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Vehicle 50973 / 53973

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30465
Diagram: 543

Allocations

04/07/59	New to	26A (Newton Heath)
Oct-59	Transferred to	27F (Brunswick)
11/09/61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)	- Brunswick closed
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J
w/e 06/01/68	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)
Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
13/09/81	Transferred to	KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
15/05/88	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
29/01/92	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX
09/06/92	Withdrawn from	BR (Bristol Bath Road) REBR

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50973 - original number
53973 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

circa Dec-74 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 09/05/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam at Cardiff Canton

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50973	56256	As delivered to 26A - 4th July 1959
	50973	56256	Transfer to 27F - Oct-59
	50973	56256	Noted 01/09/74 - at Preston¹
	50973	56259	Noted 28/03/1976 - at Manchester Victoria ²
	50973	56256	Noted 10/04/1976 - at Carlisle²
	50973	56256	Noted 03/11/77 - at Ormskirk³
	50973	56263	Noted 21/06/80 - on 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk
	50973	56263	Noted circa 03/1982⁴
	53973	54263	Noted 30/11/1983 - at Carlisle⁴
	50973	56263	Noted 06/06/84 - at Kirkham & Wesham
	53973	54263	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53973	54263	Noted circa 01/1986⁴
	53973	54263	Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
	53973	54263	Noted 01/11/1986⁴
	53973	54263	Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
	53973	54263	Noted 18/06/1988 - Barrow connection to BR Carlisle-Portsmouth excursion
	53973	54263	Noted 19/11/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Listed at HT - Feb-89
	53973	54263	Noted 18/02/89 - on 14:32 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/03/89 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 18/03/89 - on 15:43 Newcastle - Morpeth service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 18/03/89 - on 17:00 Newcastle - Sunderland - service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 25/03/89 - on 14:32 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 03/04/89 - on 17:38 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 08/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 13/05/89 - on 16:49 Newcastle - Alnmouth⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 20/05/89 - on 17:10 Newcastle - Durham service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 31/07/89 - on 09:02 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 31/07/89 - on 11:05 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 23/09/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 23/09/89 - on 11:00 Whitehaven - Carlisle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 13:37 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 15:16 Newcastle - Durham service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 17:30 Sunderland - Haltwhistle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 19:10 Haltwhistle - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 07/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 08/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 13/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 16/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 14/12/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 09:02 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 11:05 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 22/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
HT73	53973	54242	Listed at HT - Jul-91
HT73	53973	54242	Listed at HT - Aug-91
	53973	54242	Noted 21/09/91 - on 15:15 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips

Images:

21st June 1980

A Class 108 formed of cars M50973 + M56263 stands in the rationalised splendour of Burscough Junction whilst working the 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk service on June 21st 1980. Martyn Hilbert.

7th March 1987

Class 108 DMU no 53973 at Whitehaven on a Carlisle - Preston Cumbrian Coast Service, 7th March 1987. Note the bars on the windows and the set of steps. The text above the Coolant filler reads Warning - Pressurised System. Jonathan Hazan.

10th July 1987

A Class 108 DMU formed of 53973 + 54263 with a Whitehaven service in Carlisle station on 10 July 1987. Keith Miller.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 9th July 1977

A holiday extra return working to Colne is seen at Chaffers Siding, east of Nelson, on 9 July 1977. Formed of two three-car DMUs, five of the six vehicles are Class 104s, the 'white-liner' set (M50527 closest) contains Class 108 DMBS M50973. Michael Mensing.

Date: 9th July 1977

A holiday extra return working to Colne is seen at Chaffers Siding, east of Nelson, on 9 July 1977. Formed of two three-car DMUs, five of the six vehicles are Class 104s, the 'white-liner' set (M50527 furthest) contains Class 108 DMBS M50973. Michael Mensing.

Date: 9th July 1977

A holiday extra return working to Colne is seen at Chaffers Siding, east of Nelson, on 9 July 1977. It was formed of two three-car DMUs, the Class 104 seen, and Class 108 DMBS M50973 (partially seen) working as part of a 'white-liner' Class 104 set. Michael Mensing.

Date: 21st June 1980

A Class 108 formed of cars M56263 & M50973 arrives at Burscough Junction with the 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk on 21st June 1980. The station had an ever so long down platform complete with a bay, both a legacy from the days when Burscough Junction was on the former double track ex L&Y mainline between Preston & Liverpool Exchange. The connection was still in from Burscough Bridge serving the MOF warehouses through the gate on the right. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 21st June 1980

In blue/grey livery Class 108 M56263 & M50973 awaits departure from Burscough Junction with the 13.37 Ormskirk to Preston on June 21st 1980. To the right of the 108 is the disused former Up line, and platform and just visible in the distance on the far right is the siding connection to the MOF warehouses, linked via a flat crossing over the Ormskirk route and accessed from Burscough Bridge via the now lifted South Curve. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 6th June 1984

Despite the tail lights being switched on, and the destination blind showing 'Blackpool', the two-car Class 108 formed of cars M56263 & M50973 was arriving at Kirkham & Wesham with the service from Blackpool South on June 6th 1984. These were the days when the Coast Line from Kirkham was operated by a shuttle service that started/terminated at Kirkham. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 6th April 1985

A Class 108 formation containing 54256 + 53980 / 53973 + 54263 departs Lancaster for Barrow on 6 April 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 7th March 1987

A Class 108 DMU (54263 + 53973) at Whitehaven on 7th March 1987, working a Cumbrian Coast service from Carlisle to Preston. Jonathan Hazan.

Date: 7th March 1987

A class 108 DMU (54263 + 53973) at Workington on 7th March 1987. Jonathan Hazan.

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