Vehicle 51579 / 55936
Class 120
Builder: BR Swindon Works
Layout: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30515
Diagram: 636
Allocations
| Feb-61 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| by Jun-62 | Transferred to | 83D (Laira) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 84A | |
| 4w/e 04/05/68 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
| May-69 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 3w/e 02/05/70 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 5w/e 05/12/70 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | LA | |
| 30/06/74 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 3w/e 07/05/77 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 4w/e 18/06/77 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 2w/e 09/07/77 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| w/e 30/12/78 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 20/06/82 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 11/05/86 | To Parcels Sector at | NL (Neville Hill) | |
| 18/05/86 | Transferred to | CA (Cambridge) | |
| 27/07/86 | Transferred to | NL (Neville Hill) | |
| 16/11/86 | Stored | NL (Neville Hill) | |
| 03/05/87 | Withdrawn from | NL (Neville Hill) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
51579 - original number
55936 - from 28/03/87 (parcels conversion)
Modifications
by Sep-69 - Headlamp fitted
16/02/74 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 08/10/77 - WR AWS removed
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51579 | 59582 | 51581 | Noted 20/05/61 - in Birmingham Snow Hill. Two DMBCs. | ||||||
| 519 | 51579 | 59585 | 51588 | Listed at TYS - circa Nov-61 | |||||
| 503 | 51579 | 51588 | Noted 03/10/69 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Noted 14/08/70 - in Birmingham area1 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Transfer to 84A - 5w/e 05/12/70 | ||||||
| LA502 | 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Listed at Laira - circa Apr-71 - ex-BL507 | |||||
| 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Noted 13/11/71 - on Laira depot2 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Noted 19/05/72 - at Exeter2 | ||||||
| P558 | 51579 | 59286 | 51588 | Noted 03/07/1973 - at Plymouth3 | |||||
| P558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 10/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven with C600 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 08/03/75 - on 2C09 1420 Swansea-Cardiff with C530 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 29/04/75 - on 2C09 1420 Swansea-Cardiff attached to 56289 + C502 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 03/07/75 - on 2C34 1433 Weston SM-Cardiff | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 03/07/75 - on 2B46 1625 Cardiff-Bristol TM | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Noted 26/08/75 - at Newport1 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Transfer to LA - 3w/e 07/05/77 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Transfer to CF - 4w/e 18/06/77 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Transfer to LA - 2w/e 09/07/77 | ||||||
| P558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Listed at LA - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Noted 06/05/1978 - Lea Valley Railway Club The Camel Train Railtour B803+C558 | |||||
| 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Transfer to CF - w/e 30/12/78 | ||||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Noted 24/03/1979 - at Swansea Station4 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Noted 14/09/79 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59264 | 51588 | Noted 25/10/1980 - At Shrewsbury Station4 | |||||
| 558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Formation change - w/e 13/12/80 | |||||
| 558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 17/10/1981 - Branch Line Society The Red Dragon Railtour | |||||
| 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 19/07/19825 | ||||||
| C558 | 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted circa 10/1982 - operating from Newton Heath5 | |||||
| 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted circa 06/19835 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59588 | 51588 | Noted 23/12/1983 - at Manchester Victoria5 | ||||||
| 51579 | 59532 | 51588 | Listed at NH - circa Jan-86 | ||||||
| 53726 | 51579 | Listed at Cambridge - Summer 1986 - Parcels |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
August 1961
W51579 sits on the bridge over Rainbow Hill, Worcester on the 27th August 1961. Note the curtains, normal in first class but Swindon built sets also had curtains in second class. Michael Mensing.
