Vehicle 50643 / 53643
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: 30408
Diagram: 544
Allocations
| 28/10/58 | New to | 53C (Hull Springhead) | |
| 30/11/58 | Transferred to | 53B (Hull Botanic Gardens) | - (53C closed) |
| w/e 03/01/59 | Transferred to | 56G (Hammerton Street) | |
| 3w/e 19/03/60 | Transferred to | 51A (Darlington) | |
| 3w/e 24/11/62 | On loan to | 18A (Toton) | |
| 3w/e 29/12/62 | Ex-loan back to | 51A (Darlington) | |
| 3w/e 02/03/63 | On loan to | 40A (Lincoln) | |
| 07/04/63 | Ex-loan back to | 51A (Darlington) | |
| 2w/e 31/10/64 | Transferred to | South Gosforth | |
| 28/02/65 | Transferred to | 51A (Darlington) | |
| w/e 05/03/66 | Transferred to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| 3w/e 30/04/66 | Transferred to | 64H (Leith Central) | |
| 3w/e 17/06/67 | On loan to | South Gosforth | |
| 4w/e 15/07/67 | Transferred to | South Gosforth | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | GF | |
| w/e 07/11/76 | Transferred to | NL (Neville Hill) | |
| 13/05/84 | Transferred to | BG (Hull Botanic Gardens) | |
| 04/10/87 | Transferred to | NL (Neville Hill) | |
| 20/12/87 | Transferred to | ED (Eastfield) | |
| 11/07/88 | Transferred to | HA (Haymarket) | |
| 14/05/89 | Transferred to | LE (Swansea Landore) PLEX | |
| 28/02/92 | Withdrawn from | LE (Swansea Landore) PLEX |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50643 - original number
53643 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Nov-74 - AWS fitted
Refurbished
At Doncaster Works dated 09/12/1976 released in white/blue stripe livery50643 was involved in the following incident:
Summer 1979 - York, ER
Split Points involving Class 108
Info from Peter Mullen
E50643 slipped the points just south of York station. More Details.
Disposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50621 | 59387 | 50643 | As delivered to 53C - 28th October 1958 | ||||||
| 50621 | 59389 | 50643 | Transfer to 18A - 3w/e 24/11/62 | ||||||
| 50621 | 59389 | 50643 | Transfer to 51A - 3w/e 29/12/62 - ex-loan LMR | ||||||
| 50620 | 59386 | 50643 | Transfer to 40A - 3w/e 02/03/63 - on loan from NER | ||||||
| 50620 | 59386 | 50643 | Transfer to 51A - 07/04/63 - ex-loan ER | ||||||
| 50621 | 59389 | 50643 | Transfer to 52J - 2w/e 31/10/64 | ||||||
| 50621 | 59389 | 50643 | Transfer to 51A - 28/02/65 | ||||||
| 50632 | 59387 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 02/06/1973 - at Newcastle1 | |||||
| 50632 | 59387 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 19/04/74 - at Leeds2 | |||||
| 50632 | 59387 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 05/08/1974 - at Newcastle 3 | |||||
| N421 | 50632 | 59246 | 59387 | 50643 | Noted 24/08/75 - on South Gosforth depot, set number three vehicles not 506434 | ||||
| 50632 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 31/12/76 - at Leeds2 | ||||||
| 50632 | 59387 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 21/02/77 - at Doncaster2 | |||||
| 50632 | 59387 | 59246 | 50643 | Noted 11/03/1978 - BLS South Humberside Railtour 50632-59387-59246-50643 + 50155-56394 | |||||
| 53632 | 59246 | 59385 | 53643 | Noted 16/07/83 - on 14:45 Hull - Leeds | |||||
| 53614 | 59246 | 53643 | Noted circa 10/19835 | ||||||
| 53632 | 59385 | 59246 | 53643 | Noted 19/02/85 - at Doncaster4 | |||||
| 53632 | 59246 | 53643 | Noted 20/10/19865 | ||||||
| 50643 | 59387 | 59246 | 50632 | Noted circa 01/19875 | |||||
| 53630 | 59113 | 53643 | Noted 22/11/87 | ||||||
| 53630 | 59113 | 53643 | Noted 19th December 1987 | ||||||
| 108385 | 51925 | 53643 | Listed at ED - Jan-88 | ||||||
| 108385 | 51925 | 59710 | 53643 | Formation change - circa Mar-88 | |||||
| 385 | 51925 | 59710 | 53643 | Noted circa 05/19885 | |||||
| 108385 | 51925 | 59710 | 53643 | Listed at HA - circa August 1988 | |||||
| S945 | 51925 | 53643 | Listed at LE - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| S945 | 51925 | 53643 | Listed at LE - Jul-91 | ||||||
| S950 | 53926 | 53643 | Listed at LE - Aug-91 | ||||||
| S950 | 53926 | 53643 | Listed at LE - Dec-91 |
Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
circa 1977
A four-car refurbished Class 108 DMU arrives into York station circa 1977. The DMSL closest appears to be E50643. George Woods.
