Vehicle 50338 / 53338 / 977694
Class 101
Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: AEC 150 hp / Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30276
Diagram: 621
Allocations
| 4w/e 19/04/58 | New to | 3E (Monument Lane) | |
| Apr-58 | On loan to | 18A (Toton) | |
| May-58 | Ex-loan back to | 3E (Monument Lane) | |
| 20/06/60 | Depot code change | 21E | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2H | |
| 3w/e 31/10/64 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| 3w/e 31/10/65 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 4w/e 05/11/66 | Transferred to | 2H (Monument Lane) | |
| w/e 07/01/67 | Transferred to | 2A (Tyseley) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | TS | |
| circa Jan-84 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 12/05/85 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 01/03/87 | Transferred to | LE (Swansea Landore) | |
| 23/09/87 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| 20/03/89 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) PCHX | |
| 28/08/91 | To departmental stock | RTC (Derby RTC) | |
| by 08/11/93 | Transferred to | ZA |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50338 - original number
53338 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
977694 - from 28/08/91 (departmental stock)
Department Use as RDB977694
Lab Coach 19 - From 28/08/91 to 4/08. Carried set number 901002
Refurbished
At Derby Works dated 29/11/1976 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50320 | 59131 | 50338 | As delivered to 3E - April 1958 | ||||||
| 50320 | 59131 | 50338 | Transfer to 9D - 3w/e 31/10/64 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted circa Nov-67 - in plain blue with full yellow ends | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 01/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 19/04/1969 - R.C.T.S. (West Midlands Branch) The Forester Railtour. 50338 had yellow cab doors. | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 05/11/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 21/11/70 - R.C.T.S. The Cotswold Edge Railtour | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 05/06/72 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 25/05/1974 - at Birmingham New Street2 | ||||||
| 50305 | 59119 | 50338 | Noted 23/07/79 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| TS408 | 50305 | 59119 | 50338 | Noted circa 08/1979 - Barmouth4 | |||||
| TS408 | 50305 | 59119 | 50338 | Listed at TS - 12/08/79 | |||||
| TS408 | 50305 | 59119 | 50338 | Noted circa 01/19814 | |||||
| TS407 | 50309 | 59121 | 50338 | Noted 25/07/81 - at Norwich3 | |||||
| TS407 | 50309 | 59121 | 50338 | Noted circa 10/19814 | |||||
| 50309 | 59121 | 50338 | Noted 04/09/82 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| TS407 | 50309 | 59121 | 50338 | Noted circa 11/19824 | |||||
| TS407 | 50309 | 59121 | 50338 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||
| TS407 | 53309 | 59121 | 53338 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||
| TS407 | 53309 | 59121 | 53338 | Noted circa 09/19834 | |||||
| TS407 | 53309 | 59121 | 53338 | Noted circa 10/19834 | |||||
| 53309 | 53338 | Transfer to CF - 12/05/85 - from CH | |||||||
| C807 | 53309 | 53338 | circa Sep-85 CF - created | ||||||
| C807 | 53309 | 53338 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | ||||||
| S807 | 53309 | 53338 | Noted circa 07/19874 | ||||||
| S807 | 53309 | 53338 | Listed at LE - Aug-87 | ||||||
| CH294 | 53309 | 53338 | Listed at CH - May 1988 | ||||||
| LAB19 | 977693 | 977694 | Noted 22/07/1991 - Eastbound at Pirbright on Southern Region |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Eddie Knorn
Images:
circa April 1958
An Met-Camm image (negative DZ 193) showing a new three-car set, probably at Sutton Park station. It comprises 50338, 59131 and presumably 50320, these were delivered to Monument Lane in April 1958. Metropolitan Cammell.
3rd September 1959
Two Tyseley Met-Camm three-car sets form a Llandudno - Birmingham relief service seen at Basford Hall Junction on 3 September 1959. The numbers of the DMSLs are M50338 (leading set) and M50335 (bottom left). Photographer: DP Rowland. Stuart Mackay Collection.
19th April 1969
The RCTS Forester railtour at Rugby Central on 19 April 1969. This was their 200th tour, and closest is M50338 with yellow cab doors. Stuart Mackay Collection.
4th March 1972
Set number: TY401
Two three-car Class 101s - set TY401 and M50338 closest - working the 4.25pm Wolverhampton Low Level - Birmingham Snow Hill leaving Soho and Winson Green station on the last day of these services 4 March 1972. Michael Mensing.
3rd September 1975
M50338 leads a Tyseley Class 101 at Croft Stanton on 3 September 1975. Birmingham New Street is on the destination blind. Phillip Malin.
3rd May 1986
Set number: C807
Class 101 set C807 (53338 + 53309) is seen at Tyseley carriage sidings on 03.05.1986. It was allocated to Cardiff at the time and still retained First Class. Andy Cole.
3rd September 1991
RTC-allocated unit 901002 (977694/977693) (aka “Iris 2”) at Basingstoke on 3 September 1991. Lewis Bevan.
22nd March 1993
Class 101 Lab 19 Iris II (977694 and 977693) seen leaving London Bridge Station on 22-3-93. Ian Cuthbertson.
19th June 1993
Lab 19 - Iris II (977694 + 977693) departs from Derby station on 19 June 1993. Stuart Mackay Collection.
19th June 1993
Lab 19 - Iris II (977694 + 977693) in its British Rail Research livery at Derby on 19 June 1993. Stuart Mackay Collection.
9th May 1996
Lab 19 Iris II (977694 + 977693) at Lewes (East Sussex), 9/5/96. Sparegang.
9th May 1996
Lab 19 Iris II (977694 + 977693) at Lewes (East Sussex), 9/5/96. Sparegang.
