Sign In

Vehicle 50453 / 53453

Class 104

Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30293
Diagram: 556

Allocations

w/e 05/10/57	New to	9A (Longsight)
Dec-57	Transferred to	5D (Cockshute)
3w/e 30/04/66	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 04/02/67	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
06/01/84	Transferred to	AY (Ayr)	- cover for fire damaged vehicles
Feb-84	Transferred to	CW (Cricklewood)
10/05/87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
May-87	Withdrawn from	OO (Old Oak Common)	- Collision damage

Notes

1989 - Seen with crash damage at Old Oak Common depot
1st July 1989 - Listed at Old Oak Common depot
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
12th October 1990 - Listed as being in coach stack in Vic Berry's yard, to be cut up

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50453 - original number
53453 - from Oct-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

50453 was involved in the following incident:

21st April 1987 - Gospel Oak

Collision involving Class 104 / Class 31

Info from Peter Boor

31 281 collided with Class 104 53453 in Gospel Oak station.

Peter Boor explains: "I was the driver on the loco based at Stratford, which had a green signal with an M indication for Main, when I came around the bend the next signal was green also, the loco took the points which had not been reversed and because the DMU was stopped short of the buffer stops I could not stop in time. More Details.

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50453	59161	50505	As delivered to 9A - w/e 05/10/57
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 20/07/68 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 15/08/70 - at Chester²
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50453	59161	50505	Noted circa 05/1973 - listed at Bletchley on loan³
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 08/04/1976 - at Manchester Victoria ⁴
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 10/09/76 - on Newton Heath depot²
	50505	59161	50453	Noted circa 01/1977 - Working 09.56 Manchester Vic to Holyhead with 50763 - 50796 (leading unit) and 56248 - 50965 (trailing unit)³
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 14/02/81
	50453	59161	50505	Noted 14/02/1981 - David Isherwood's The Rossendale Farewell Railtour 50794-59207-50761+50453-59161-50505
NH138	50453	50520		Noted circa 05/1982³
NH138	50453	50520		Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Victoria³
	50453	50520		Noted circa 02/1983³
	53453	53520		Noted circa 12/1983³
	53453	53520		Noted circa 03/1984³
	53453	53522		Noted 02/05/85 - on 11.45 Gospel Oak - Barking⁵
	53437	53453		Noted 22/05/85 - on Gospel Oak – Barking services⁵
	53437	53453		Noted 24/05/85 - on 09.15 Gospel Oak – Barking and 09.15 Gospel Oak – Barking⁵
	53453	53501		Noted 01/06/85 - on 10.45 Gospel Oak – Barking, 11.30 Barking – Gospel Oak, 12.15 Gospel Oak – Barking and 13.00 Barking – Gospel Oak⁵
	53453	53501		Noted 09/06/85 - on Gospel Oak – Barking services⁵

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Phil Shatford

Images:

28th September 1963

A BRC&W triple DMU on a Manchester London Road service south of Hanley on 28 September 1963. Michael Mensing.

10th September 1977

With the cobbled roadway of the former goods yard on the right, a well filled three-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M50453, M59161 & M50505, complete with two first class saloons, was passing Salwick at speed with a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service on Saturday September 10th 1977. The former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway signalbox dating from 1889, was retained at Salwick as a fringe box to the Preston PSB. The structure which must have been a busy place when the route between Preston and Kirkham had four tracks, was 'modernised' with UPVC windows and a lowered internal ceiling in later years. The 'box was closed in November 2017 as a prelude to resignalling and electrification between Preston and Blackpool North, and was demolished on December 19th 2017. The now electrified Blackpool-Preston route is signalled from the ROC at Ashburys. Martyn Hilbert.

25th May 1978

Class 104, M50453 stands at Blaenau Ffestiniog after arrival with an excursion from East Lancashire on May 25th 1978. The 10-Car formation has been moved out of the platform road to enable the service train from Llandudno Junction to use the station. It was to be another 4 years before the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway made a triumphal return to the town and sharing a new joint station with BR, enabling the former LNWR Station seen here to be closed. Martyn Hilbert.

