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
26/09/59 | New to | 14A (Cricklewood) | |
06/05/73 | Depot code change | CW | |
07/08/83 | Withdrawn from | CW (Cricklewood) | |
16/06/85 | To Parcels Sector at | LO (Longsight) | |
circa Dec-88 | Sector Change to | RPXN | |
15/05/89 | Withdrawn from | LO (Longsight) RPXN |
Jan-87 - 55976 + 55986 noted in Doncaster Works for collision damage repair.
09/11/88 - 55976/86 moved from Longsight to Eastleigh for staff training on Cardiff - Southampton mail from 28 November
08/12/88 - 55976/86 noted failed at Canton, its place taken by 55972/82 noted at Cardiff Riverside parcels platform that day
24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn at Crewe Gresty Lane
51625 - original number
55976 - from Jun-85 (parcels conversion)
25/06/76 - Luton, LMR
Collision involving Class 127 / Class 127
Info from Robert Frise and Bill Read
An empty stock Class 127 unit was struck on a crossover by another Class 127 unit which had passed two red signals. The latter was deflected towards the Down fast line where it was struck a glancing blow by an express passenger train hauled by a Class 45 locomotive. Minor injuries. More Details.
06/01/87 - Camden
Collision involving Class 127 / EMU
Info from p105 March 1987 Railway Observer, Michael Boot
Class 127 parcel DPU was crossing from the down fast to down slow at Camden when it was in a collision at 21:40 with a Class 313 EMU on the 21:37 Euston-Watford service. All DPU wheels were derailed with it blocking the down mail lines and up slow.
Preserved - more details.
51625 | 59606 | 59636 | 51626 | As delivered to 14A - 26th September 1959 | |||||
51624 | 59616 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 24/07/76 - on 18.10 Bedford – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59609 | 59620 | 51637 | Noted 16/04/77 - on 06.15 Bedford – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59604 | 59644 | 51645 | Noted 15/01/79 - on 14.09 Cricklewood – Luton1 | |||||
51625 | 59609 | 59644 | 51645 | Noted 26/01/79 - on 14.57 St. Pancras – Cricklewood with 51599 + 59600 + 59633 + 516131 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59619 | 51625 | Noted 14/02/79 - on 11.09 Cricklewood – Luton with 51614 + 59611 + 59622 + 516451 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59619 | 51625 | Noted 17/02/79 - on 10.24 Luton – Bedford1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 19/02/79 - on 13.00 Bedford – Luton1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59619 | 51625 | Noted 24/02/79 - on 14.54 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 02/03/79 - on 11.15 Luton – Bedford with 51604 + 59610 + 59627 + 516231 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 12/03/79 - on 09.17 Cricklewood – Luton with 51633 + 59616 + 59637 + 516501 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 13/03/79 - on 10.09 Cricklewood – Luton1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 21/03/79 - on 03.30 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 02/04/79 - on 17.03 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 03/04/79 - on 20.07 Cricklewood – St. Albans1 | |||||
51624 | 59594 | 59641 | 51625 | Noted 17/04/79 - on 16.47 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59595 | 59626 | 51649 | Noted 04/07/79 - on 13.57 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59595 | 59626 | 51649 | Noted 04/07/79 - on 18.57 St. Albans – Bedford with 51596 + 59604 + 59633 + 516201 | |||||
51625 | 59595 | 59626 | 51649 | Noted 06/07/79 - on 20.20 Cricklewood – St. Albans1 | |||||
51625 | 59595 | 59626 | 51649 | Noted 14th July 1979 | |||||
51625 | 59595 | 59626 | 51649 | Noted 14/07/79 - on 12.15 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51624 | 59609 | 59631 | 51625 | Noted 25/10/79 - on 15.35 St. Pancras – Bedford1 | |||||
51624 | 59609 | 59631 | 51625 | Noted 26/10/79 - on 21.25 Luton - Bedford 1 | |||||
51624 | 59605 | 59631 | 51625 | Noted 08/11/79 - on 11.00 Bedford – Luton and 12.57 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51624 | 59605 | 59631 | 51625 | Noted 21/11/79 - on 11.57 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59629 | 51636 | Noted 12/01/80 - on 22.23 St. Pancras - Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59629 | 51636 | Noted 17/01/80 - on 16.05 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59629 | 51636 | Noted 27/01/80 - on 10.02 Cricklewood – Elstree1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59629 | 51636 | Noted 01/02/80 - on 14.02 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51596 | 59594 | 59629 | 51625 | Noted 22/02/80 - on 01.45 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51596 | 59594 | 59629 | 51625 | Noted 11/03/80 - on 02.05 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51616 | 59594 | 59648 | 51625 | Noted 10/04/80 - on 16.47 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51616 | 59594 | 59648 | 51625 | Noted 14/04/80 - on 18.50 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51612 | 59596 | 59642 | 51625 | Noted 01/11/80 - on 19.40 Bedford – Luton1 | |||||
