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Vehicle 51610 / 55967

Class 127

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square / Red Triangle
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Rolls Royce 238hp
Transmission: Hydraulic
Lot Number: 30521
Diagram: 588

Allocations

15/08/59	New to	Chaddesden	- stabled pending allocation
Dec-60	Transferred to	14A (Cricklewood)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CW
p/e 24/12/83	Withdrawn from	CW (Cricklewood)
Sep-85	To Parcels Sector at	LO (Longsight)
circa Dec-88	Sector Change to	RPXN
15/05/89	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) RPXN

Notes

24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn at Crewe Gresty Lane

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

51610 - original number
55967 - from Sep-85 (parcels conversion)

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51609	59598	59628	51610	As delivered to Chaddesden sidings - 15th August 1959 - stabled pending allocation
	51608	59592	59634	51610	Noted 11/07/69 - in St Pancras¹
	51598	59644	59594	51610	Noted 25/08/69 - at St Pancras²
	51610	59593	59642	51622	Noted 05/04/71 - at St Pancras²
	51610	59616	59625	51647	Noted 05/1975 - at St Pancras ³
	51608	59596	59624	51610	Noted 28/03/76 - on 10.10 St. Pancras – Bedford⁴
	51610	59595	59628	51635	Noted circa 09/1978⁵
	51610	59605	59646	51644	Noted 02/02/79 - on 14.42 Cricklewood – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59608	59620	51639	Noted 02/03/79 - on 22.40 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59608	59620	51639	Noted 04/03/79 - on 13.10 Bedford – Cricklewood and 15.42 Cricklewood – St. Albans⁴
	51610	59608	59620	51639	Noted 07/03/79 - on 18.22 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51607	59615	59638	51610	Noted 14/04/79 - on 11.15 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59615	59638	51626	Noted 07/05/79 - on 12.00 Bedford – Luton with 51596 + 59590 + 59647 + 51605⁴
	51610	59615	59638	51626	Noted 08/05/79 - on 14.00 Bedford – Luton⁴
	51610	59594	59641	51619	Noted 10/07/79 - on 12.00 Bedford – Luton⁴
	51610	59594	59641	51613	Noted 14th July 1979
	51592	59592	59644	51610	Noted 02/09/79 - on 00.31 Leagrave – Bedford ⁴
	51610	59612	59646	51650	Noted 19/01/80 - on 07.45 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59612	59646	51650	Noted 20/01/80 - on 11.54 West Hampstead – Bedford⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 28/02/80 - on 16.32 Luton – St. Albans⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 06/03/80 - on 13.16 Luton – Bedford⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 15/03/80 - on 16.20 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 17/04/80 - on 02.05 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 21/04/80 - on 15.35 St. Pancras – Bedford⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 06/05/80 - on 16.28 Luton – Bedford⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 09/05/80 - on 08.11 St. Albans – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 11/05/80 - on 07.20 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51637	Noted 04/06/80 - on 02.30 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51642	Noted 28/06/80 - on 04.25 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51642	Noted 05/07/80 - on 23.10 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51642	Noted 08/07/80 - on 12.00 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51646	Noted 09/07/80 - on 12.00 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59632	51642	Noted 15/07/80 - on 17.56 Cricklewood – St. Albans⁴
