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Vehicle 51625 / 55976

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

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07/08/83	Withdrawn from	CW (Cricklewood)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15/05/89	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) RPXN

Notes

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24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn at Crewe Gresty Lane

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

51625 - original number
55976 - from Jun-85 (parcels conversion)

51625 was involved in the following incidents:

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.

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	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 03.31 Cricklewood – Bedford¹
	51595	59611	59638	51625	Noted 20/03/81 - on 14.00 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51595	59611	59638	51625	Noted 24/03/81 - on 05.47 Cricklewood – Bedford¹
	51595	59611	59638	51625	Noted 28/03/81 - on 02.30 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59611	59638	51636	Noted 01/04/81 - on 03.31 Cricklewood – Bedford and 21.15 Luton – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59611	59638	51636	Noted 10/04/81 - on 02.30 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51608	59594	59645	51625	Noted 17/04/81 - on 16.05 St. Pancras – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59612	59648	51640	Noted 28/05/81 - on 05.28 Wellingborough – Kettering and 05.45 Kettering – Bedford ¹
	51613	59595	59644	51625	Noted 16/06/81 - on 15.39 Cricklewood – St. Pancras¹
	51625	59612	59633	51640	Noted 02/07/81 - on 14.00 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59612	59633	51640	Noted 07/07/81 - on 20.08 St. Pancras – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59590	59643	51635	Noted 03/09/81 - on 23.10 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59590	59643	51635	Noted 04/09/81 - on 02.58 Cricklewood – Luton¹
	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 06.15 Bedford – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59590	59643	51628	Noted 24/10/81 - on 21.45 Luton – Cricklewood¹
	51625	59590	59643	51628	Noted 06/11/81 - on 15.00 St. Pancras – Cricklewood¹
	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
	51625	59611	59625	51597	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

Images:

22nd July 1985

Set number: 6

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.

circa late 1985

Set number: 6

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.

April 1986

Set number: 916

DPU 916 55976+55986 Platform 5 Crewe April 1986. The set is towing a GUV Martin Baumann.

31st July 1986

Set number: 916

Class 127 parcels unit no 916, with 55976 (formerly M51625) nearest the camera, seen at Northampton on 31 July 1986. Robert28194.

26th September 1986

Set number: 916

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.

Unknown date

Set number: 916

Class 127 parcel set 916 (55976 + 55986) on Newton Heath depot, date unknown. Mike Bunker.

7th January 1987

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.

24th April 1988

Set number: 916

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.

11th June 1988

Set number: 916

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.

January 1990

Class 127 parcels conversion 55976 seen after withdrawal at Crewe Basford Hall in January 1990. S Gaskell.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 3rd September 1986

Set number: 916

Class 127 DPU set 916 (55986 + 55976) heads Down at Watford Junction at 17:21 on 3 September 1986. Dave Warby.

Date: 11th June 1988

Set number: 916

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.

Date: 1st October 1988

Set number: 916

Class 127 parcel set 916 (55986 + 55976) alongside 31 438 at Manchester Victoria on 1 October 1988. Stuart Parkinson.

Date: 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.

Date: 28th May 1990

Set number: 916

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.

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