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Vehicle 50468 / 53468

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

4w/e 25/01/58	New to	5B (Crewe South)
Apr-63	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
14/05/89	Transferred to	CH (Chester) PCHX
21/09/89	Withdrawn from	CH (Chester) PZQZ

Notes

1st January 1988 - Has window bars
24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn in Chester station sidings
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
22nd December 1989 - Hauled from Chester station sidings to Vic Berry's yard

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50468 - original number
53468 - from May-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Oct-86 - Window Bars Fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50468	59176	50520	As delivered to 5B - 4w/e 25/01/58
	50468	59145	50520	Noted 04/08/68 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50468	59176	50520	Noted 04/06/71 - at Newton Heath¹
	50468	59176	50520	Noted 19/04/73 - on Newton Heath depot²
	50468	59176	50520	Noted 08/02/1976 - at Manchester Victoria³
	50468	59176	50520	Noted 09/09/76 - at Preston²
	50468	59176	50520	Noted 27/09/1976 - at Preston ³
NH142	50468	50516		Noted circa 10/1982⁴
	50468	50516		Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked Manchester Victoria - Rochdale / Oldham service⁴
	53468	53494		Noted circa 06/1985⁴
	53468	53494		Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53468	53494		Noted 25/10/1986⁴
	53468	53494		Noted 01/11/1986⁴
	53468	53494		Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53468	53494		Noted 13th September 1987
	53468	53494		Listed at NH - 1st January 1988
	53468	53494		Noted circa 01/1988⁴
N673	53468	53494		Listed at NH - May 1988
N673	53468	53494		Listed at NH - May-88
N673	53468	53494		Noted circa Jul-88
N673	53468	53494		Listed at NH - 16th July 1988
N673	53468	53494		Noted 12th April 1989
N673	53468	53494		Noted 6th May 1989
	53468	53494		Listed at CH - 1st July 1989
CH613	53468	53494		Noted 23/07/89
	53468	53494		Noted 09/08/89⁵
CH613	53468	53494		Noted 6th September 1989

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

Images:

25th May 1978

A Ramblers Excursion from East Lancashire to North Wales was stood in the former LNWR Goods Yard amidst the slate at Blaenau Ffestiniog on May 25th 1978. The 10-Car formation consisted of a Class 104 3-car set, a Class 108 2-car, a Class 105 2-car and at the rear another 3-car Class 104. The train had first travelled to Llandudno before traversing the Conway Valley Line. The nearest car is Class 104 DMBS M50468. The line running to left of the picture still ran Southwards and was the remains of the former line to Bala, retained for Nuclear Flask Trains to Trawsfynydd Power Station. The route of the then dormant Ffestiniog Railway is to the rear of the station. Martyn Hilbert.

25th May 1978

A Ramblers Excursion from East Lancashire to North Wales, stood in the former LNWR Goods Yard, amidst the slate at Blaenau Ffestiniog on May 25th 1978. The ten-car formation consisted of a Class 104 3-car set, a Class 108 2-car, a Class 105 2-car and at the rear another 3-car Class 104. The train had first travelled to Llandudno before traversing the Conway Valley Line. The nearest car is Class 104 DMBS M50468. The former LNWR station was still in use at this time, just visible on the left. Martyn Hilbert.

5th July 1981

This slide was annotated as 12:05 Heysham to York near Moss, 1980. The eight-car formation contains a Class 104 twin, a three car with Class 104 DMCL and TCL white stripers with a Class 108 DMBS, and another three-car which seems to be Class 105 power cars with a Class 104 centre car. Update: M50468 + 50499 / M50531 + 59178 + 50944 / M50761 + 59207 + 50794 with 1P90 12:15 Heysham Harbour-Accrington relief on 5 July 1981, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/psrp/50894325502/. For the incoming working see image 27291 on this website. Stuart Mackay Collection.

5th June 1982

A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M50468 & M50516 was approaching Bamber Bridge at Walton Summit with the 12.46 Colne to Preston service on June 5th 1982. The then open fields to the left of the DMU have since been covered with a housing estate. Martyn Hilbert.

4th May 1984

The location is Bolton West and 53468/53516 plod slowly round the curve into Bolton station. The train is the 12.33 Blackburn - Manchester, 04/05/1984. Geoff Dowling.

6th October 1984

Deep in East Lancashire, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53468 at the rear, was departing from Rishton with a Preston to Colne service on October 6th 1984. Rishton is a small town on the A678 Blackburn to Burnley road, and is mid way between Blackburn and Accrington. The station was once on the edge of the built-up area, but housing developments now block the open aspect in this view with the Pennines on the distant horizon. Martyn Hilbert.