51612 | 59596 | 59642 | 51625 | Noted 12/11/80 - on 11.00 Bedford – Luton1 | |||||
51612 | 59596 | 59642 | 51625 | Noted 25/11/80 - on 20.10 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59614 | 59622 | 51642 | Noted 05/12/80 - on 05.05 Bedford – Cricklewood and 11.39 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59646 | 51630 | Noted 02/01/81 - on 03.20 St. Pancras – Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59646 | 51630 | Noted 02/01/81 - on 2G02 03.20 St. Pancras – Bedford (Staff)1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59646 | 51630 | Noted 27/01/81 - on 2C14 07.30 St. Albans – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59646 | 51630 | Noted 31/01/81 - on 2G12 12.05 St Pancras – Bedford1 | |||||
51613 | 59613 | 59626 | 51625 | Noted 01/02/81 - on 2C12 14.30 Bedford – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59594 | 59646 | 51645 | Noted 22/02/81 - on 2C07 09.10 Bedford – St Pancras1 | |||||
51603 | 59594 | 59646 | 51625 | Noted 06/03/81 - on 2G02 03.20 St Pancras – Bedford (staff)1 | |||||
51595 | 59611 | 59638 | 51625 | Noted 20/03/81 - on 14.00 2C42 Bedford – St Pancras1 | |||||
51595 | 59611 | 59638 | 51625 | Noted 24/03/81 - on 2G03 05.35 St Pancras – Bedford1 | |||||
51595 | 59611 | 59638 | 51625 | Noted 28/03/81 - on 2C03 02.30 Bedford – St Pancras (staff)1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59638 | 51636 | Noted 01/04/81 - on 2G02 03.20 St Pancras – Bedford (staff) and 2C57 21.15 Luton – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59638 | 51636 | Noted 10/04/81 - on 2C03 02.30 Bedford – St Pancras (staff)1 | |||||
51625 | 59612 | 59648 | 51640 | Noted 28/05/81 - on 5C10 05.10 Bedford – Kettering and 2C10 05.45 Kettering – St Pancras1 | |||||
51613 | 59595 | 59644 | 51625 | Noted 16/06/81 - on 2C43 15.00 Luton – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59612 | 59633 | 51640 | Noted 02/07/81 - on 2C42 14.00 Bedford – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59612 | 59633 | 51640 | Noted 07/07/81 - on 2H16 20.08 St Pancras – Luton1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51635 | Noted 16/08/81 - on 2C09 11.10 Bedford - St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51635 | Noted 03/09/81 - on 2C61 23.10 Bedford – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51635 | Noted 04/09/81 - on 5C05 02.58 Cricklewood CS – Luton ECS, 2C05 04.00 Luton - St Pancras (staff) and 2G03 05.35 St Pancras - Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51635 | Noted 04/09/81 - on 04.00 Luton – St. Pancras and 05.35 St. Pancras – Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51640 | Noted 07/10/81 - on 2C10 05.45 Kettering – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51628 | Noted 24/10/81 - on 2C41 21.45 Luton – St Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51628 | Noted 06/11/81 - on 2H11 15.00 St Pancras – Luton1 | |||||
51625 | 59590 | 59643 | 51628 | Noted 15/11/81 - on 03.11 Bedford – Flitwick1 | |||||
51607 | 59615 | 59648 | 51625 | Noted 21/03/82 - on 14.02 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51612 | 59594 | 59629 | 51625 | Noted 25/04/82 - on 17.32 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51603 | 59590 | 59633 | 51625 | Noted circa 06/19822 | |||||
51603 | 59590 | 59633 | 51625 | Noted 07/06/82 - on 11.36 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59610 | 59631 | 51645 | Noted 02/08/82 - on 07.54 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51603 | 59603 | 59638 | 51625 | Noted 05/08/82 - on 18.25 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59602 | 59637 | 51645 | Noted 08/08/82 - on 04.35 Bedford – Cricklewood and 11.02 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51625 | 59602 | 59637 | 51645 | Noted 30/08/82 - on 17.22 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59602 | 59637 | 51645 | Noted 01/09/82 - on 16.03 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51635 | Noted 14/09/82 - on a Cricklewood – Bedford working1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51635 | Noted 18/09/82 - on 22.23 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51635 | Noted 28/09/82 - on 16.03 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51627 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted circa 10/19822 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51635 | Noted 06/10/82 - on 04.25 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51627 | Noted 02/11/82 - on 14.05 Bedford – Luton1 | |||||