25th May 1978

In the now-closed former LNWR station at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M50453 was stood with a ten-car DMU Ramblers excursion from East Lancashire on May 25th 1978. Martyn Hilbert.

14th February 1981

With the locals out in force to witness what was billed as the last BR passenger train along the Bury to Rawtenstall line on Saturday February 14th 1981, the six-car DMU formation of 'The Rossendale Farewell' was stood at Ramsbottom awaiting the opening of the level crossing gates across Bridge Street. The front three cars were a Newton Heath allocated BRCW Class 104 formed of cars M50453, M59161 with M50505 leading. Just visible on the left is the front end of Cravens Class 105 M50761. Martyn Hilbert.

3rd July 1983

Class 104 BRCW DMBS 53453 with a broken secondman's window on the fuel road of Chester MPD, 3-7-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

4th December 1983

Class 104 DMBS 53453 is on stands during work at Doncaster Works on the 4th December 1983. Chris Lings.

2nd April 1985

A two-car Class 104 DMU in Gospel Oak station on 2 April 1985. Closest is Cricklewood allocated M53453. Brian Daniels.

20th January 1986

M53453 leads a two-car Class 104 into Leytonstone High Road station with a Gospel Oak - Barking service on January 20, 1986. Michael Mensing.

21st April 1987

Class 104 DMBS 53453 seen after it was involved in a collision with 31 281 at Gospel Oak on April 21, 1987. Andy Holton.

21st April 1987

Class 104 DMBS 53453 seen after it was involved in a collision with 31 281 at Gospel Oak on April 21, 1987. Andy Holton.

21st April 1987

Class 104 DMBS 53453 seen after it was involved in a collision with 31 281 at Gospel Oak on April 21, 1987. Andy Holton.

circa 1987

M53453 at Old Old Common circa late 1987. It had been in a collision with 31 281 at Gospel Oak on 21 April, the 31 driven by Peter Boor wrongly directed into the bay after getting a signal for the main. Peter Boor.

circa 1988

Graffiti covered BRC&W Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53453 in a derelict state inside Old Oak Common carriage shed circa 1988. It had been in a collision with a Class 31 at Gospel Oak in April 1987. Chris McKee.

circa 1988

The smashed cab of M53453 Class 104 DMBS seen inside Old Oak Common carriage shed circa 1988. It still carries an Ayr depot sticker - it had left there in February 1984 - and was involved in a collision with a Class 31 at Gospel Oak in April 1987. Class 117 set L404 is alongside. Chris McKee.

23rd February 1991

In the stack at Vic Berry's Leicester scrapyard on 21 February 1991 is Class 104 DMBS 53453 surrounded by a variety of coaches (some from an exhibition train) and a Class 438 EMU. Dave Warby.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 14th February 1981

Class 105 Bury Bolton Street 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the lunch stop at Bolton Street, the electric lines having already been diverted to nearby Interchange station prior to the line's conversion to trams. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.

Date: 14th February 1981

Class 105 Ramsbottom 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the Ramsbottom photo stop, a view which doesn't look anything like this today. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.

Date: 14th February 1981

Class 104 Rawtenstall 14 Feb 1981. The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at the end of the line and another view which looks much better today. It's not often you can say that about railway locations. The formation was 50505/59161/50453 + 50761/59207/50794. Alistair Ness.

Date: 14th February 1981

The view from the level crossing at Ramsbottom, as 'The Rossendale Farewell' was awaiting the train crew to return from the signal box, having operated the gates and the rudimentary signals on this much rationalised railway, on February 14th 1981. The tour which had departed from Manchester Victoria and was bound for Rawtenstall, was formed of a three-car BRCW Class 104 DMU and a Cravens Class 105 Power Twin that had a BRCW Class 104 centre trailer coach inserted between the two driving vehicles. The actual formation being - M50505, M59161, M50453 + M50761, M59207, M50794. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 14th February 1981

Class 105 Rawtenstall 14 Feb 1981 The Rossendale Farewell Railtour ran from Manchester Victoria to Rawtenstall and back. Billed as the last train along the branch the only sections covered which aren't still regularly available are the curves at Castleford and the short section from there to Heywood, plus the flat crossing in Bury which has been replaced by the "ski slope" bridge. Here we are at Rawtenstall. The formation was 50794/59207/50761 + 50453/59161/50505. Alistair Ness.

