Vehicle 51784
Class 120
Circa 1968 the vehicle was converted to a DMBF:
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
| 05/12/59 | New to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| 3w/e 02/04/60 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| Jun-60 | Transferred to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| 3w/e 19/11/60 | Transferred to | 64H (Leith Central) | |
| w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 61A (Kittybrewster) | |
| Jan-67 | Transferred to | 60A (Inverness) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | IS | |
| Jun-78 | Stored U. | ZC | |
| 18/12/80 | Withdrawn |
Notes
14/09/78 - A Glasgow Works visit found 56291, 56297 and 56299, all withdrawn, distributed around the yard. Also 50745, W in 1976, 51447, W in 9/77, and 51803, which was recorded as being a “wreck”, and stored 51784.
06/01/79 - 51784 noted in store at Glasgow Works
Modifications
circa 1968 - Converted to DMBF
51784 was involved in the following incident:
12/5/78 - Near Oyne, ScR
Derailment involving Class 120
Info from Alan Binns, Mike Cooper, Peter Mullen
A road vehicle hit a railway bridge on the Aberdeen - Inverness Line, knocking it out of alignment, which was then hit by Class 120 set 304 which derailed. The vehicles slid down the embankment, the DMBC on its side, and would be the only one to be withdrawn. More Details.
Disposal
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51784 | 59682 | 51791 | Transfer to 61A - Jun-60 | ||||||
| 51784 | 59680 | 51791 | Noted mid-Sep-67 - at Inverness, all in plain blue, tablet catcher on 51784 | ||||||
| 51784 | 59682 | 51793 | Noted 17/08/70 - at Inverness1 | ||||||
| 303 | 51784 | 59682 | 51793 | Noted 27/08/74 - on Aberdeen Ferryhill depot1 | |||||
| 51784 | 59684 | 51793 | Noted 30/03/1975 - at Aberdeen2 | ||||||
| 51784 | 59684 | 51793 | Noted 12/04/1975 - 08;40 Inverness to Aberdeen3 | ||||||
| 51784 | 59681 | 51793 | Noted 06/09/76 - at Aberdeen1 | ||||||
| 51784 | 59681 | 51793 | Noted 18/08/77 - on 08.31 Inverness – Aberdeen4 | ||||||
| 304 | 51784 | 59681 | 51793 | Noted 27/08/77 | |||||
| 51784 | 59681 | 51793 | Noted 24/09/77 - at Inverness5 | ||||||
| 306 | 51784 | 59684 | 51793 | Listed at IS - mid-May-78 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Phil Shatford
5: Leonard Rogers
Images:
8th June 1960
An ScR official photo showing Sc51784 on the 8th June 1960 at Hamilton depot. AA McLean Collection.
1972
Set number: 303
This 120 on an Aberdeen to Elgin service is seen just north of Kittybrewster in the autumn of 1972. The destination blind reads "Elgin via Mulben" although by this time that was the only way you could get from Aberdeen to Elgin by rail! Note also the unusual tail lamp, a distinct feature on this line. The set number is carried in the cab window. The DMBF could be 51784, it was listed as being in set 303 in a June 1973 set list. John McIntyre.
May 1978
Set number: 304
51784 - which still appears to have the luggage rack lights on - and 59684 after derailing at Oyne in May 1978. Alan Rintoul.
20th May 1978
Set number: 304
DMBC 51784 and 59684 after derailing at Pitcaple, near Oyne, 20th May 1978. Mike Cooper.
20th May 1978
Set number: 304
Preparing for the recovery of 51784 and 59684 after derailing at Pitcaple near Oyne in May 1978. Mike Cooper.
20th May 1978
Set number: 304
SC51784 and 59684 derailed at Oyne on 20 May 1978, the result of a bridge bash a few days earlier. Alistair Ness.
6th April 1980
Set number: 304
Class 120 DMBF SC51784 in Glasgow Works on 6 April 1980. It had been placed in store after the Oyne derailment in May 1978 and would be withdrawn in December 1980 and would linger for a number of more years before being cut. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd August 1981
Withdrawn after an accident on the Aberdeen to Inverness line, 51784 sits in the yard at Glasgow St Rollox Works. 23 August 1981. ANDREW SALES.
6th October 1984
Set 304 was involved in an accident at Oyne on the 12/5/78. DMBF 51784 was withdrawn went to Glasgow Works for scrapping. It is seen there on the 6th October 1984. Bill Hamilton.
Unknown date
Set number: 304
Withdrawn 51784 - a victim on a derailment at Oyne in 1978 - awaits its fate in Glasgow Works. Date unknown. Mike Bunker.
1985
Set number: 304
Scrapper. BREL Glasgow Works. Class 120 DMBF Sc51784 (Set 304) lying in the sidings at the east end of St. Rollox. It's sandwiched between a condemned 303 EMU and an old departmental coach from a wiring train. Railcar suggests this vehicle was derailed in 1978 after a road vehicle struck a rail over bridge at Oyne, Aberdeenshire. Undated negative but probably circa 1985. alicia hartman.
1986
Set number: 304
Scrapper. BREL Glasgow Works and Class 120 DMBF Sc51784 from Set 304 awaiting its fate. Railcar suggests this vehicle was damaged in a derailment in 1978 after a road vehicle struck a rail over bridge at Oyne (between Inverurie and Insch). Photo circa Spring 1986. alicia hartman.
1986
Set number: 304
Scrapper. BREL Glasgow Works and Class 120 DMBF Sc51784. The vehicle is in all blue, the passenger door has a '1' for First Class and the yellow cantrail stripe has faded. Oval buffers at this end but 'cut' buffers at the cab end. It seems that the engines and most of the underframe equipment has been removed. This seems to be one of the ScR vehicles with the extended brake van, converted from a DMBC - see elsewhere on Railcar. The building with the roller shutter may have been for asbestos removal and perhaps the vehicle is awaiting stripping prior to scrapping? Photo circa Spring 1986. alicia hartman.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 14th May 1960
A Swindon Cross-Country set (51784 + 59682 + 51792) sits in Callander station on the 14th May 1960 with a Six Lochs Land Cruise working. Michael Mensing.
Date: 12th May 1978
Set number: 304
The scene at Pitcaple (near Oyne) on the day that Class 120 set 304 (51793 + 59684 + 51784) derailed. Aberdeen Press and Journal.
Date: 12th May 1978
Set number: 304
Derailment near Oyne (Aberdeen - Inverness line), 12/5/78, following a lorry crashing into a bridge. Class 120 Set 304 containing DMS 51793 (left, on rails), TBS 59684 (centre, half on half off) and DMBC 51784 (right, on side). Scotpix courtesy of Peter Mullen.