Builder: Cravens
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: AEC 150hp / Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30353
Diagram: 529
Nov-57 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
Jan-58 | Transferred to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
Mar-58 | Transferred to | 17A (Derby Etches Park) | |
Apr-58 | Transferred to | 18A (Toton) | |
4w/e 29/12/62 | Transferred to | 17A (Derby Etches Park) | |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 16C | |
4w/e 31/05/69 | Transferred to | 10E (Accrington) | |
Oct-72 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
May-73 | Depot code change | NH | |
03/07/83 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) |
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
50761 | 59316 | 50794 | As delivered to 5B - November 1957 | ||||||
50794 | 59159 | 50799 | Noted 09/08/68 - at Brandon (Suffolk)1 | ||||||
50444 | 59310 | 50794 | Noted 17/08/68 - at Peterborough1 | ||||||
50772 | 50794 | Noted 22/02/1971 - at Crewe2 | |||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted 10/09/71 - at Manchester Victoria3 | |||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted 07/10/1973 - at Southport4 | |||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted 17/08/77 | |||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted circa 07/19805 | |||||||
50761 | 59207 | 50794 | Noted 14/02/81 | ||||||
50794 | 59207 | 50761 | Noted 14th February 1981 - part of 6-car Rossendale Farewell special | ||||||
50794 | 59207 | 50761 | Noted 14/02/1981 - David Isherwood's The Rossendale Farewell Railtour 50794-59207-50761+50453-59161-50505 | ||||||
50761 | 59207 | 50794 | Noted circa 04/19815 | ||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted circa 01/19825 | |||||||
NH148 | 50761 | 50794 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Victoria5 | ||||||
NH148 | 50761 | 50794 | Noted circa 10/19825 | ||||||
50761 | 50794 | Noted circa 12/19825 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Jeremy Goodyear
5: Eddie Knorn
M50794 (with M50761) is seen in the company of 82006 at Preston on the 17th August 1977. Robert Frise.
The Rossendale Farewell railtour seen at Bury Bolton Street, formed of M50794 (105 DMC), M59207 (104 TS), M50761 (105 DMBS) and M50453 (104 DMBS), M59161 (104 TC), M50505 (104 DMC). 14/2/81. Andy Pullar.
Plenty of locals have turned out to greet the last BR train to traverse the line from Bury to Rawtenstall, 'The Rossendale Farewell' Railtour, from Manchester Victoria on February 14th 1981. This was the scene at Ramsbottom, at around 1.30pm on the outward journey, as the six-car DMU set paused for the level crossing gates to be opened by the train crew. Cravens Class 105 M50794 brings up the rear, the other vehicles were 59207, 50761 and M50453, M59161, M50505. The Newton Heath allocated Cravens DMU's were frequent visitors to the route until the regular passenger services ceased on June 3rd 1972. Martyn Hilbert.
With Cravens Class 105 M50794 at the rear, the six-car DMU forming 'The Rossendale Farewell' railtour, had arrived at the end-of-the-line at Rawtenstall on a cold and overcast February 14th 1981. Running from Manchester Victoria, the train was billed as the 'Last BR Service to Rawtenstall'. The line had lost its timetabled passenger service in June 1972, and the Coal workings to Rawtenstall from Bury had ceased in December 1980. Formed of DMU cars of classes 104 and 105 the individual cars were - M50794, M59207, M50761 + M50453, M59161, M50505. It was fitting that Class 105 Power-Twin cars M50794 & M50761 were used, as the Newton Heath Power-Twins were regular visitors to the line in BR days, and a set formed the very last BR service train on June 3rd 1972. Martyn Hilbert.
The view from the level crossing at Ramsbottom, as 'The Rossendale Farewell' was awaiting the train crew to return from the signal box, having operated the gates and the rudimentary signals on this much rationalised railway, on February 14th 1981. The tour which had departed from Manchester Victoria and was bound for Rawtenstall, was formed of a three-car BRCW Class 104 DMU and a Cravens Class 105 Power Twin that had a BRCW Class 104 centre trailer coach inserted between the two driving vehicles. The actual formation being - M50505, M59161, M50453 + M50761, M59207, M50794. Martyn Hilbert.
St Valentine's Day 1981 saw a farewell tour run from Manchester via Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall formed M50794 + M59207 + M50761 / M50453 + M59161 + M50505. This marked the end of BR services on the line from Bury to Rawtenstall. The last freight train ran the previous December and passenger trains had been diverted to Bury Interchange for almost a year by this time. Jeremy Chapter.
