Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30363
Diagram: 553
4w/e 22/03/58 | New to | 88A (Cardiff Cathays) | |
Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88B | |
Mar-62 | Depot code change | 88M | |
Nov-64 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
Jan-66 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
Nov-66 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
p/e 02/12/89 | Sector Change to | CF (Cardiff Canton) PXXZ | |
12/12/89 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) PXXZ |
50855 - original number
53855 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
4w/e 02/03/74 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 17/04/76 - WR AWS removed
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | As delivered to 88A - 4w/e 22/03/58 | ||||||
CAT342 | 50855 | 50908 | Listed at CAT - Jul-62 - and centre car | ||||||
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Transfer to 84A - Nov-64 | ||||||
50855 | 59362 | 50908 | Transfer to 82A - Jan-66 | ||||||
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 06/11/70 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
CTN302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
C302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 03/09/74 - at Cardiff3 | |||||
C302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 26/08/75 - in Cardiff Central3 | |||||
C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 07/08/1976 - on 08:00 Coryton to Bute Road4 | |||||
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 04/09/76 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 26/03/1977 - Monmouthshire Railway Society Dowlais / Coed Ely Railtour 50122-59030-50080+50855-59363-50908 | ||||||
C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 15/12/1982 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted circa 09/19835 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59356 | 53908 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted 05/06/19865 | |||||
53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted 09/06/87 | ||||||
C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Listed at CF - Aug-87 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Formation change - CF - circa 10/87 - 59561 replaced 59363 | |||||
C315 | 53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Listed at CF - Oct-87 | |||||
53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Noted 20/02/88 - on 14:58 Weymouth - Cardiff via Frome6 | ||||||
C375 | 53855 | 53908 | Listed at CF - 15/05/89 | ||||||
C375 | 53855 | 51139 | 53908 | Noted 02/10/89 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Martin Baumann
The final port of call on the 16th September 1979 NREA 'shed bash' was to bag the DMU sets stabled at Rhymney. Viewed from the now demolished island platform, disused for many years, refurbished Derby Works class 116 high density suburban triple set C315 (W50855-W59363-W50908), eventually forming a Cardiff service stands in Rhymney station, in the initial but short-lived white/blue stripe livery with brown underframe. All class 116 units were new to the Western Region and were delivered in 1957-58 and were synonymous with South Wales valley services. Gordon Edgar.
Class 116 DMU set C315 (50855 and presumably 59363 + 50908) seen at Cardiff, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
Class 116 set C315 (presumably 50855 + 59363 + 50908) arriving into Cogan station with the 5.45pm Barry Island - Coryton service on April 2nd, 1982. Michael Mensing.
Class 116 set C315 lead by 53855 (presumably with 59363 + 53908) near Pontypridd in early 1985. Michael Mensing.
Class 116 set C315 (presumably 53855 + 59363 + 53908) passing Maesmawr's Up Distant near Treforest Estate Halt on March 8, 1985. Michael Mensing.
Class 116 unit C315, 53855 leading travels north through the old Gelli colliery site at Ystrad in the Rhondda Fawr in the mid-1980s. The other two vehicles are presumably 59363 + 50908. Peter Brabham.
W53855 at Cardiff Central in 1987, as part of set C315. Shayne Lewis.
The 16:30 return Rugex to Neath at Pontypool on 28 February 1987. Closest is Class 116 DMU set C315 and DMBS W53855.This was in connection with a Pontypool v Neath cup game. I had tried to charter a train for Neath RFC but couldn't get enough numbers to cover costs. When I cancelled BR ran the train anyway as an advertised rugex.Those were the days! Robert Thomas.
C315 (53855 + 59363 + 53908) enters Radyr, circa 1987. Mac Winfield.
C315 approaches Cardiff Queen Street on the 14:06 Ystrad Mynach to Barry Island, Saturday 18th July 1987, with W53855 closest and presumably 59363 + 53908. PJ Evans.
On 25/09/89 2-Car Class 116 DMU set C375 (53855+53908) heads north west up the Cynon Valley with the 14.03 Penarth to Aberdare service while 08 660 hired to National Smokeless Fuels Ltd at Aberaman Coke Works stands in the yard. The class 08 was a vacuum braked only example and was withdrawn on 30.07.1991 before being broken up by Gwent Demolition Ltd at Margam in January 1994. Adrian Nicholls.
C375 (53855 + 53908) at Treherbert with the 16:17 to Barry Island, 25th October 1989. Gazza Prescott.
53855 being loaded onto a low-loader at Canton that will take it to its fate at Vic Berry's in Leicester, April 1990. Mac Winfield.
Arriving at Aber with DMU set C315 (50908 + 59363 + 50855) leading is the 15.28 Rhymney-Cardiff train on 13th October 1979. It's in the "reversed" rail blue and white livery, applied at one point to refurbished first-generation DMUs. Tom Burnham.
Class 116 set C315 (W50905 and presumably 59363 + 50855) departs from Taffs Well station in early 1982, with Cardiff Central on the destination blind. A Class 117 sits in the platform, thought to be set C451 with 51380 visible. Michael Mensing.
Class 116 set C315 (W53908 at the front, presumably with 59363 + 53855) enters Taff's Well in 1985. Michael Mensing.
Approaching Hawkeridge Jn, Westbury, whilst working a Bristol T.Ms - Weymouth service is C375, a Class 116/101 hybrid based at CF and formed of W53908 + W59561 + W53855. 25th April 1988. Nigel Mack.
Two-car Class 116 DMU set C375 (53908 and presumably 53855) departs Cardiff Central with a Valleys service on 10 March 1989. Robert Thomas.
A DMU (Class 116 set C375, presumably 53908 + 53855) under the semaphores at Radyr on August 8th 1989. Image by John Wiltshire. Peter Brabham Collection.
C375 W53908 + W53855 and E53196 at Vic Berrys, Leicester on 29-4-90. Kevin Dowd.