Vehicle 51781
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: 30559
Diagram: 587
Allocations
| 28/11/59 | New to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| 3w/e 19/11/60 | Transferred to | 64H (Leith Central) | |
| w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| 2w/e 12/05/62 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Sep-62 | Transferred to | 67A (Corkerhill) | |
| 4w/e 01/06/63 | Transferred to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| Jan-67 | Transferred to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| 4w/e 30/06/68 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Oct-68 | Transferred to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| Aug-69 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| 4w/e 01/11/69 | Transferred to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| w/e 04/07/70 | On loan to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Sep-70 | Ex-loan back to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | IS | |
| 2w/e 22/03/80 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 11/05/86 | Stored S. | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 2w/e 14/05/86 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| 28/09/86 | Transferred to | HA (Haymarket) | |
| Mar-87 | Withdrawn from | HA (Haymarket) |
Notes
20th September 1986 - Seen carrying unit no. C615
28th February 1987 - Seen carrying unit no. C615
Modifications
circa May-81 - Headlamp fitted
Refurbished
At Glasgow Works dated 16/12/1977 released in blue/grey liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51781 | 59680 | 51793 | Listed at 61A - May-60 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59685 | 51790 | Transfer to 66C - 2w/e 12/05/62 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59685 | 51790 | Transfer to 67A - Sep-62 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59685 | 51790 | Transfer to 61A - 4w/e 01/06/63 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59685 | 51789 | Transfer to 66C - 4w/e 30/06/68 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59684 | 51788 | Transfer to 66C - Aug-69 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59684 | 51788 | Transfer to 60A - 4w/e 01/11/69 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59684 | 51788 | Transfer to 66C - w/e 04/07/70 - on loan | ||||||
| 51781 | 59684 | 51788 | Transfer to 60A - Sep-70 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59680 | 51788 | Noted 03/09/73 - at Inverness1 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 30/03/1975 - at Inverness2 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 05/04/1976 - on 08:40 Inverness to Aberdeen with 51783, 59679 & 517903 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59679 | 51788 | Noted 02/04/1977 - 14:35 Inverness to Aberdeen service3 | ||||||
| 302 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Listed at IS - mid-May-78 - Refurbished set | |||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 03/07/78 - at Inverness4 | ||||||
| C510 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Transfer to CF - 2w/e 22/03/80 - by May running as C616 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 22/07/80 - at Cardiff5 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 24/10/1980 - At Malliphant Sidings5 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Listed at CF - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted circa 04/19836 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 05/09/1983 - on 17.05 Cardiff to Chepstow6 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Listed at CF - circa Jan-86 | |||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 13/02/19866 | |||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Transfer to AY - 2w/e 14/05/86 | ||||||
| C615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Noted 20th May 1986 | |||||
| 615 | 51781 | 59682 | 51788 | Listed at Ayr - Summer 1986 | |||||
| 51781 | 59797 | 53132 | Noted 12th July 1986 | ||||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Noted 31st July 1986 | ||||||
| 615 | 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Listed at Ayr - August 1986 | |||||
| 51781 | 59682 | 53653 | Noted 7th August 1986 | ||||||
| 107427 | 51781 | 59268 | 51987 | Formed at AY p/e 17/09/86 - two vans, 51781 carried C615 | |||||
| 615 | 51781 | 59580 | 51788 | Formation change - circa Oct-86 - 59580 replaces 59682 (to 616) |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Leonard Rogers
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
Images:
6th April 1978
Set number: 302
Set 302 at Huntly, taken from 254 002 - the first HST to travel the line - on the 6th April 1978. 51781 DMBC is probably the closest vehicle. Mike Cooper.
July 1979
Set number: 302
Class 120 DMU SC51781 from set 302 departing Inverness July 1979. Ian Charles.
