Vehicle 50856 / 53856
Class 116
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
Allocations
| 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-68 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
| 4w/e 04/05/68 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| May-69 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| 06/09/87 | Transferred to | HT (Heaton) | |
| 10/03/88 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 02/10/88 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50856 - original number
53856 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Apr-76 - WR AWS removed
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 05/07/1976 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | As delivered to 88A - 4w/e 22/03/58 | ||||||
| CAT339 | 50856 | 50909 | Listed at CAT - Jul-62 - and centre car | ||||||
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Transfer to 84A - Nov-64 | ||||||
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted circa May-68 | ||||||
| 338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | circa Jul-69 | |||||
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 13/08/70 - in Cardiff area1 | ||||||
| CTN338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| C338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 15/07/74 - on 1630 Taunton-Cardiff with B579 51065 + 59424 + 51095 | |||||
| C338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 21/08/74 - on 2B26 1015 Cardiff-Bristol TM between C314 + C510 | |||||
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 26/08/74 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| C338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 26/08/75 - On Cardiff Canton depot1 | |||||
| C338 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 15/11/75 - on 2B28 1010 Cardiff-Weston SM with B580 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 04/09/76 - at Cardiff3 | ||||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Noted 15/12/1977 - Cardiff Central4 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 01/03/81 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 28/11/81 | |||||
| C316 | 50856 | 59364 | 50909 | Listed at CF - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Noted circa 09/19835 | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Noted 26/04/19865 | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Noted 03/05/87 - on 14:58 Barry Island to Cardiff Central | |||||
| C316 | 53856 | 59364 | 53909 | Listed at CF - Aug-87 | |||||
| 53856 | 59364 | 51102 | Noted 22/09/87 - at Newcastle | ||||||
| CH299 | 53856 | 53909 | Listed at CH - May 1988 | ||||||
| CH299 | 53856 | 53909 | Noted circa May-88 | ||||||
| CH299 | 53856 | 53909 | Noted circa Jul-88 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
April 1967
W50856 heads a Class 116 set on the Kingswear branch circa April 1967. Michael Mensing.
7th July 1973
A railtour at Maerdy, thought to be the Branch Line Society South Wales Wanderer on 7 July 1973. It used Class 116 set C338, so this DMBS should be W50856. Stuart Mackay Collection.
7th July 1973
Set number: C338
A railtour at Maerdy, thought to be the Branch Line Society South Wales Wanderer on 7 July 1973. It used Class 116 set C338, so the vehicles in view should be W50856 and W59364. Stuart Mackay Collection.
27th February 1982
Set number: C316
Coryton station, on the outskirts of Cardiff, with a Class 116 DMU (which seems to be C316, 50856 + 59364 + 50909) ready to leave on the 10.00 to Cardiff Queen Street. 27 February 1982. Lewis Bevan.
23rd March 1983
Set number: C316
C316 comprises W50856, W59364 and W50909 when seen at Cogan on the 13:25 Treherbert to Barry Island, Wednesday 23 March 1983. PJ Evans.
1984
Set number: C316
W53856 at the front of Class 116 set C316 (presumably with 59364 + 53909) approaching Heath in early 1984. Michael Mensing.
28th September 1985
Set number: C316
The 11.41 from Merthyr Tydfil arrives at Barry Island on 28 September 1985 in the form of class 116 set no C316. DMBS 53856 leads, presumably with 59364 + 53909. Robert28194.
Unknown date
Set number: C316
Class 116 set C316 (presumably 53856 + 59364 + 53909) passes the Grovesend Colliery Loop, on the Swansea District Line. Undated. Tom Clift.
1986
Set number: C316
W53856 heads a Barry Island train at Llanbradach on 1986, presumably with 59364 + 53909. Michael Mensing.
21st September 1987
Class 116 DMBS 53856 with a suburban centre car and 119 DMS (presumably 59364 + 51102) crossing Byker Viaduct on September 21, 1987. John Carter.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: unknown
Set number: C316
Refurbished lass 116 set C316 in Cardiff Central, date unknown. W50909 is closest, presumably with 59364 + 50856. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 23rd March 1985
Set number: C316
C316 (presumably 50909 + 59364 + 50856) passing 37240 at Barry on 23/03/85. Jerry Glover.
Date: 1986
Set number: C316
Class 116 set C316 (53909 leading, presumably with 59364 + 53856) arrives into Gilfach Fargoed station in 1986. Michael Mensing.
Date: 22nd September 1987
Set number: C591
Class 119 DMS(L) E51102 with Class 116 cars 59364 and 53856 stand in what was then platform 7 (now platform 1) of Newcastle station. Surprisingly, the car number can be seen to include the E-prefix - at a time when the regional prefixing was being abandoned - yet the former Cardiff Division set formation number C591 has been left on the front of the cab. Graeme Phillips Collection.