Date: 14th February 1981

The Rossendale Farewell railtour seen at Bury Bolton Street, formed of M50794 (105 DMC), M59207 (104 TS), M50761 (105 DMBS) and M50453 (104 DMBS), M59161 (104 TC), M50505 (104 DMC). 14/2/81. Andy Pullar.

Date: 14th February 1981

St Valentine's Day 1981 saw a farewell tour run from Manchester via Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall formed M50794 + M59207 + M50761 / M50453 + M59161 + M50505. This marked the end of BR services on the line from Bury to Rawtenstall. The last freight train ran the previous December and passenger trains had been diverted to Bury Interchange for almost a year by this time. Jeremy Chapter.

Date: 14th February 1981

With Cravens Class 105 M50794 at the rear, the six-car DMU forming 'The Rossendale Farewell' railtour, had arrived at the end-of-the-line at Rawtenstall on a cold and overcast February 14th 1981. Running from Manchester Victoria, the train was billed as the 'Last BR Service to Rawtenstall'. The line had lost its timetabled passenger service in June 1972, and the Coal workings to Rawtenstall from Bury had ceased in December 1980. Formed of DMU cars of classes 104 and 105 the individual cars were - M50794, M59207, M50761 + M50453, M59161, M50505. It was fitting that Class 105 Power-Twin cars M50794 & M50761 were used, as the Newton Heath Power-Twins were regular visitors to the line in BR days, and a set formed the very last BR service train on June 3rd 1972. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 14th February 1981

The David Isherwood "Rossendale Farewell" railtour in Bury Bolton Street on 14 February 1981. The formation was 50794 + 59207 + 50761 / 50453 + 59161 + 50505. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 14th February 1981

On 14 February 1981, David Isherwood organised "The Rossendale Farewell" rail tour from Manchester to commemorate the ending of all services from Bury to Rawtenstall. BRCW class 104 car M50505 was the car to almost touch the buffers at Rawtenstall. The full formation was M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + M59207 + M50794. Jeremy Chapter.

Date: 14th February 1981

Plenty of locals have turned out to greet the last BR train to traverse the line from Bury to Rawtenstall, 'The Rossendale Farewell' Railtour, from Manchester Victoria on February 14th 1981. This was the scene at Ramsbottom, at around 1.30pm on the outward journey, as the six-car DMU set paused for the level crossing gates to be opened by the train crew. Cravens Class 105 M50794 brings up the rear, the other vehicles were 59207, 50761 and M50453, M59161, M50505. The Newton Heath allocated Cravens DMU's were frequent visitors to the route until the regular passenger services ceased on June 3rd 1972. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 14th February 1981

The Rossendale Farewell Railtour passing through Bury Knowsley Street on 14 February 1981, formed of M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + 59207 + M50794. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.

Date: 14th February 1981

The Rossendale Farewell Railtour at Rawtenstall on 14 February 1981, formed of M50505 + M59161 + M50453 and M50761 + 59207 + M50794. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.

Date: 14th February 1981

Billed as the last BR train to run from Bury to Rawtenstall, Curious locals have come out to witness the passage of the six-car DMU awaiting to proceed past Ramsbottom on February 14th 1981. With Class 104 Driving Motor Composite M50505 leading, the train crew are heading for the still extant signalbox to open the level crossing gates on Bridge Street. The last Coal train to Rawtenstall had traversed the line in December 1980. The home signal on its bracket looked faded and woebegone. Running from Manchester Victoria at 11.05, the train was formed of a Class 104 and a Class 105 power-twin that had a centre trailer car inserted specially for the tour. The individual cars were M50505, M59161, M50453 + M50761, 59207, M50794. This would have been the first passenger carrying DMU to visit the line since regular passenger services had been withdrawn in June 1972. Martyn Hilbert.

➤