Vehicle 50704 / 53704
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
| 4w/e 02/11/57 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| by Oct-60 | Transferred to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 30/07/62 | Transferred to | 88A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 4w/e 31/05/69 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | DY | |
| Jan-86 | To Parcels Sector at | DY (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 23/02/86 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 12/04/87 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50704 - original number
53704 - from 1984 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| TYS505 | 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Listed at TS - circa Oct-60 | |||||
| EP494 | 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Noted circa Jun-69 | |||||
| 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Noted 02/01/70 - in Derby1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Noted 22/02/1971 - at Crewe2 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Noted 02/10/1971 - at Birmingham New Street3 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59258 | 50656 | Noted 31/10/71 - at Derby1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59258 | 50654 | Noted 16/01/72 - at Derby4 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59273 | 50687 | Noted 28/08/75 - at Crewe1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59280 | 50684 | Noted 10/07/76 - at Norwich1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59280 | 50684 | Noted 31/07/76 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59274 | 50696 | Noted 09/04/77 - at Peterborough1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59274 | 50656 | Noted 28/08/77 - on 2050 Derby-Burton Relief with 50696 + 59290 + 50736 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59274 | 50656 | Noted 24/09/77 - at Grantham1 | ||||||
| 50704 | 59255 | 50650 | Noted 05/09/81 - at Norwich1 | ||||||
| EP508 | 50704 | 59255 | 50650 | Listed at DY - circa Jun-82 | |||||
| EP508 | 50704 | 59255 | 50650 | Noted circa 06/19825 | |||||
| 50704 | 59255 | 50650 | Noted 21/08/82 - at Norwich1 | ||||||
| 53704 | 59089 | 53676 | Noted 30/05/1983 - at Crewe on 11:20 to Derby with 53738, 59262 and 536932 | ||||||
| 53704 | 59089 | 53676 | Noted circa 12/19835 | ||||||
| 53704 | 59287 | 53671 | Noted 18/08/84 - at Norwich1 | ||||||
| 53704 | 59264 | 53687 | Noted circa 02/19855 | ||||||
| EP514 | 53704 | 59264 | 53687 | Noted 08/06/85 - at Norwich1 | |||||
| spare | 53704 | Formation change - DY - Aug-85 | |||||||
| 53704 | 59301 | 53692 | Listed at DY - circa Jan-86 - Parcels | ||||||
| 53703 | 53704 | Noted circa 02/19865 | |||||||
| 53703 | 53704 | Formation change - CH - circa Mar-86 - Parcels | |||||||
| 51786 | 53704 | Formation change - CH - 2w/e 14/05/86 - Parcels | |||||||
| 51786 | 53704 | Listed at Chester - Summer 1986 - Parcels |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Leonard Rogers
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
circa October 1957
Official Swindon Works image (Negative 5C/239) showing underframe equipment under a Cross-Country power car. Noted as June 1958, but more probable to be October 1957. Note the livery, this is probably 50704, painted in a pale milky green with a wide yellow waist band. British Railways.
30th April 1960
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU forms the 4.25pm Wellington - Lapworth service seen at Priestfield on 30 April 1960. Note the letters in the letter brackets on the side of DMBCL W50704. Michael Mensing.
Unknown date
Class 120 DMBC M50704 up on jacks, probably in Swindon Works in the early 1980s. Paul Redmond.
Unknown date
A Class 120 DMU with M50704 closest is seen departing from Nottingham, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
30th April 1984
It's fanciful to think that this Class 120 Cross Country dmu, 53704 leading, has come across the country to reach Kettering Junction from Cambidge. It's actually a Bletchley to Leicester service proceeding on the down fast under the watchful eyes of the Junction signalman. 30th April 1984. Mike Dean.
28th December 1985
A Class 120 DMU set formed of 53704 + 59301 + 53692 departs Derby with the 15:04 to Lincoln on 28 December 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th June 1986
Class 120 parcel vehicles 53704 + 53703 attached to the rear of a Class 110 on a service train, seen at Dewsbury, 6/6/86. Malcolm Clements.
6th June 1986
A close up of the Red Star branding carried on 53703 when seen at Dewsbury on 6/6/86. Malcolm Clements.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 2nd March 1985
Set number: EP514
Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMU 53687 + 59264 + 53704 (Etches Park set EP 514) at Matlock with the 16-10 to Derby on 2-3-85. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 2nd March 1985
Set number: EP514
Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMU 53687 + 59264 + 53704 at Matlock with the 16-10 to Derby on 2-3-85. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 6th June 1986
At Dewsbury on the 6th June 1986. The parcels set (53703 + 53704) is coupled to a 2-car Class 110 service train. Malcolm Clements.
Date: circa January 1987
Class 120 Swindon 2-car DMU 53703+53704 in Express Parcels service, Chester Jan-Feb 1987. Both DMBCs converted for parcels use 23/3/86, 53703 withdrawn 12/5/88, 53704 withdrawn 12/4/87. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: circa January 1987
Class 120 Swindon 2-car DMU 53703+53704 in Express Parcels service, Chester Jan-Feb 1987. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.