set C604 at Merthyr Tydfil in 1977. John Law.
23rd May 1978
Set number: C604
Swindon built Class 120 W50701 stands at Shrewsbury after arriving with the with the 1225 from Swansea on 23 May 1978. Keith Long.
26th August 1978
Set number: C604
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country DMU set C604 (50701 and presumably 50681) forms the 17.47 Shrewsbury - Hereford seen approaching Dinmore Tunnel on 26 August 1978. Michael Mensing.
14th April 1980
Set number: C604
The 14th April 1980, and C604 (50701 + 50681) is seen at Builth Road on the 10:46 Shrewsbury - Swansea. Hamish Stevenson.
3rd March 1981
Set number: C604
Two-car Class 120 set C604 is working with a 3-car Met-Camm set when seen at Lawrence Hill on 3 March 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
24th May 1985
A Class 120 DMU - 53701 closest with Blackpool North on the destination blind - at Bolton when semaphore signalling was extant on 24 May 1985. The centre car is likely Class 104 59153, the rear car presumably 53681. Chris Thorp.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 1975
Set number: C604
A Central Wales line Swindon Cross-Country DMU (presumably 50681 + 50701) awaits departure at Shrewsbury in 1975. John Law.
Date: July 1975
Set number: C604
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 2-car dmu (Class 120) No.C604 (presumably 50681 + 50701) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, at Milford Haven having arrived from Cardiff General) and awaiting return to Swansea (High St), 07/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: 14th April 1980
Set number: C604
W50681 leads Class 120 set C604 (with 50701) at Builth Road with the 10:46 Shrewsbury - Swansea service on April 14, 1980. Hamish Stevenson.