10th April 1981
Set number: C615
A rather grubby Class 120 'Swindon Cross Country' set no. C615 (51781+59682+51788) is seen at Carmarthen during its reversal with train 2C64 the 13.15 Swansea to Milford Haven on 11/04/81. These 'Swindon' sets were synonymous with West Wales in the late 1970's early 80's with a mix of 2 and 3 car units covering the majority of no loco hauled services. Adrian Nicholls.
4th January 1983
Set number: C615
Class 120 DMU set C615 (51781+59682+51788) making a very unusual visit to the London area of the Western Region on 04/01/83. I have few details for the working other than a note I made on the day which I now question. My photo notes suggest it was working an additional from Birmingham to London Paddington. It arrived at Reading around 12.30 following the 08.20 Liverpool Lime Street to Paddington. Seeing as New Years Day was a Saturday, Monday 3rd would have been a bank holiday so Tuesday 4th was busy so possibly warranted some relief workings but if anybody can shed any light on this or similar workings using 120's I would be grateful. These "Swindon Cross Country" sets were synonymous with workings in West Wales at the time and were never that common east of Cardiff let alone working into London. So I have to question if it did come from Birmingham as a relief train how did it get to Birmingham in the first place ? Via Shrewsbury maybe ? Adrian Nicholls.
1984
Set number: C615
51781 leads 59682 and 51788 as set C615 through Bristol Stapleton Road in 1984. Robert Tarling.
31st August 1984
Set number: C615
An unusual visitor to the London area on 31 August 1984 was Cardiff based class 120 dmu no. C615 presumably (51781 + 59682 + 51788), seen here at Maidenhead about to depart with a train for Oxford (despite what the destination blind says - at least it's in the right general direction!). Robert28194.
31st March 1986
Set number: C615
Swindon Cross-Country DMU set C615 (presumably 51781 + 59682 + 51788) in Ferryside station with a down passenger service on 31 March 1986. Robert Thomas.
31st March 1986
Set number: C615
Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 DMU set C615 (presumably 51781 + 59682 + 51788) arrives at Ferryside station with a down passenger service on 31 March 1986. Robert Thomas.
14th June 1986
Set number: C615
A nice hybrid set - W51781 is at the head of 107 59797 and 116 53132 at Haymarket depot, about to into Haymarket station to work the 18:15 to North Berwick. 14th July 1986. Hamish Stevenson.
14th July 1986
Set number: C615
W51781 in Haymarket depot on the 14th July 1986, about to work ECS to form the 18:15 Haymarket - North Berwick. Hamish Stevenson.
August 1986
Set number: C615
A Swindon Cross-Country DMBC W51781 at the buffers in Glasgow Central. August 1986. Still carrying its Cardiff set number, W prefix and headlamp bracket, it's now part of a hybrid set - the farthest away vehicle is a Class 107. Andrew McConnell.
7th September 1986
Set number: C615
51781 was for most of it's life a Scottish vehicle, seen here back in Scotland after several years in Cardiff as can be seen by the set number still carried. Working with Class 120 M59268 + Class 107 51987, this is officially Ayr set 427. Seen in Glasgow Central station on the 7th September 1986, ready to work the 14:05 to Ayr. Hamish Stevenson.
22nd September 1986
Set number: C615
A Class 120 DMU with W51781 at the front is seen in Ayr station on September 22, 1986, beside one of the EMUs which would replace it on the Ayr - Glasgow line. The ex-Cardiff vehicle (sent north to cover for the out-of-traffic Class 107s) was transferred to Haymarket the following week. WS Sellar.
1st November 1986
Set number: C507
Set 507 (W51781 + M59285 + M53698) arrives into Uphall station with the 16:03 Bathgate - Edinburgh on the 1st November 1986. Hamish Stevenson.
1st November 1986
Set number: C507
W51781 is at the rear of M59285 + M53698 heading out of Uphall with the 11:18 Edinburgh - Bathgate on the 1st November 1986. This is set 507, a few weeks earlier the vehicle still had its Cardiff set number C615, the new set sticker failed to cover the 'C'. Hamish Stevenson.