	51610	59593	59643	51624	Noted 19/07/80 - on 12.17 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51610	59593	59643	51624	Noted 25/07/80 - on 19.25 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59606	59640	51622	Noted 09/09/80 - on 18.35 Kentish Town – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59606	59640	51622	Noted 10/09/80 - on 11.00 Bedford – Luton⁴
	51610	59606	59640	51622	Noted 24/09/80 - on 02.05 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51610	59593	59620	51627	Noted 29/01/81 - on 2C14 07.30 St. Albans – St Pancras⁴
	51610	59593	59620	51627	Noted 01/02/81 - on 19.20 St. Pancras – Cricklewood, not in WTT so thought to be empty stock⁴
	51605	59597	59619	51610	Noted 10/03/81 - on 08.11 St. Albans – Cricklewood⁴
	51605	59597	59619	51610	Noted 18/03/81 - on 20.54 Cricklewood – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59591	59637	51622	Noted 11/04/81 - on 05.05 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59591	59637	51622	Noted 25/04/81 - on 05.05 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51600	59591	59637	51610	Noted 22/05/81 - on 21.30 St. Albans – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59590	59643	51635	Noted 18/06/81 - on 16.31 Luton – Bedford⁴
	51610	59590	59643	51635	Noted 05/08/81 - on 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59590	59643	51635	Noted 10/08/81 - on 03.31 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51592	59612	59633	51610	Noted 10/09/81 - on 22.06 Kentish Town – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59592	59622	51648	Noted 09/10/81 - on 13.39 Cricklewood – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51623	Noted 22/11/81 - on 12.02 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51620	Noted 08/01/82 - on 15.00 St. Pancras – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51620	Noted 22/01/82 - on 18.07 St. Pancras – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51620	Noted 26/01/82 - on 09.40 Bedford – Luton⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51620	Noted 25/02/82 - on 21.20 Cricklewood – St. Pancras⁴
	51610	59589	59642	51620	Noted circa 04/1982⁵
	51610	59589	59642	51615	Noted 16/04/82 - on 07.30 St. Albans – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59593	59628	51626	Noted 04/06/82 - on 09.19 Cricklewood – Luton⁴
	51610	59591	59642	51650	Noted 05/08/82 - on 11.00 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51607	59606	59622	51610	Noted 14/09/82 - on a Cricklewood – Bedford working⁴
	51610	59602	59638	51623	Noted 27/10/82 - on 13.00 Luton – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59638	59602	51623	Noted circa 11/1982⁵
	51610	59602	59638	51623	Noted 10/11/82 - on 15.00 Luton – St. Pancras, 16.40 St. Pancras – Bedford and 21.07 Cricklewood – Luton⁴
	51600	59598	59643	51610	Noted 26/01/83 - on 20.17 Cricklewood – St. Albans⁴
	51600	59643	59598	51610	Noted circa 02/1983⁵
	51610	59631	59607	51611	Noted circa 02/1983⁵
	51600	59598	59643	51610	Noted 07/02/83 - on 10.16 Luton – Bedford⁴
	51610	59602	59644	51626	Noted 25/03/83 - on 20.10 Bedford – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59615	59645	51612	Noted 09/06/83 - on 09.50 St. Pancras – Cricklewood⁴
	51610	59615	59645	51612	Noted 12/06/83 - on 14.47 Cricklewood – Bedford⁴
	51610	59615	59645	51637	Noted circa 07/1983⁵
	51610	51640			Noted 05/03/84
11	55966	55967			Formation change - LO - circa Sep-85
920	55966	55967			Listed at Longsight - Summer 1986 - Parcels
920	55966	55967			Noted 13/05/89 - with set 915 (55975 + 55985) at Northampton