22nd March 1969
Set number: 503
Two two-car Class 120s in Sutton Park station. There were no details on the slide other than a process date of April 1969, and this is thought to be the Gilks-Grenside Educational Specials Numbers 4 & 5 on 22 March that originated at Kingston. Closest is set 503, presumably 51579 + 51588, and the other set will be the other Reading Class 120 twin, set 502 (51574 + 51583). Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th February 1977
Set number: C558
Swindon Cross-Country set C558 is in the centre road at Worcester Shrub Hill on 12/2/77. The lack of water pipes on the roof of the closest vehicle means it is DMBC 51579. It sits next to 1023 Western Fusilier on Western Finale charter from Exeter St Davids to York via Leeds. Stephen Burdett.
6th May 1978
Set number: C558
Leaving Plymouth on 6th May 1978 class 120 set C558 (51579, 59264 & 51588). Ian Buck.
29th June 1978
Set number: C558
A three-car Class 120 dmu (set C558, presumably 51579 + 59264 + 51588) appears to be stabled in the down through road at Totnes, while Class 50 No. 50 045 Achilles arrives with the 09:46 Penzance - Paddington service on Thursday 29th June 1978. Tom Harper.
6th September 1980
Set number: C558
On the right W51579 of set C558 leads the 10.10 Swansea-Shrewsbury past the 08.40 Milford Haven-Swansea which has W50649 at the far end at Loughor on 6 September 1980. Robert Thomas.
circa 1981
Set number: C558
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country DMU set C558 (51579 + 59264 + 51588) at Horton Road Crossing, Gloucester, most probably with a Swindon line service. Circa early 1980s. Curly42.
28th March 1981
Set number: C558
Two Class 120 DMU sets (C558 and C615) pass around Swansea Loop West with a down passenger on 28 March 1981. W51579 is closest, W51788 is at the far end. Robert Thomas.
Unknown date
Set number: C558
Class 120 DMU set C558 with W51579 closest at Worcester Foregate Street, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
20th February 1982
Set number: C558
Swindon class 120 DMU, set No C558 at Newport, 20th Feb 1982. The furthest power car is 51588, closest is presumably 51579. Paul James.
24th November 1984
Class 120 Swindon 3-car DMU 51579 + 59588 + 51588 ready to form the 10-06 back to Manchester Victoria at Blackburn on 24-11-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
circa 1986
51579 on the end of a hybrid 120/101 set along with a 104 and 108 stabled on Newton Heath depot circa 1986. Mike Bunker.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: September 1968
Set number: 503
Two car Swindon Cross-Country set 503 (presumably 51588 + 51579) at Oxford in September 1968. The pair were spent just over a year allocated to Reading beginning April 1968. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 7th June 1980
Set number: C558
Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 set C558 (W51588 and presumably 59264 + 51579) at Llanelli with the 13:40 Milford Haven - Swansea service on 7 June 1980. Robert Thomas.
Date: 6th September 1980
On the right W50649 leading two two-car Class 120s on the 08.40 Milford Haven-Swansea is about to pass W51579 leading two three-car Class 120s on the 10.10 Swansea-Shrewsbury at Loughor on 6 September 1980. Robert Thomas.
Date: 28th March 1981
Set number: C615
Two Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country DMU sets form a down passenger service seen at Swansea Loop West on 28 March 1981. Closest is DMSL W51788 which until the previous year had been a Scottish vehicle. The other set is C588 with 51579 at the far end. Robert Thomas.
Date: 5th September 1981
Set number: C558
A Swindon Class 120 three-car 'Cross-Country' DMU formed of cars W51588, W59588 & W51579 (558), was down to walking pace as it was climbing the Lickey Incline with a Worcester to Birmingham New Street service on September 5th 1981. At the time, the set was allocated to Cardiff Canton, but in the following year, 1982, the set was transferred to the North West operating from Newton Heath Depot. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 20th February 1982
Set number: C558
Swindon class 120 DMU, set No C558 at Newport, 20th Feb 1982. Closest is 51588, the other power car is presumably 51579. Paul James.
Date: 7th November 1984
Class 120 DMU 51588 + 59588 + 51579 at Newton Heath Depot, Manchester, on 7-11-84. Spannerman37025.