Vehicle 50539 / 53539
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: 30296
Diagram: 556
Allocations
| 2w/e 03/05/58 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
| 4w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 21F (Ryecroft) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2G | |
| 4w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 6G (Llandudno Junction) | |
| 3w/e 02/10/65 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| w/e 06/11/65 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | LO | |
| by Oct-81 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
| 02/11/86 | Transferred to | CW (Cricklewood) | |
| 10/05/87 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
| p/e 31/12/88 | Sector Change to | OO (Old Oak Common) NGBX | |
| 24/01/92 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| Feb-92 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX | - no date, presume Feb. with partner 54491 |
| 17/12/92 | Withdrawn from | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX |
Notes
1st January 1988 - Has NSE symbols on sides
1989 - Seen in NSE livery
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50539 - original number
53539 - from Sep-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50539 | 56182 | As delivered to 5B - 2w/e 03/05/58 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56237 | Noted 01/01/68 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56183 | Noted 03/05/69 - in Manchester Central (last day)1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56183 | Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 23/11/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| LT309 | 50539 | 56182 | Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70 | ||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 19/09/71 - at Stockport1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 04/09/74 - at New Mills2 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot2 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted Sep-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted 24/05/80 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56182 | Noted circa 11/19813 | |||||||
| 50539 | 56184 | Noted circa 08/19823 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54184 | Noted circa 05/19833 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54179 | Noted 28/05/1983 - on 06:15 Bletchley to Bedford4 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54179 | Noted circa 06/19833 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54179 | Noted circa 01/19843 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54181 | Noted 11/08/84 - at Norwich2 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 12/19843 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 12/19853 | |||||||
| 53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 09/19863 | |||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Formed at OO circa 10/87 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Listed at OO - 1st January 1988 | ||||||
| L127 | 55027 | 53539 | Noted 04/03/1988 - London Paddington-Reading service, observed at Taplow. Set number on 53539 end not noted. Information from Nigel Mack.5 | ||||||
| L703 | 53470 | 53539 | Listed at OO - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| L703 | 53470 | 53539 | Noted 6th August 1988 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Listed at - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Listed at OO - 1st July 1989 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Noted circa 10/19903 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Listed at OO - 12th October 1990 | ||||||
| L702 | 53455 | 53539 | Listed at OO - 21/01/91 | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Noted 25/02/92 - at Royal Oak2 | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - 12/08/92 - NSE Thames NWRX pool (Reading / Old Oak Common) | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Noted circa 11/19923 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Chris Moxon
Images:
August 1975
A two-car Class 104 DMU formed of M50539 and M56182 departs from Manchester Piccadilly in August 1975. Hugh Llewelyn.
27th June 1979
A Class 104 twin set comprising M50539 + M56182 is seen at Guide Bridge on Wednesday 27 June 1979. David Russon.
1984
A two-car Class 104 DMU (DMBS 53539 + DTSL 54181) at Bletchley with a Bedford service in 1984. Ian Docwra.
18th June 1984
BRCW Class 104 DMU, M53539+M54181, stand at Bedford after arriving from Bletchley. 18-06-84. John Crooks.
24th January 1987
Class 104 53539 is seen after overhaul at Tyseley on 24.01.1987 coupled to a Class 108 car. Andy Cole.
27th November 1987
Set number: L702
Carrying set number L702 Class 104 DMBS 53539 is working with a Class 121 DTS and a Class 121 bubble car when seen at Didcot on November 27, 1987. Hamish Stevenson.
Unknown date
Set number: L702
Class 104 set L702 (presumably 53539 + 53455) departs from Barking. Undated. Tom Clift.
April 1988
Set number: L702
Class 104 DMBS 53539 is part of set L702 with 53455 when seen at Southall working with a Class 101 circa April 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.
September 1988
Set number: L702
Class 104 53539+53540 arrives at Barking from Gospel Oak in September 1988. Nicholas Youngman.
20th January 1990
Set number: L702
Network SouthEast liveried BRC&W 2 car class 104 dmu, set L702 formed of 53539 & 53455, arrive at Barking with a service from Gospel Oak on 20th January 1990, Andrew J Crowther.
25th May 1990
Set number: L702
Seen from the now demolished bridge west of Iver is L702 (53539 + 53455) on a Paddington - Slough working during the evening of 25 5 1990. roger geach.