Some enthusiasts, but mainly curious locals at Ramsbottom, had come out to witness what was billed as the last BR train, 'The Rossendale Farewell', to run from Bury to Rawtenstall on February 14th 1981. Cravens Class 105 Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) M50794 was bringing up the rear of the six-car formation across Bridge Street. Martyn Hilbert.
On 14 February 1981, David Isherwood organised "The Rossendale Farewell" rail tour from Manchester to commemorate the ending of all services from Bury to Rawtenstall. Bury Bolton Street had been the terminus of 3rd rail services from Manchester, but had transferred to Bury Interchange the previous year. The six-car rail tour had class 105 Cravens car M50794 at this end, seen in Bury Bolton Street. Jeremy Chapter.
Class 105 Bury Bolton Street 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the lunch stop at Bolton Street, the electric lines having already been diverted to nearby Interchange station prior to the line's conversion to trams. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.
Class 105 Ramsbottom 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the Ramsbottom photo stop, a view which doesn't look anything like this today. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.
Class 105 Rawtenstall 14 Feb 1981 The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at Rawtenstall. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.
The David Isherwood "Rossendale Farewell" railtour in Bury Bolton Street on 14 February 1981. The formation was 50794 + 59207 + 50761 / 50453 + 59161 + 50505. Stuart Mackay Collection.
An eight-car DMU formation at Heysham Moss sometime in 1981, noted as an ex-Nelson to Heysham working (Rochdale is on the destination blind. Leading is a 105/104/105 - closest appears to be 50794 so its partners are presumably 59207 + 50761. The next three-car appears to be a 108 with two white-stripe 104s, then an unidentified two-car on the rear. Update: This is now thought to be 50794 + 59207 + M50761 / 50944 + 59178 + 50531 / 50499 + 50468 which would return with the 1P90 12:15 Heysham Harbour-Accrington relief on 5th July 1981, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/psrp/50894325502/. For that working see image 30023 on this website. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A four-car Class 105/104 DMU was passing Croft Street Sidings and the Preston PSB with a Blackpool South to Colne service on May 15th 1982. The lead set, a Cravens Class 105 power-twin, was formed of cars M50794 & M50761, at this late stage in its operational life, the Greater Manchester PTE 'M' logo had been added to M50794. The Cravens was finally withdrawn from Newton Heath depot in July 1983. Martyn Hilbert.
Class 104 Rawtenstall 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the end of the line and another view which looks much better today. It's not often you can say that about railway locations. The formation was 50505/59161/50453 + 50761/59207/50794. Alistair Ness.
On 14 February 1981, David Isherwood organised "The Rossendale Farewell" rail tour from Manchester to commemorate the ending of all services from Bury to Rawtenstall. BRCW class 104 car M50505 was the car to almost touch the buffers at Rawtenstall. The full formation was M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + M59207 + M50794. Jeremy Chapter.
The Rossendale Farewell Railtour passing through Bury Knowsley Street on 14 February 1981, formed of M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + 59207 + M50794. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.
The Rossendale Farewell Railtour at Rawtenstall on 14 February 1981, formed of M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + 59207 + M50794. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.
Billed as the last BR train to run from Bury to Rawtenstall, Curious locals have come out to witness the passage of the six-car DMU awaiting to proceed past Ramsbottom on February 14th 1981. With Class 104 Driving Motor Composite M50505 leading, the train crew are heading for the still extant signalbox to open the level crossing gates on Bridge Street. The last Coal train to Rawtenstall had traversed the line in December 1980. The home signal on its bracket looked faded and woebegone. Running from Manchester Victoria at 11.05, the train was formed of a Class 104 and a Class 105 power-twin that had a centre trailer car inserted specially for the tour. The individual cars were M50505, M59161, M50453 + M50761, 59207, M50794. This would have been the first passenger carrying DMU to visit the line since regular passenger services had been withdrawn in June 1972. Martyn Hilbert.
This slide was annotated as 12:05 Heysham to York near Moss, 1980. The eight-car formation contains a Class 104 twin, a three car with Class 104 DMCL and TCL white stripers with a Class 108 DMBS, and another three-car which seems to be Class 105 power cars with a Class 104 centre car. Update: M50468 + 50499 / M50531 + 59178 + 50944 / M50761 + 59207 + 50794 with 1P90 12:15 Heysham Harbour-Accrington relief on 5 July 1981, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/psrp/50894325502/. For the incoming working see image 27291 on this website. Stuart Mackay Collection.