30th July 1985

A two-car Class 104 DMU with 53468 leading at Miles Platting on the early afternoon of 30 July 1985. Chris Thorp.

26th September 1987

A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53468 & M53494 was passing the District Civil Engineers sidings located in the former goods yard at Kirkham & Wesham, whilst working a Blackpool South to Colne service on September 26th 1987. The well-worn unit was withdrawn from service at Chester in September 1989 and was scrapped by Berry's of Leicester in 1990. The Brake Van on the left of this scene was B950136, an LMS type that had been built by BR in 1950. Martyn Hilbert.

13th April 1988

Set number: N673

A Class 104 two-car DMU formed of M53468 & M53494 (N673) was departing from Rufford with the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston service on April 13th 1988. Martyn Hilbert.

5th May 1988

Set number: N673

Accelerating away from Croston, a two-car BRCW Class 104 formed of M53468 & M53494 (Newton Heath set N673) was passing over the user worked level crossing at Club Lane, as it headed towards its next station call at Rufford with a Preston to Ormskirk service on May 5th 1988. Along with other first generation DMU sets at the time, N673 had an extended period of operation due to problems with the Class 142 fleet. N673 was eventually withdrawn from service in 1989. Martyn Hilbert.

13th May 1988

Set number: N673

M53468 + M53494 form set N673, seen at Wigan Wallgate on May 13, 1988. John Carter.

24th June 1988

Set number: N673

Class 104 DMU set N673 (presumably 53468 + 53494) in Wigan Wallgate station on 24 June 1988. Stuart Parkinson.

May 1989

Set number: CH613

Class 104 BR+CW DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) at Chester MPD in May 1989. Another 104 set on the left, 108 on the right. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

July 1989

Set number: CH613

Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) in Betws-y-coed station in July 1989. George Woods.

July 1989

Set number: CH613

Passengers disembark from Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) in Betws-y-coed station in July 1989. George Woods.

17th October 1989

Withdrawn Class 104 and 101 DMU vehicles alongside Chester station, Class 104 DMBS 53468 second from right 17-10-89ish. The line on 9/12/89 was: 53520, 53468, 53306, 53472, 53195, 59207, 53466, 53263, 53425, 59155, 59183, 59148 and 53541. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 5th July 1981

An eight-car DMU formation at Heysham Moss sometime in 1981, noted as an ex-Nelson to Heysham working (Rochdale is on the destination blind. Leading is a 105/104/105 - closest appears to be 50794 so its partners are presumably 59207 + 50761. The next three-car appears to be a 108 with two white-stripe 104s, then an unidentified two-car on the rear. Update: This is now thought to be 50794 + 59207 + M50761 / 50944 + 59178 + 50531 / 50499 + 50468 which would return with the 1P90 12:15 Heysham Harbour-Accrington relief on 5th July 1981, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/psrp/50894325502/. For that working see image 30023 on this website. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 16th March 1985

A sudden and unexpected flurry of snow fell in West Lancashire on the late afternoon of March 16th 1985. Within a couple of hours it had all thawed. Class 104 M53530 & M53468 was on a Preston to Ormskirk working passing Cocker Bar, between Midge Hall and Croston. Despite the destination blind, the unit was heading for Ormskirk. In the field to the left of the DMU is a derelict vintage Thames Trader lorry that was in production from 1957 to 1965. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 17th September 1985

A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was passing the orchard trees, as it approached Narrow Lane farm crossing with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 17th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 16th May 1986

Accelerating along the Up Slow, a BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was about to take the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled Preston to Colne service on May 16th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 14th November 1987

A BRC&W Class 104 (53494 + 53468) in Manchester Victoria on November 14, 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 23rd June 1988

Set number: N673

53494 with DMBS 53468 as set N673, at Bolton 23/6/88. Gazza Prescott.

Date: circa 1988

Set number: N673

Two-car Class 104 DMU set N673 (M53494 and presumably M53468) at Trent Junction circa 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 6th May 1989

Set number: N673

N673 (M53494+M53468), CH379 (M51948), N669 (M53528) on X shed Longsight TMD 6-5-89. Kevin Dowd.

Date: July 1989

Set number: CH613

On a rainy day in July 1989 two-car Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53494 + 53468) arrives into Betws-y-coed station with a red marker lamp. George Woods.

Date: 23rd July 1989

Set number: CH613

CH613 M53494 + M53468 inside Llandudno Junction depot, 23-7-89. Kevin Dowd.

Date: 9th December 1989

Set number: CH609

M53520, M53468, M53306, 53472, E53195, M59207, M53466, E53263, M53425, M59155, M59183, M59148, 53541 withdrawn at Chester station sidings, 9/12/89. Kevin Dowd.

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