October 1990
Set number: L702
Class 104 set L702 is seen at Southall circa October 1990, 53539 leads. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th October 1990
Set number: L702
53539 + 53455 at Hayes & Harlington on 13/10/90 with the 13:28 to Paddington. Sparegang.
20th October 1990
Set number: L702
Class 104 53539, set number L702 (presumably paired with 53455), is seen departing Paddington on 20.10.1990 in Network South East livery. Andy Cole.
14th September 1991
Set number: L702
Network SouthEast Class 104 set No. L702 (53539 and 53455) departs Walthamstow Queens Road working the 10:30 Barking to Gospel Oak service on 14 September 1991. Brian Creasey.
24th March 1992
Set number: L265
L265 53539 + 54491 arrive at Greenford on the 16:37 ex-Ealing Broadway, 24-3-92. Kevin Dowd.
9th December 1992
53539 drivers footstep plate, taken on 9-12-92. Kevin Dowd.
17th January 1995
Class 104 cars 53539 & 53477 withdrawn at Old Oak Common on 17th January 1995. Ian Buck.
16th October 1995
Set number: L720
53539, 59437, 59435, + 23 other vehicles! With ADB968021 at Gwent Demolition, Margam 16-10-95. Kevin Dowd.
17th October 1995
Set number: L720
53539 has its No.2 side number panel removed by Philip Walker, Gwent Demolition, Margam 17-10-95. Kevin Dowd.
17th October 1995
Set number: L720
Sparks fly as the first cuts are made to scrap 53539, Gwent Demolition, Margam 17-10-95. Kevin Dowd.
3rd December 1995
Set number: L720
53539, 59437, 53540 (540 being scrapped during the following week) at Gwent Demolition, Margam, 3-12-95. Kevin Dowd.
10th December 1995
Set number: L720
53539, 59437, 53477 (477 scrapped 12-12-95) at Gwent Demolition, Margam, 10-12-95. Kevin Dowd.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: August 1975
Birmingham RC&W Co. 2-car Local Passenger dmu (Class 104) Nos.M56182 (Class 140), M50539 (104/2) of the 1958 batch in BR Rail Blue livery with all yellow front end entering Manchester (Piccadilly) on a service from Buxton, 08/75. Note long line of vans on left. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: 29th October 1981
A Class 104 DMU (M56182 + M50539) arrives into Ridgmont station on 29 October 1981. Brian Daniels.
Date: 31st May 1983
Class 104 BRCW 2-car DMU 54179 + 53539 at Bedford St Johns with the 16:15 to Bletchley on 31-5-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 31st May 1983
Class 104 BRCW 2-car DMU 54179 + 53539 at Bedford St Johns with the 16:15 to Bletchley on 31-5-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 1984
54181 + 53539 in Bletchley station waiting to take the Bedford route in summer 1984. Ian Docwra.
Date: 1984
54181 + 53539 departing Bletchley for Bedford in summer 1984 Ian Docwra.
Date: 11th February 1984
The conductor guard is seen ambling up the platform closing the doors at Watford Junction on the St.Albans Abbey branch platform despite what the trains destination blind says. Platform 11 at Watford Junction is still somewhat isolated from the main part of the station and is adjacent to Watford Junction Yard. The rather shabby old class 104 DMU set is formed of Bletchley allocated vehicles M53539+M54183. It has just arrived with the 10.22 from St.Albans Abbey and will return as the 11.03 to St.Albans Abbey being a "one train working" branch line with no passing loops. February 11, 1984. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 1st September 1986
A Class 104 DMU (M54181 and presumably 53539) arrives at Bedford working a service from Bletchley on 1 September 1986. Brian Creasey.
Date: unknown
Set number: L702
A study of L702 (presumably 53455 + 53539) at Gospel Oak. Date unknown. Tom Clift.
Date: April 1988
Set number: L702
L702 (53455 + 53539) seen at Southall working with Class 101 set L203 circa April 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 30th April 1990
Set number: L702
A Class 104 dmu (53455 + 53539) passes Leytonstone on a Gospel Oak-Barking train on 30 April 1990. Lewis Bevan.
Date: 8th November 1990
Set number: L701
L701 53437 + 53479, L705 53599 + 51572, L702 53539 + 53455 at St Pancras on the early morning ECS moves from Old Oak Common to Gospel Oak and Barking, 8-11-90. Kevin Dowd.
Date: 17th January 1995
Class 104 car 53477 together with 53539 withdrawn at Old Oak Common 17th January 1995. Ian Buck.