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Vehicle 50987 / 53987

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

24/10/59	New to	14E (Bedford)	- on loan
4w/e 30/01/60	Transferred to	14A (Cricklewood)
Jun-60	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 31/12/60	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 01/07/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
w/e 07/01/67	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)
4w/e 31/10/70	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CH
w/e 11/05/74	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
13/09/81	Transferred to	KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
11/05/86	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
15/05/88	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
14/05/89	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
29/09/91	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
16/12/92	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
06/01/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

Notes

1988 - No interior luggage racks - suspected metal theft from NH
May 1989 - Seen with all luggage racks removed

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50987 - original number
53987 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Jan-76 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50987	56270	As delivered to 14E - 24th October 1959 - on loan
	50987	56270	Transfer to 9A - 4w/e 31/12/60
	50987	56270	Noted 20/12/66¹
	50987	56221	Noted 18/04/73 - at Chester²
	50987	56221	Noted 09/09/73 - on Chester depot²
	50987	56270	Transfer to NH - w/e 11/05/74
	50987	56270	Noted 14/09/1975 - at Reddish MPD³
	50987	56280	Noted 24/02/76 - in Liverpool Exchange¹
	50987	56270	Noted 09/04/1977 - at Preston ⁴
	50987	56270	Noted 21/08/1979 - coupled to 50960 and 56245 on 09:45 Carlisle to Lancaster at Barrow⁴
	53987	54270	Noted circa 06/1983⁵
	53987	54270	Noted circa 07/1983⁵
	53987	54270	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53987	54270	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53987	54270	Noted circa 10/1986⁵
	53987	54270	Listed at NH - 10/05/87
N614	53987	54270	Listed at NH - March 1988
CH281	53987	54270	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH281	53987	54270	Noted circa May-88
CH281	53987	54270	Noted circa Jul-88
NL256	53987	54270	Listed at NL - 05/09/89
281	53987	54270	Noted 14/05/1990 - on 15:34 Leeds-Sheffield service
NL264	53987	54270	Listed at NL - Jul-91
NL264	53987	54270	Listed at NL - Aug-91
LO290	53987	54270	Listed at LO - Dec-91
LO290	53987	54270	Listed at LO - 02/07/92
	53987	54270	Noted 03/08/92 - on 20:38 Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield via Bredbury⁶
LO290	53987	54270	Noted circa 09/1992⁵
LO290	53987	54270	Listed at LO - 24/09/92
LO290	53987	54270	Listed at LO - November 1992
	53987	54270	Noted 04/12/92 - on 11:18 Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield via Hyde⁶
LO290	53987	54270	Listed at LO - 10/12/92

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
6: David Bellamy

Images:

2nd November 1986

Stabled on oil soaked trackwork, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M53987 & M54270 were stabled with other DMUs in the Up Sidings at Wigan Wallgate on November 2nd 1986. A shot obtained in more-relaxed BR days when the local P.Way gang let me though a trackside access gate. Martyn Hilbert.

26th April 1987

Class 108 53987 is seen stabled outside Tyseley depot on 26.04.1987, while it's partner undergoes repair work. Andy Cole.

29th August 1992

Set number: LO290

Seeing out its final stint of operation before withdrawal, and having an extended life due to errant Class 142's, a Longsight allocated Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M53987 & M54270 (LO290), was climbing Farington Curve with the 08.31 Preston to Colne service on August 29th 1992. The DMBS M53987 was officially stored in December 1992 and finally withdrawn in January 1993. The trailer M54270 went on to be paired with a Class 101 DMBS (M53291) and was not withdrawn until June 1993. Following withdrawal, both M53987 & M54270 passed into preservation. M54270 is now at the Mid Norfolk Railway, whilst M53987 went to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, where it was used for spare parts and was eventually scrapped in 1998. Martyn Hilbert.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 15th June 1980

With the former Midland Railway route to Wennington and Settle Junction curving away to the right, a four-car Class 108 DMU formation was running over former the Furness Railway route from Barrow as they approached Carnforth Station Junction with a Barrow-in-Furness to Preston service on June 15th 1980. The leading car complete with its first class saloon was Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) M56239 coupled to Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M50958, with M56270 & M50987 behind. The large footbridge spanning all the tracks was once the pedestrian entrance to Carnforth MPD. At the time, Newton Heath & Carlisle Kingmoor allocated Class 108's were synonymous on stopping services along the former Furness Railway route from Carnforth to Barrow and along the Cumbrian Coast to Carlisle. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: circa late 1980s

A two-car Class 108 DMU (54270 and presumably 53987) at Trent Junction. Date unknown, circa late 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 5th January 1988

Returning to its old stamping ground, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of DTSL 54270 & DMBS 53987 was passing Lodge Lane Crossing as it topped the gradient from Farington Curve Junction whilst working a lunchtime Preston to Ormskirk service on January 5th 1988. The former Moss Lane Junction which once enabled trains to run direct from East Lancashire to Ormskirk and Liverpool without running via Preston, is visible to the right of the 108. In the foreground is the part dismantled former Up Line that was taken out of use in 1983. In the 1970's and up to the early 1980's, Class 108's were regular performers on the Ormskirk Line, and then made sporadic appearances following ongoing issues with the then almost new Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: August 1989

Set number: 281

2-car Class 108 set 281 (presumably 54270 + 53987) is keeping company with an HST set in Scarborough station in August 1989. Ian Francis.

Date: 14th May 1990

Set number: 281

54270 + 53987 at Wakefield Kirkgate with the 15:34 Leeds-Sheffield service on May 14, 1990. John Carter.

Date: 19th July 1991

Set number: 281

A six-car formation passes Bingley signalbox with a Leeds to Carlisle service on July 19th, 1991. The closest set 281 is presumably formed of 54270 + 53987, the middle aet are retro-green 53964 + 54247. Rex Holt.

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