51615 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted 22/11/82 - on 22.25 St. Pancras – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51615 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted 04/12/82 - on 11.25 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51615 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted 06/12/82 - on 17.25 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51627 | Noted 08/12/82 - on 17.25 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51624 | 59611 | 51625 | 51642 | Noted 08/01/83 - on 15.24 Luton – Bedford1 | |||||
51623 | 59608 | 59622 | 51625 | Noted 10/01/83 - on 20.10 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51622 | 59608 | 59622 | 51625 | Noted 31/01/83 - on 12.00 Luton – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51597 | 59625 | 59611 | 51625 | Noted circa 02/19832 | |||||
51597 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted 07/02/83 - on 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51597 | 59611 | 59625 | 51625 | Noted 08/02/83 - on 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51634 | Noted 08/03/83 - on 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood and 12.39 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51625 | 59611 | 59625 | 51634 | Noted 09/03/83 - on 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood and 12.39 Cricklewood – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51611 | 59607 | 59631 | 51625 | Noted 29/03/83 - on 09.11 Mill Hill Broadway – Cricklewood1 | |||||
51625 | 59591 | 59647 | 51644 | Noted 13/05/83 - on 02.06 Cricklewood – Bedford1 | |||||
51604 | 59604 | 59622 | 51625 | Noted 03/06/83 - on 03.41 Cricklewood CS – St. Pancras1 | |||||
51619 | 59627 | 59633 | 51625 | Noted circa 07/19832 | |||||
916 | 55976 | 55986 | Listed at Longsight - Summer 1986 - Parcels |
Formation Sources
1: Phil Shatford
2: Eddie Knorn
Class 127 parcel DMUs on 22nd July 1985, which have not yet had roller shutter door conversions. Set 6 closest is presumably 55976 + 55986 and would later be set 916. Jonathan Hazan.
Class 127 newspaper/parcel conversions - location and date unknown but before the roller shutter doors were added to circa late 1985. Closest is 55976 presumably paired with 55986. Mike Bunker.
DPU 916 55976+55986 Platform 5 Crewe April 1986. The set is towing a GUV Martin Baumann.
Class 127 parcels unit no 916, with 55976 (formerly M51625) nearest the camera, seen at Northampton on 31 July 1986. Robert28194.
A Class 127 DMU with 55976 at the front is seen at Mentmore on a Parcels service working on 26-9-86. Ian Cuthbertson Collection.
Class 127 parcel set 916 (55976 + 55986) on Newton Heath depot, date unknown. Mike Bunker.
55976 Ex 51625 after a sideswipe collision with a class 313 in Camden 6/1/87. I took this the following day to assess the damage for repair. Michael Boot.
Class 127 parcels conversion 55976 + 55986 at Manchester Piccadilly on 24 April 1988. The former has had the Newspaper text it once carried on the bodyside removed, the other vehicle has kept the Express Parcels text. David Mant.
This 1959 Derby Suburban Class 127 DMU vehicle is now in its second role as a parcels unit is set 916 (55976 + 55986). This car 55976 was originally numbered 51625 and was later preserved. Taken at Crewe on the 11th June 1988. Andrew J Crowther.
Class 127 parcels conversion 55976 seen after withdrawal at Crewe Basford Hall in January 1990. S Gaskell.
Class 127 DPU set 916 (55986 + 55976) heads Down at Watford Junction at 17:21 on 3 September 1986. Dave Warby.
Now in its second role, but originally built as 4 car units, is this 1959 Derby Suburban now Class 127 DMU, set 916 (55986 + 55976). From new these units were almost exclusively used on the London St Pancras - Bedford services as 4-car units before being displaced in June 1983, in 1985 22 redundant power cars (maost of which had been stored at Carlisle) were rebuilt to form 11 two car parcels units, car A was for Newspapers and car B was for Express Parcels, they lasted in service until 1989. Taken on the 11th June 1988 at Crewe. Andrew J Crowther.
Class 127 parcel set 916 (55986 + 55976) alongside 31 438 at Manchester Victoria on 1 October 1988. Stuart Parkinson.
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.
Parcels unit 916 (55986 formerly 51627 and 55976 formerly 51625), converted from the power cars of a former "Bed-Pan" hydraulic class 127 set, sitting sadly withdrawn and awaiting it's fate at Crewe Gresty Lane sidings. Three of these ex-parcels power cars were preserved and currently (2018) all three are at the Midland Railway - Butterley. The other half of this unit, 55976/51625 is one of the three preserved examples and has been rebuilt back to it's original passenger carrying layout. Robert Chilton.