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Vehicle 50629 / 53629 / 977820

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30407
Diagram: 543

Allocations

w/e 21/02/59	New to	Chaddesden	- stored pending allocation
Jun-59	Transferred to	26A (Newton Heath)
Oct-59	Transferred to	27F (Brunswick)
11/09/61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)	- presume moved on closure of Brunswick
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J
06/05/73	Depot code change	AN
4w/e 10/07/76	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
11/05/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
15/06/86	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
10/05/87	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
p/e 08/06/88	Transferred to	CF (Cardiff Canton)
07/07/91	Transferred to	LA (Laira) PLAX
09/06/92	Withdrawn from	LA (Laira) RELA
18/09/92	To departmental stock	CF (Cardiff Canton)
Sep-93	Withdrawn

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50629 - original number
53629 - from 1983 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
977820 - from Oct-92 (departmental stock)

Department Use as TDB977820

Sandite / Route Learner From 10/92 to 9/93. Carried set number A / 923

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 24/09/1976 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50629	56215	As delivered to - w/e 21/02/59 - stabled at Chaddesden sidings, pending allocation
	50629	56215	Transfer to 27F - Oct-59
	50629	56495	Noted 04/06/71 - at Allerton¹
	50629	56212	Noted 27/08/73 - at Liverpool Lime Street¹
	50629	56494	Noted 02/09/73 - in Manchester Oxford Road²
	50629	56278	Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester³
	50629	56278	Noted 29/08/1974 - at Liverpool Lime Street⁴
	50629	56501	Transfer to LO - 4w/e 10/07/76
	50629	56501	Noted 21/08/1979 - at Manchester Piccadilly ⁴
LO299	50629	56267	Noted circa 05/1982⁵
LO299	50629	56267	Noted 31/05/1982⁵
LO299	50629	56267	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc⁵
	53629	54267	Noted circa 01/1984⁵
	53629	54267	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	53629	54267	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
B973	53629	54267	Listed at BR - Jun-87
B973	53629	54267	Listed at BR - Aug-87
B973	53629	54267	Listed at BR - Oct-87
B973	53629	54267	Listed at BR - 29/02/88
C973	53629	54267	Transfer to CF - circa May-88 - from BR was B973
B973	53629	54267	Noted 07/07/88 - dragged by 37050 on 2B86 1854 Chepstow - Cardiff
C973	53629	54267	Noted 02/09/88 - on 11:55 Cardiff - Chepstow
C973	53629	54267	Listed at CF - 15/05/89
	53629	54267	Noted 08/03/90 - on 11:00 Coryton - Radyr⁶
C973	53629	54267	Noted 23/03/90 - at Cardiff Central
C973	53629	54267	Noted circa 04/1990⁵
P956	53629		Listed at LA - Dec-91
923	977820	977821	Listed at CF - 08/11/93 - sandite, Penzance, set A

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
6: David Bellamy

Images:

circa February 1959

An official image (Derby Works negative 59/54) of a two-car Derby Lightweight (blue square) posed on the Wirksworth branch, circa February 1959. The vehicles are DMBS M50629 and DTCL M56215. They would initially be stored at Chaddesden Sidings 'pending allocation', then transferred to Newton Heath in June 1959 to begin their working life. British Railways.

1986

A Class 108 DMU in Wigan Wallgate station circa spring 1986. The DMBS closest seems to be 53629 judging by the remnants of the vehicle number written on the front. It was a Newton Heath vehicle until the May timetable change that year when it moved to Tyseley. Brian Ward.

2nd September 1988

Set number: C973

Class 108 set C973 (M53629 + M54267) in Cardiff Central with the 11:55 Cardiff - Chepstow service on 2nd September 1988. Hamish Stevenson.

October 1988

Set number: C973

Class 108 DMU set C973 (53629 + 54267) in Newport station with a Cheltenham - Cardiff service in October 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

10th October 1992

Set number: A

Sandite set A (977820 + 977821) on the up centre road at Cardiff Central on 10 October 1992. The vehicles were formerly 53629 + 52059. Robert Thomas.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: May 1988

Set number: B973

Carrying Bristol set number B973, this is presumably 54267 + 53629 which were transferred to Cardiff about this time. They sit in platform 6 at Crewe station, having worked up from Hereford with the first service of the day. I had worked it up from Hereford and would work it back all stations to Shrewsbury, where I would stable it in Abbey Foregate sidings. The photo was taken sometime between 2nd and 7th May 1988 as I worked the turn for the week. Paul James.

Date: 20th February 1989

Set number: C973

Departing from Newport on 20 February 1989 is two-car Class 108 DMU set C973 (54267 and presumably 53629) working the 13:55 Cardiff Central - Chepstow service. Robert Thomas.

Date: 23rd March 1990

Set number: C973

C973 (54267 + 53629) at Cardiff Central 23 March 1990 being passed by 37 702. Sparegang.

Date: 15th December 1990

Set number: C973

The 11:15 to Chepstow departs from Cardiff Central on 15 December 1990. It is formed of two-car Class 108 DMU set C973 containing 54267 and presumably 53629. Robert Thomas.

Date: 20th July 1991

Set number: 879

51435 + 52059 and 53629 + 52053 departing from Exeter St Davids station on 20 July 1991. Keith Miller.

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