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

Images:

28th August 1979

A 4-car Derby suburban Class 127 DMU with 51610 leading pauses at Elstree with a local service to St Pancras on 28th August 1979. David Scott.

1985

Class 127 DMBS 51610 during conversion to a parcel vehicle at Carlisle Currock in 1985. It will emerge in green as 55967. Michael Boot.

1985

Class 127 roller shutter door conversion at Carlisle Currock in 1985. This is thought to be 55967. Michael Boot.

1985

Class 127 roller shutter door conversion at Carlisle Currock in 1985. This is thought to be 55967. Michael Boot.

1985

Class 127 roller shutter door conversion at Carlisle Currock in 1985. This is thought to be 55967. Michael Boot.

October 1985

The interior of a Class 127 DPU, thought to be 55967, in early October 1985. The newspaper vehicles had a fixed table in the front end, and a fold-down table in the rear. There were for sorting/packing newspapers. Note there are no fluorescent tubes fitted. Michael Boot.

October 1985

Class 127 DPU 55967 + 55966 at Longsight depot in early October 1985, fresh from conversion at Carlisle Currock. They have yet to receive their set number (920) and Red Star bodyside stickers. Michael Boot.

21st April 1986

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels set 55967 + 55966 at Chester depot on the 21st April 1986. Hamish Stevenson.

circa mid-1986

Set number: 920

Retro-green Class 127 parcel DMU set 920 (55967 + 55966) in Liverpool Lime Street station circa mid-1986. Mike Bunker.

circa mid-1986

Set number: 920

Retro-green Class 127 parcel DMU set 920 (55967 + 55966) on Chester depot circa mid-1986. Mike Bunker.

19th July 1986

Set number: 920

Retro-green parcels set 55967 / 55966 at the Carlisle Upperby open day on 19/7/86. Paul Moxon.

19th July 1986

Set number: 920

Retro-green parcels set 55967 / 55966 at the Carlisle Upperby open day on 19/7/86. Jerry Glover.

19th July 1986

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels vehicle 55967 alongside D200 at Carlisle Upperby open day on 19th July 1986. John Grey Turner.

October 1986

Set number: 920

Class 127 diesel-hydraulic parcels unit set 920 (55967 55966) arriving at Manchester Victoria. October 1986. Ian Charles.

1987

Set number: 920

Parcels vehicle 55967 sits in the sun at Bletchley in 1987. Graham Baker.

12th June 1987

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels conversion 55967 at Doncaster Works, 12 June 1987. Syd Young.

12th July 1987

Set number: 920

Class 127 Parcels unit 55967 (ex-51610) + 55966 (ex-51591) at Doncaster on 12 July 1987. Rob Paterson.

circa 1988

Set number: 920

Retro-green converted Class 127 parcels DMU set 920 (55967 + 55966) in platform 3B at Preston in the late 1980s. Curly42.

10th June 1988

Set number: 920

Longsight allocated Class 127 parcels set 920, 55967 (ex-51610) + 55966 (ex-51591) at Buxton on the 10th June 1988. Andrew J Crowther.

8th October 1988

Set number: 920

55967 paired with 55966, displaying a headcode for either a Man Vic-Barrow or Preston van train, they were stabled at Manchester Victoria on 8/10/88. Paul Moxon.

25th February 1989

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels set 920 (55967 + 55966) at Crewe on 25-2-89. Stuart Mackay Collection.

6th May 1989

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels set 920 formed 55967 and 55966, with another set in standard Red Star livery and a tail load forming the 3V20 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads at Crewe on 6/May/1989 despite what the headcode says. The blue pair appear to be a scratch set containing two former Newspapers 'A' cars (no bodyside branding), fairly common towards the end of 127 parcels operations to keep things going - there is barely a week left before all were withdrawn. They also have mismatching Red Star logos. Both the green vehicles were preserved, the leading car 55967 (formerly 51610) went to Rogart Station and the second vehicle 55966 (formerly the pioneer class 127 51591) went to the Midland Railway - Butterley where another parcels 127 no. 55976 (formerly 51625) had been acquired and painted green to match. Many years later 51610 was sold from Rogart and joined the other two at the Midland Railway - Butterley. Image copyright © John Griffiths, published with Robert Chilton Collection.

8th July 1989

Set number: 920

Three withdrawn Class 127 parcel sets sit around the back of the goods shed at Gresty Lane, Crewe on 8th July 1989. Closest is the green set 55967 / 55966. Paul James.

24th September 1989

Set number: 920

Set 920 M55967 + M55966 stored out of service at Crewe Gresty Lane 24-9-89. Kevin Dowd.

30th September 1989

Set number: 920

M55967, ex Class 127 DMU M51610, converted for parcels use with the addition of roller shutter doors, sits around the back of the goods shed at Gresty Lane, Crewe, on 30September 1989. It carries the set number 920, it's partner is M55966, and there are another two Class 127 parcel set behind in blue. Paul James.

January 1990

Set number: 920

55967 at Crewe Basford Hall in January 1990. S Gaskell.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 1985

Life After Death. Converted Class 127 Parcels DMU stabled in the bay at the north end of Carlisle Citadel station. After withdrawal, a number of Class 127 vehicles were eventually stored at Carlisle Kingmoor Yard. Railcar shows the work to convert some vehicles to parcels use was undertaken at Carlisle Currock. M55966 is presumably coupled cab to cab with M55967. Probably Autumn 1985. alicia hartman.

