Vehicle 51590
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: 30516
Diagram: 637
Allocations
| May-61 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| by Jun-62 | Transferred to | 83D (Laira) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 84A | |
| May-69 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| May-70 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| 5w/e 05/12/70 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | BR | |
| w/e 07/06/75 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| w/e 03/05/80 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 20/06/82 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 11/05/86 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| Jun-86 | Reinstated | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 29/06/86 | To Parcels Sector at | CA (Cambridge) | |
| 16/11/86 | Withdrawn from | CA (Cambridge) |
Notes
31st October 1987 - Seen at Tinsley Yard
27th December 1987 - Seen in Tinsley Yard
Modifications
circa Jul-70 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 25/06/77 - WR AWS removed
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| BL512 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted circa Dec-69 - in blue grey livery | |||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Transfer to 84A - May-70 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Transfer to 82A - 5w/e 05/12/70 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 24/08/1971 - at Bristol1 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 20/11/71 - at Gloucester2 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 23/02/73 - at Church Road, Edgbaston2 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 05/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads1 | ||||||
| B555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 07/10/74 - on 2C46 1600 Weymouth-Cardiff with B577 | |||||
| B555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 09/03/75 - on 2B33 1200 Cardiff-Cheltenham Spa | |||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Transfer to LA - w/e 07/06/75 | ||||||
| P555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Listed at LA - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| P555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Listed at LA - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| P555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Listed at LA - 03/03/80 | |||||
| 555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Transfer to CF - w/e 03/05/80 | |||||
| C555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 15/10/1980 - Worked 1650 Barry to Barry Island and back to Cardiff3 | |||||
| C555 | 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 07/11/1980 - at Ebbw Junction EJ3 | |||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Victoria, still branded C5554 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted circa 03/1983 - operating from Newton Heath, previously C555 set.4 | ||||||
| 50466 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted circa 04/19834 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Noted circa 10/19834 | ||||||
| 51576 | 59582 | 51590 | Listed at NH - circa Jan-86 | ||||||
| 51576 | 51590 | Formed at CA circa Jun-86 - parcels |
Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Shayne Lewis
4: Eddie Knorn
Images:
1st October 1966
The Great Western Society North Cornwall Lines Farewell Tour at Okehampton on 1 October 1966. Closest should be W51590. Stuart Mackay Collection.
27th March 1971
The GWS / Wirral Railway Circle Somerset Rambler III tour at Holt Junction on 27 March 1971. The power cars are W51590 and W51576, the centre car is presumably W59582. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1974
A Cross-Country Class 120 DMU in the bay platform of Truro station ready for its next trip to Falmouth. W51590 is closest, presumably with long term partners W59582 + W51576. Noted as taken sometime in 1974, yet the set was allocated to Bristol that year. Stuart Mackay Collection.
April 1975
Set number: B555
Set B555 at Maiden Newton, 51590 leading, presumably with 59582 + 51576. April 1975. Robert Frise Collection.
1976
Set number: P555
Swindon Cross-Country set P555 departs from Lostwithiel on a service to Par in 1976. Steve Davies Collection.
10th March 1976
Set number: P555
P555 (51590 + 59582 + 51576) in Exmouth station on the evening of Wednesday, 10th of March 1976 with the 20:55 to Exeter. Arnie Furniss.
Unknown date
Set number: B555
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country set B555 heads away from the camera at Maiden Newton. Date unknown, 51590 leading, presumably with 59582 + 51576. Steve Davies Collection.
24th July 1979
Set number: P555
A three-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU was leading a six-car DMU formation at Teignmouth on an Exeter St Davids to Paignton service on July 24th 1979. Set No. P555 was formed of cars W51590, W59582 & W51576. The set was one of the Western Region 120's transferred to Newton Heath Depot in the early 1980's. The second set appears to be a DMBS/centre car from a 3-car with a bubble car on the rear. Martyn Hilbert.
4th April 1980
Set number: P555
Swindon-built cross-country set P555 is seen at Falmouth on 4 April 1980. This station has since been renamed Falmouth Docks. 51590 is presumably running with 51576 as it prepares to depart back to Truro. Jeremy Chapter.
20th December 1980
Set number: 555
Class 120 Cross-Country set 555 (51590 and presumably 59582 + 51576) sits in the platform at Carmarthen as does 37 182 and some Mark Is. On the left the unique Booth car 1106 destined for the Gwili Railway has been craned onto a truck without bogies, and a siding contains a rake of postal vehicles.20th December 1980. Robert Thomas.
21st March 1981
Set number: 555
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country set 555 (51590 and presumably 59582 + 51576) is seen at Yeovil Pen Mill with a Cardiff - Weymouth service on 21 March 1981. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
Set number: B555
Swindon Cross-Country set B555 heads away from Castlecary, undated but probably mid-1970s. 51590 leading, presumably with 59582 + 51576. Steve Davies Collection.
August 1982
Set number: C555
Cardiff Class 120 set C555 (51590 + 59582 + 51576) was transferred to Newton Heath in June 1982. It is seen at Manchester Victoria a few weeks later in August 1982. Hugh Llewelyn.
21st August 1982
Set number: C555
A Class 120 DMU carrying set number C555 (51590 + 59582 + 51576) with a Class 104 on the rear is seen at Salwick on 21 August 1982. John Horne Collection.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 1st October 1966
The Great Western Society's special train leaves Halwill Junction for Bude on 1 October 1966, shortly before the closure of the North Cornwall line. Closest is thought to be W51581, the far power car is W51590. David Hawkings.
Date: 27th March 1971
The GWS / Wirral Railway Circle Somerset Rambler III tour at Merehead Quarry on 27 March 1971. The power cars are W51576 + W51590, the centre car is presumably W59582. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: unknown
Set number: P555
Swindon Cross-Country DMU set P555 (51576 leads, presumably with 59582 + 51590) just entering Totnes from Rattery bank in the early 1970s. John Jarvis.
Date: unknown
Set number: B555
Set B555 (presumably 51576 + 59582 + 51590) at Castlecary. Date not given, but it looks circa mid-70s. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: summer 1976
Set number: P555
Class 120 DMU set P555 (presumably 51576 + 59582 + 51590) srrives into Bodmin Road in the summer of 1976. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1977
Set number: P555
Swindon Cross-Country set P555 (presumably 51576 + 59582 + 51590) at St Ives in 1977. Walter Burt.
Date: unknown
Set number: P555
Class 120 DMU set P555 (51576 + 59582 + 51590) passes along the seawall at Dawlish, date unknown. Glyn Weigh.
Date: 1st June 1985
M51590 (left) with the 1225 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria and M51783 (right) with the 1315 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North at Bolton 1st June 1985. Keith Long.
Date: 9th February 1986
In its last few months of passenger traffic, a Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country set with vehicles 51576 + 59582 + 51590 in seen in platform 13 of Manchester Victoria with the 17:30 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North service on 9 February 1986. At the start of the summer timetable on May 11 the centre car would be withdrawn and the power cars would be transferred to parcel use. On the right is a Class 108 with Leeds on the destination blind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 9th February 1986
Sunday 9th February 1986, at 16:12, and Class 120 DMU vehicles 51576 59582 51590 are seen at Manchester Victoria. Van no. 84096 is attached to the rear. Graeme Phillips Collection.