Vehicle 50541 / 53541
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
| 3w/e 17/05/58 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
| 4w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 21F (Ryecroft) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2G | |
| w/e 10/10/64 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) | |
| w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 6G (Llandudno Junction) | |
| w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| Dec-65 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | LO | |
| circa Feb-82 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
| 07/12/86 | Transferred to | CW (Cricklewood) | |
| 10/05/87 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
| 25/06/87 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 14/05/89 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) PCHX | |
| 23/10/89 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) PZQZ |
Notes
14/05/84 - For the opening of the new Bedford St Johns station 53541 / 56183 were turned out in immaculate condition, including white roof domes.
24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn at Chester depot
24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn in Chester station sidings
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50541 - original number
53541 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50541 | 56184 | As delivered to 5B - 3w/e 17/05/58 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56221 | Noted 22/12/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| LT311 | 50541 | 56184 | Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70 | ||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight1 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted 10/04/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted Sep-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted 25/07/1981 - working 1D38 09.59 Stockport - Llandudno and 1H29 14.40 Llandudno - Stockport2 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56184 | Noted circa 03/19822 | |||||||
| 50541 | 56182 | Noted circa 08/19822 | |||||||
| 53541 | 54182 | Noted circa 04/19832 | |||||||
| 53541 | 56183 | Noted 14/05/84 | |||||||
| 53541 | 54183 | Noted circa 07/19842 | |||||||
| 53541 | 54182 | Noted 21/07/85 | |||||||
| 53444 | 59206 | 53541 | Noted circa 06/19862 | ||||||
| 53541 | 54184 | Noted circa 06/19862 | |||||||
| 53444 | 59367 | 59206 | 53541 | Noted 21/11/86 - at Bedford Midland, both centre cars b/g3 | |||||
| 53541 | 53522 | Noted 12/12/19872 | |||||||
| 53541 | 53522 | Listed at NH - 1st January 1988 | |||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Listed at NH - March 1988 | ||||||
| 53541 | 53522 | Noted 15th March 1988 | |||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted circa 04/19882 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted 4th April 1988 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Listed at NH - May 1988 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Listed at NH - May-88 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Listed at NH - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted 6th September 1988 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted 18th September 1988 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted circa 11/19882 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted 12th April 1989 | ||||||
| N679 | 53541 | 53522 | Noted 10th May 1989 | ||||||
| CH616 | 53541 | 53522 | Listed at CH - 1st July 1989 | ||||||
| 53541 | 53522 | Noted 14/07/89 - at Penyffordd4 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Eddie Knorn
3: Gerald Brown
4: Aaron Calder
Images:
26th August 1961
A two-car BRC&W DMU forms the 4.18pm service to Walsall at Dudley on 26 August 1961. The DMBS is M50541, its partner is presumably M56184. Both vehicles have cab roof domes in a darker colour than the roof. Michael Mensing.
16th March 1984
M53541 and M54183 after arriving at Bedford St Johns with the 1202 from Bletchley on 16 March 1984. Eight weeks after this photo was taken this station was closed and a replacement with the same name was opened on the 14th May 1984 which allowed trains to continue into Bedford Midland station. Keith Long.
14th April 1984
M53541 leads a BRCW class 104 DMU into Bedford St Johns station on 14th April 1984. Paul James.
25th November 1984
53541 is seen at Leicester on the 25th November 1984. Dennis Taylor.
20th January 1986
Two Class 104 DMBS vehicles, 53541 closest, form the 2.00pm Barking - Gospel Oak service at Leytonstone High Road on January 20, 1986. Michael Mensing.
11th July 1986
With Kettering on the destination blind a Class 104 DMU formed of DMBS 53541, TSL 59206 and DMBS 53444 is seen in Watford Junction station with a St Albans Abbey branch service on 11 July 1986. Dave Warby.
4th September 1986
With two DMBSs (53541 closest and 53444 at the far end) this Class 104 DMU is seen at Watford Junction at 17:29 on 4 September 1986. The blue grey centre car is 59206. Dave Warby.
4th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed (l-r) 53541 + 59206 + 53444 at Watford Junction on 4 September 1986. Dave Warby.
13th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed of DMBS 53541, TSL 59206 and DMBS 53444 is seen in Bletchley station on 13 September 1986 with the 12:25 Bletchley-Wellingborough service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
24th October 1987
A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars 53541 & 53522 was awaiting departure from Bamber Bridge with a Colne to Preston service on October 24th 1987. The unit had been allocated to Bletchley in 1982 and had spells at Cricklewood and Old Oak Common, before being transferred back North to Newton Heath in June 1987 to cover for errant Class 142's. Just visible on the rear car (53522) is the Network South East branding. The set was finally withdrawn at Chester in July 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
9th May 1989
Set number: N679
A two car Newton Heath allocated BRC&W class 104 dmu N679 (53541, 53522), approaches New Mills South Junction whilst working a Sheffield-Manchester Piccadilly stopping service, over the Hope Valley line on 9th May 1989. Andrew J Crowther.
10th February 1990
53541 at Vic Berry's on the 10th February 1990. Nicholas Youngman.
29th April 1990
Remains of 53541, 20183, S76283 at Vic Berrys, Leicester, 29-4-90. Kevin Dowd.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 30th June 1984
BRCW Class 104 DTS M54183 with DMBS M53541 in Watford Junction station on 30 June 1984. Dave Warby.
Date: 4th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU with DMBS 53444 closest is seen at 17:29 at Watford Junction on 4 September 1986. DMBS 53541 is on the rear, the centre car is 59206. Dave Warby.
Date: 13th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed of 53444 + 59206 + 53541 seen in Bedford station with the 11:00 Bedford-Bletchley service on 13 September 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 24th October 1987
Complete with a Network South East logo on the bodyside, a Class 104 formed of cars 53522 & 53541 was stood at Lostock Hall with the 11.05 Blackpool South to Colne Service on October 24th 1987. The station here opened in 1984, replacing an earlier station situated on the other side of the bridge, which had closed in 1969. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: April 1988
Set number: N679
Class 104 set N679 with 53522 (still carrying Network South East branding at the rear from a previous allocation) and presumably 53541 at Stalybridge in April 1988 on what is probably a Stockport service. The KDH Archive.
Date: 16th April 1988
Set number: N679
53522 (and presumably 53541) is seen as part of N679 at Manchester Oxford Road on the 16th April 1988. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 20th July 1988
A scene in the east end bays at Manchester Victoria, around 16.25 on 20/7/88. Three cl.104 power-twins are seen, at work on Oldham Loop services that afternoon. The numbers of the cars visible are uncertain but the sets are thought to be 53476/53425, 53522/53541 and 53439/53492. Leonard Rogers.
Date: 15th September 1988
Set number: N679
Class 104 N679 (53522 + 53541) with another set at Manchester Victoria on 15/9/88. Rex Holt.
Date: 16th May 1989
Set number: N679
Resplendent in 1970's BR blue Newton Heath allocated set N679 comprising vehicles 53522+53541 is seen at Lancaster waiting to form train 2P73 the 13.17 to Morecambe on May 16, 1989. The train appears well loaded as the driver sits reading the paper waiting for the ready to start bell from the guard. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 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.
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.