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Vehicle 50923 / 53923

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: 30364
Diagram: 554

Allocations

2w/e 12/07/58	New to	88A (Cardiff Cathays)
Jan-61	Depot code change	88B
Mar-62	Depot code change	88M
Jul-64	Transferred to	86A (Cardiff Canton)
Jul-64	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
Apr-66	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
4w/e 04/05/68	Stored
Jun-68	Reinstated	84A (Laira)
3w/e 03/08/68	Transferred to	14A (Cricklewood)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CW
circa Jul-83	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
20/09/87	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
06/11/88	Withdrawn from	NH (Newton Heath)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50923 - original number
53923 - from May-85 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50870	50923				As delivered to 88A - 2w/e 12/07/58
CAT355	50870	50923				Listed at CAT - Jul-62
	50870	50923				Transfer to 84A - Apr-66
	50850	50923	50114			Noted 23/08/75 - at Kentish Town¹
	50060	59017	50071	50923		Noted 05/04/79 - on 19.15 Luton – St. Pancras²
	50060	59011	50075	50902	50923	Noted 25/08/79 - on 09.35 St. Pancras - Bedford²
	50849	59021	50923			Noted 28/05/80 - on 16.45 Kentish Town – Barking, 17.30 Barking – Kentish Town, 18.15 Kentish Town – Barking and 19.00 Barking – Kentish Town²
	50063	59365	50893	50923		Noted 29/11/80 - on 21.45 Luton – Cricklewood²
	50071	59629	50923			Noted 12/02/81 - on 05.31 Cricklewood – Barking via Carlton Jn ECS, 06.40 Barking – Gospel Oak, 07.25 Gospel Oak – Barking amd 08.10 Barking – Gospel Oak (116/127 hybrid)²
	50075	59008	50893	50923		Noted 06/10/81 - on 08.39 Cricklewood – St Pancras ECS²
	50075	59640	50923			Noted circa 04/1982³
	50063	59229	50923			Noted circa 04/1983³
TS516	53074	59638	53923			Noted circa 09/1983³
TS527	53849	59632	53923			Noted circa 02/1984³
TS514	53870	59614	53923			Noted circa 06/1984³
TS514	53870	59629	53923			Noted circa 09/1985³
TS514	53870	59629	53923			Noted circa 02/1986³
TS514	53870	59629	53923			Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986
TS514	53870	59629	53923			Noted circa 06/1986³
TS514	53870	59629	53923			Noted 19/07/86 - at Norwich¹
TS514	53857	59629	53923			Formation change - TS - circa Oct-86 - 53857 replaces 53870
TS822	51853	59330	59622	53923		Noted 17/06/1987³
T822	51853	59622	59330	53923		Listed at TS - Jul-87
	53870	53923				Noted 10th October 1987
N652	53870	53923				Listed at NH - March 1988
N652	53870	53923				Noted circa 04/1988³
N652	53870	53923				Listed at NH - May 1988
N652	53870	53923				Noted circa Jul-88
N652	53870	53923				Noted circa 10/1988 - in use at Tyseley³
N652	53870	53923				Noted 15th October 1988

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Phil Shatford
3: Eddie Knorn

Images:

1st October 1966

A two-car Class 116 set heads away from Milverton station on October 1, 1966. The DMBS (furthest vehicle) is W50870, so the DMS is probably 50923. Steve Davies Collection.

16th February 1988

With the disused former Up Line still in situ, a Class 116 Suburban 2-Car DMU (Minus its centre trailer car) with Driving Motor Second M53923 leading (presumably with M53870) complete with its West Midlands branding, climbs the gradient from Farington Curve Junction as it works a Preston to Ormskirk service on February 16th 1988. This was the period when almost new Class 142 Pacers had been sidelined awaiting modifications to improve reliability and poor-design features, causing the cobbling together of various first generation sets and the appearance of still serviceable sets drafted in from other parts of the country to keep things running until the new Class 150/2 Sprinter fleet appeared in sufficient numbers to allow the old DMU sets to bow-out. Martyn Hilbert.

24th February 1988

M53923 and M53870 at Manchester Victoria 24th February 1988. Keith Long.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 1st October 1966

A member of the station staff has a chat with the driver of W50870 at Milverton before departure on October 1, 1966. It is presumably paired with 50923. Steve Davies Collection.

Date: 1st October 1966

W50870 heads a 2-car Class 116 set departing from Milverton on the 1st October 1966, presumably with 50923. Steve Davies Collection.

Date: 1st October 1966

A two-car 116 set at Milverton on October 1st 1966. The DMBS is W50870, the DMS is likely to be 50923. Steve Davies Collection.

Date: 8th March 1986

Set number: TS514

This is a shot of the usual 3 coach class 116 forming a Birmingham New Street to Kidderminster service approaching Stourbridge Junction on 8 March 1986. The set number is TS514 presumably formed 53870 + 59629 + 53923. Also of interest is 25 205 in the sidings which would have been on standby duties should a northbound freight have needed banking assistance on the now-closed line through Dudley towards Bescot. There must have been such a train expected on this Saturday morning because there certainly wasn't a locomotive stabled here every week, at least on the weekends that I visited. Peter Tandy.

Date: April 1988

Set number: N652

Class 116 set N652 (presumably 53870 + 53923) arriving into Hindley station in April 1988. Colin Brooks.

Date: 6th April 1988

Set number: N652

With Midge Hall visible in the far-distance, former West Midlands Class 116 Suburban 2-car DMU formed of cars M53870 & M53923, were passing the Cocker Bar at Ulnes Walton, en-route to their first intermediate station call at Croston whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on April 6th 1988. The unit was transferred to Newton Heath Depot in October 1987 as cover for ailing and stored Class 142 Pacers. Set N652 was eventually withdrawn from service in November 1988 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 12th April 1988

Set number: N652

Reduced to two-cars, a Class 116 Suburban DMU formed of Driving Motor Brake Second M53870 and Driving Motor Second M53923, were arriving at Rufford with a Preston to Ormskirk service on April 12th 1988. The unit had previously worked in the West Midlands, and had been allocated to Newton Heath (Set N652), to cover for almost new Class 142 Pacers that were then being sidelined with numerous faults. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 12th April 1988

Set number: N652

Former West Midlands PTE Class 116 Suburban 2-Car DMU formed of cars M53870 & M53923, was stood in the passing loop at Rufford with a Preston to Ormskirk service on April 12th 1988. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 18th December 1988

Set number: N652

M53870, M53059, M53923 and M50117 awaiting their fate at Vic Berrys, Leicester 18-12-88. Kevin Dowd.

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