15th October 1998
Iris II - 977694 + 977693 is seen at Crewe on 15.10.1998 in SERCO livery. Andy Cole.
18th November 1998
IRIS II 977694 + 977693 at Didcot on 18 November 1998. Brian Daniels.
27th September 1999
Lab 19 - Iris II (977694 / 977693) berthed at Derby on 27th September 1999. Ian Buck.
31st July 2000
LAB 19 IRIS II 977694 and 977693 at Didcot on 31 July 2000. Brian Daniels.
5th August 2000
Lab 19 - Iris II (977694 / 977693) at Old Oak Common Open Day on the 5th August 2000. Steve Hodgson.
5th August 2000
Lab 19 - Iris II (977694 / 977693) at Old Oak Common Open Day on 5 August 2000. S Gaskell.
7th September 2000
Iris II - 977694 + 977693 - is seen at Derby on September 7, 2000. Andy Cole.
21st March 2003
Iris II - 977694 + 977693 - in Carlisle station on 21 March 2003. David Bellamy.
22nd July 2004
Set number: 901002
Class 101 Laboratory 19 'IRIS 2' former DMCL 977694 (50338) with former DMBS 977693 (50222) at Rugby on 22 July 2004. Dave Warby.
November 2005
Set number: 901002
Iris II 977694 / 977693 at Carlise in November 2005. Alan Ross.
18th December 2005
Set number: 901002
Iris 2 (977694 + 977693) at Grantham on December 18, 2005. Nicholas Youngman.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: circa May 1958
A Met-Camm image (negative DZ200ish) of two two-car sets destined for Scotland seen in Sutton Park station. Sc51237 is closest, delivered to 62B (Dundee) in late May 1958. Whiskers on the cab front were not yet standard, although earlier deliveries from Met-Camm to the LMR (such as 50338) had them from new. Metropolitan Cammell.
Date: 19th April 1969
A Met-Camm DMU formed M50304 + 59115 + 50338 with RCTS “The Forester" railtour at Drakelow on the Leicester Goods Line on 19 April 1969. The headboard notes it was the 200th RCTS tour, which ran from Coventry to the Nottingham / Leicester area. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 3rd May 1986
Set number: C807
Class 101 DMBS 53309, set number C807, is seen stabled at Tyseley carriage sidings on 03.05.1986, with 53338. Andy Cole.
Date: circa 1987
Set number: S807
A Swansea - bound train on the Central Wales line near Dolau is formed of Llandore based Class 101 set S807 (presumably 53309 + 53338) circa 1987. John Crooks.
Date: circa 1991
Iris II 977693 / 977694 at Basingstoke, circa 1991. Walter Burt Collection.
Date: unknown
Iris II 977693 / 977694 seen in platform 2 of London Victoria station. Undated. Chris Adams.
Date: 6th September 1991
Lab 19 IRIS II 977693 (ex-53222) and 977694 (ex-53338) seen just after their conversion at Greaves Siding, between Banbury and Leamington Spa, on 6 September 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 23rd March 1993
"Lab 19 Iris II" might sound like a specialist wing of the Porton Down Experimental Establishment but this was in fact the name of a DMU converted in 1991 from a power twin Metropolitan-Cammell class 101 unit (units 53222-53338). Rebuilt by the Research & Development Division of British Rail at Derby as a test train, it was initially used for radio survey work particularly with the National Radio Network (NRN) and later for video survey work including extensive signal sighting on the WCML prior to the introduction of 125 mph. Bearing the BR Research's silver and grey livery, it is seen passing through London Bridge station on 23 March 1993. Withdrawn and stored at Derby's Railway Technical Centre, it was sold by Network Rail to a private buyer in early 2008. After a short spell at Dunster station on the West Somerset Railway, it was moved to the Barry Tourist railway. Gordon Edgar.
Date: circa 1996
Lab 19 - Iris II - (977693 and 977694) and two Railtrack liveried sandite bubbles sitting on Bletchley tank road circa 1996. Graham Baker.
Date: 5th August 2000
Class 101 SERCO Lab 19 Iris 2 Test Train (RDB977693 + RDB977694) at Old Oak Common open day on 5 August 2000. Murray Liston.
Date: 5th August 2000
Class 101 SERCO Test Train Old Oak Common 5 August 2000. This is RDB977693 (ex 50222) Lab 19 IRIS 2 with RDB977694 (ex 50338) behind. Alistair Ness.
Date: 5th August 2000
Lab 19 - Iris II (977693 / 977694) at Old Oak Common Open Day on 5 August 2000. S Gaskell.
Date: 6th August 2000
IRIS II Class 101 977693 and 977694 is seen on display at Old Oak Common open day on 06/08/2000. Andy Cole.
Date: 7th September 2000
977693 and 977694 (IRIS II) is seen at Derby on 07.09.2000. Andy Cole.
Date: 21st March 2003
Iris II - 977693 + 977694 - in Carlisle station on 21 March 2003. David Bellamy.
Date: November 2005
Set number: 901002
977693 / 977694 at Carlisle in November 2005. Alan Ross.
Date: 18th March 2008
The class 101 DMMU known as Iris II (977693 + 977694) was taken from Derby to Bishops Lydeard for a new live in preservation on Tuesday 18 March 2008. The power provided was 31459 which, in its black livery, provided a nice contrast to the two different yellows of the unit. I wanted to be in the Evesham or Pershore area at some point during the day so just went to the nearest point to my home where a reasonably wide view could be obtained so as to show all 3 vehicles. Here is 5Z08 passing Croome Perry wood after being in the loop at Abbotswood for some time to allow the passage of a class 170 on a Cardiff service and an Arriva Voyager on a Cross Country train. I came very close to being bowled out by a northbound Arriva-liveried 170 105 which was outside the frame by no more than a few inches. Peter Tandy.