Vehicle 50723 / 53723
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
| 2w/e 12/07/58 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| w/e 06/12/80 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| Jul-85 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Oct-85 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| Apr-86 | Withdrawn from | AY (Ayr) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50723 - original number
53723 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
p/e 12/08/72 - Dual AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| CDF521 | 50723 | 59279 | 50670 | Noted circa Oct-59 | |||||
| CDF521 | 50723 | 59279 | Listed at CDF - circa Sep-60 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59265 | 50656 | Noted 14/05/1966 - R.C.T.S. Central Wales Scenic Tour with 51078 + 59436 + 51106 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 31/12/68 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 15/04/69 - at Selly Oak1 | ||||||
| CTN520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | |||||
| CTN520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 20/08/1971 - at Abergavenny2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 26/08/1971 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 18/09/1971 - at Crewe2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 02/11/72 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/06/1973 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 05/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 13/08/1973 - on 16:35 Shrewsbury to Hereford with 55029 locked out of use.3 | ||||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot4 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/03/1974 - at Cardiff Central3 | ||||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 25/05/74 - on 2M67 1135 Cardiff-Crewe attached 55025 and C504 50715 + 59588 + 50665 | |||||
| C520 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 19/08/74 - on 1913 Cheltenham-Cardiff | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 26/08/74 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Crewe3 | ||||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 30/08/1974 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| C552 | 50723 | 59278 | 51573 | Noted 06/08/1976 - at Cardiff Central - 2 DMBCs3 | |||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 12/01/1978 - Cardiff Central5 | |||||
| C508 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 25/08/78 - 2C58 1820 Bristol TM-Cardiff with C612 | |||||
| C505 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted 27/02/1980 - At Newport Station 09455 | |||||
| C505 | 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| 50723 | 59278 | 50674 | Noted circa 08/19826 | ||||||
| 53723 | 59064 | 53674 | Noted circa 06/19836 | ||||||
| 53723 | 59064 | 53674 | Noted circa 07/19846 | ||||||
| 53723 | 59064 | 53674 | Noted 30/09/84 - on Chester depot | ||||||
| 53723 | 59064 | 53674 | Noted 17/06/85 - at York |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
Images:
14th May 1966
The R.C.T.S. DMU Central Wales Scenic Tour at Llandovery on 14 May 1966. The Six Bells website lists the vehicles as DMU 50723 + 59265 + 50656 and 51078 + 59436 + 51106, Swindon and GRC&W Cross-Country sets. Norman Thomas courtesy S V Blencowe collection.
14th May 1966
The RCTS Central Wales Scenic Tour at Llandeilo on 14 May 1966. M50723 is closest, the Six Bells Junction website lists the other Swindon vehicles as 59265 + 50656 and the Gloucester as 51106 + 59436 + 51078. Stuart Mackay Collection.
19th August 1967
The driver of W50723 on the 14:45 Pembroke Dock-Whitland service exchanges tokens at Tenby on 19 August 1967. Robert Thomas.
circa 1974
Set number: C520
Two Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country DMUs approaching Church Stretton from the Shrewsbury direction circa 1974. Leading is set C520 - W50723 and presumably W59278 (with red stripe for the buffet) and W50674. John Clark / Adrian Sutterby Collection.
17th June 1985
A Special DMU; hybrid 120/101 set M53723 + M59064 + M53674 at York on June 17, 1985. John Carter.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 14th May 1966
Cross-Country DMUs of GRC&W and Swindon types with the R.C.T.S. DMU Central Wales Scenic Tour at Llanwrtyd Wells on 14 May 1966. The Six Bells website lists the vehicles as DMU 50723 + 59265 + 50656 and 51106 + 59436 + 51078 (closest). Norman Thomas courtesy S V Blencowe collection.
Date: 19th August 1967
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU departs from Tenby station with the 14:45 Pembroke Dock-Whitland service on 19 June 1967. The far vehicle is DMBC W50723. Robert Thomas.
Date: circa June 1976
An official image (1 of 27, negative D766/3381/1) from a internal BR photo album titled "Part Refurbished Class 120 Prototype 1 and 'CIBA Giegy' Ceiling". This shows the ends of centre car W59278 and a DMBC, presumably long term partner W50723. The paint date on the underframe is 17/12/75. The exhausts have a grille over them to prevent anyone touching them, in particular anyone climbing up the steps from track level to reset the 'butterfly' or to split the gangways. British Rail.
Date: 30th June 1979
Set number: C508
A line up at Gloucester Horton Road depot on the afternoon of Saturday 30th June 1979, with Worcester Class 08 shunter 08 778, Stratford depot visitor 37 263, and Class 120 Swindon Cross Country unit C508 (presumably 50674 + 59278 + 50723). Gordon Edgar.
Date: 30th September 1984
Class 101 DMU 54347 + 51201 stabled at Chester depot on 30-9-84. Behind are 51194 + 54346 with Class 120 53674 + 59064 + 53723. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.