5th December 1986
Set number: C507
Set formation C507 consisting of vehicles W51781 M59285 M53698 is seen working the North Berwick-Edinburgh Waverley shuttle service at North Berwick on 5/12/86. This example had been transferred from Western Region - Cardiff Division in May, the car numbers still had W-prefixing and the C-prefix set number. It also has a bracket between the two cab front windows for carrying the extra headlight used on the Central Wales line. Graeme Phillips Collection.
circa 1987
Set number: C615
Class 120 set C615 heads out of Paisley Gilmour Street Station towards Glasgow, circa 1987. C615 was the unit's set number from its years at Cardiff, but it was originally allocated to the Scottish Region. Andrew McConnell.
January 1987
Set number: 507
Swindon class 120 set 507 (W51781 + M59285 + M53698) rasps its way up the grade towards Lochmuir summit with an Edinburgh to Dundee stopping service. January 1987. Bruce Galloway.
26th April 1987
Some Class 120 vehicles were sent to Aberdeen Ferryhill depot for component stripping. Here W51781 makes a return to its old home after a period in Wales, but sadly now devoid of many mechanical components. 26/4/87. Hamish Stevenson.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 23rd June 1970
A Class 120 DMU waits in Dalmally station for a southbound service to arrive before it can continue its journey to Oban. Tuesday 23 June 1970. That summer Hamilton had 51788/59684/51781 on loan from Inverness for the service, the DMBC still in green livery. Peter James.
Date: 23rd June 1970
Passing trains at Dalmally on Tuesday 23 June 1970. 5349 is heading south and once past the Class 120 will be able to continue its journey to Oban. That summer Hamilton had 51788 + 59684 + 51781 on loan from Inverness for the service. Peter James.
Date: summer 1970
A Swindon Cross-Country set in Oban station in summer 1970. That summer Hamilton had 51781/59684/51788 on loan from Inverness. Mike Cooper Collection.
Date: 28th December 1980
Set number: C615
3 car Swindon Cross Country set C615 (presumably 51781 + 59682 + 51788) stands at Crewe, 28 December 1980. Paul James.
Date: unknown
Class 120 set C615 (presumably 51781 + 59682 + 51788) gallops westward though Port Talbot as empty stock on 2 January 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1984
Set number: C615
C615 is formed of former ScR vehicles W51788 / W59682 / 51781, and seen at Lawrence Hill in 1984. Robert Tarling.
Date: 31st March 1986
Set number: C615
Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 DMU set C615 (presumably 51788 + 59682 + 51781) arrives at Ferryside with a down passenger service on 31 March 1986. Robert Thomas.
Date: 24th April 1986
Set number: C615
Class 120 DMU set C615 (51788 + 59682 + 51781) at Severn Tunnel Junction on 24 April 1986. Keith Miller.
Date: 10th May 1986
Set number: C615
The driver of 51788 reaches out for the token at Whitland. This was the 13:00 Swansea-Pembroke Dock service on 10 May 1986, the other two vehicles in Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 set C615 are presumably 59682 + 51781. Robert Thomas.
Date: circa Sep-86
Set number: 107427
107 427 rolls into Johnstone. Undated, but the 120 centre car probably means this was circa September 1986 when 51987 ran with 59268 and 51781. Andrew McConnell.
Date: 1st November 1986
Set number: 507
A Class 120 set with two brake vehicle in Edinburgh Waverley on November 1st, 1986. This should make it set 507 formed 53698 + 59285 + 51781. Gordon Thomson.
Date: circa January 1987
Set number: 507
A Class 120 seen between Haymarket station and depot, the slide process date was January 1987. Closest is DMBS 53698 carrying set number 507, the centre car is presumably 59285 and the rear car is another brake vehicle still with a yellow first class stripe presumably 51781. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 21st February 1987
Set number: 615
Class 120 set C615 at Dundee (Tay Bridge) on 21/2/87 probably on a service to Arbroath. The nearest vehicle is W51781 in run-down condition typical of the period, looking west. Kenneth Leiper.