Date: early October 1985

Set number: 920

Set 920 55966 & 55967 Ex 51591 & 51610 standing at Longsight after conversion at Carlisle Currock in early October 1985. These units were incidental in keeping Longsight TMD open, this was down to the wheel drop. It was the only depot that the Twin Disc Torque Converter and Rolls Royce 823 engine could be changed as a unit. Longsight was the owning/maintaining depot with servicing at outstations. Michael Boot.

Date: 2nd March 1986

Set number: 920

Former Bedford-St Pancras Class 127 Driving cars now with roller shutter doors as M55966 + M55967. The unit was stabled at Croft Street Sidings adjacent to the Preston Power Box on March 2nd 1986. One of 11 similar units converted, Set 920 was finished in retro BR Green livery. The nearest car in this view had been turned-out in green for its last period of passenger service when allocated to Cricklewood Depot. The unit was adorned with a plaque commemorating "The First Unit, 1,250,000 miles, Bedford-St Pancras". Following replacement by new Class 317 EMU's, car M51591 was selected for the National Collection at York, but when BR were short of one car to complete the 11 Parcel Units, the NRM handed the car back for conversion. As a consolation the finished unit (920) was finished in BR Green. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 21st April 1986

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels set 55966 + 55967 at Chester depot on the 21st April 1986. Hamish Stevenson.

Date: 6th July 1986

Set number: 920

Parcels conversion 55966 / 55967 at Southport on 6 June 1986. Jerry Glover.

Date: 30th March 1987

Set number: 920

55966 & 55967 at Preston at 11.20pm on 30/03/1987 about to head south on a parcels service Deane Baker.

Date: 22nd May 1987

Set number: 920

55966, 55967 and 47357 in Preston station on 22-05-87. Vincent Haworth.

Date: circa August 1988

Set number: 920

Derby class 127 2-car diesel-hydraulic parcels unit 920 (M55966 & M55967) of Longsight Diesel TMD at Crewe station - circa 08/1988. 53A Models of Hull Collection.

Date: 29th August 1988

Set number: 920

In 1985, 22 redundant power Class 127 ex-Bedford-St.Pancras (Bed Pan) diesel-hydraulic cars, including the first built, No.51591, were rebuilt to form 11 two-car parcels units and repainted into BR green livery. Vehicles were renumbered 55966-987, and formed into sets 910 to 920. They were fitted with roller shutter doors and were based at Chester depot. They lasted in service until withdrawal in 1989. Unit 55966, seen here at Bletchley on 29th August 1988 in the company of 55967, was converted from unit 'Bed-Pan' unit No.51591, and was subsequently preserved at the Midland Railway Centre upon withdrawal from BR service. Gordon Edgar.

Date: 12th April 1989

Set number: 920

Converted class 127 M55966 + M55967 heads south past the site of Finedon station on the 12th April 1989. Mike Dean.

Date: 13th May 1989

Set number: 915

At approx 1500hrs on Saturday 13th May 1989 sets 915 (55975 + 55985) and 920 (55966 + 55967) creep slowly up the centre Road at Northampton Station. Their destination unknown, by 1100hrs the following Day all 4 cars were tucked up inside the DMU Shed at Manchester's Longsight Depot. AndrewHA.

Date: 13th May 1989

Set number: 920

On Saturday 13th May 1989 sets 915 (furthest, 55975 + 55985) and 920 (55966 + 55967) pass up the centre Road at Northampton Station. AndrewHA.

Date: 29th December 1989

Set number: 920

Class 127 parcels vehicles stored at Crewe on 29th December 1989, including green set 920 formed of 55966 and 55967. Michael Kaye 55A.

Date: January 1990

Set number: 920

55966 at Crewe Basford Hall in January 1990. Note the 'B' after the set number - its partner 55967 carried the letter 'A'. S Gaskell.

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