1979
E50643 can't decide which way it wants to go, but if it had travelled much further the Wickham set might have had a dented cab. Just south of York station, summer 1979. Peter Mullen.
1979
E50643 in trouble! Just south of York station, summer 1979. Peter Mullen.
13th August 1980
The lower bodyside of E50643 - seen at Leeds on 13 August 1980 - show how white wasn't the best colour for a DMU. Note the reflection of the Class 104. Stuart Mackay Collection.
16th July 1983
Class 108 Derby 4-car DMU 53643 + 59385 + 59246 + 53632 in the formation of the 14-45 to Leeds at Hull Paragon on 16-7-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
28th August 1985
A four-car Class 108 DMU is not a bad way to traverse the Settle & Carlisle line. A southbound working is caught here at Blea Moor in the summer of 1985. The train will shortly cross Ribblehead viaduct. The closest two vehicles appear to be E53643 + E59250. Andrew Walker.
30th December 1987
A set formed of 53643 + 59113 + 53630 is seen in platform 4b of Leeds station on December 30, 1987. Rex Holt.
11th August 1988
Set number: 385
Class 108 DMSl 53643 hides behind 08 620 at Stirling on 11 August 1988. Andrew Malloy.
29th September 1988
Set number: 385
53643 at Perth on September 29, 1988, presumably working with 59710 + 51925. John Carter.
21st May 1989
Set number: S945
Class 108 DMU set S945 on Cardiff Canton depot on 21 May 1989 with DMSL E53643 closest. The vehicles had just been transferred to Landore from the Scottish Region, the E prefix predated that. Stuart Mackay Collection.
14th October 1989
Set number: S945
The Monmouthshire Railway Society "Robeston Rumbler' railtour on 14 October 1989 formed of 2 x 3-car class 108 DMU's (sets S942 & S945) is seen during a leg stretch / photo stop at Haverfordwest. The tour had started from Newport (Gwent) at 09.05 but spent the whole day in West Wales covering the freight lines to Velindre, Waterston, Robeston and Trecwn. It was also advertised to traverse what was available of the line onto Fishguard breakwater but on the day the track was deemed in to poor a condition and the tour turned back at Fishguard Harbour North Ground Frame barely the length of the train north of the Harbour station. Adrian Nicholls.
14th October 1989
Set number: S945
The Monmouthshire Railway Society ran the 'Robeston Rumbler' tour of West Wales on 14th October 1989. It is seen at Cynheidre, with 53643, set S 945, nearest. The other vehicles should be 59380 + 51925 and 51928 + 59382 + 52044 (S942). Rob Paterson.
early 1990
Set number: S945
Seen arriving at Shrewsbury from south Wales early in 1990 is Swansea allocated class 108 unit S945 with car 53643 leading. Bob Belcher.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: unknown
BLS South Humberside Railtour at Barton on Humber on Saturday 11/03/78, containing 50632 + 59387 + 59246 + 50643 / 56394 + 50155. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
A two-car Class 101 (E50155 + E56394) and a four-car Class 108 (E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632) at Retford with the Branch Line Society "South Humberside Railtour" railtour on 11th March 1978. Walter Burt.
Date: 11th March 1978
BLS South Humberside Railtour at Barton on Humber on Saturday 11/03/78, containing E50155 + E56394 and a four-car Class 108 E50643 + E59246 + E59387 + E50632. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
Looking back from 50632 towards E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 + E50155 working the BLS South Humberside Railtour as it passes Carcroft Junction on 11 March 1978. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The BLS South Humberside Railtour at Louth on 11 March 1978. The vehicles were E50155 + E56394 and E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The BLS South Humberside Railtour in New Holland Pier station on 11 March 1978. It was formed of E50155 + E56394 and E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
Looking from 50632 towards E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 working the BLS South Humberside Railtour on the Retford Curve on 11 March 1978. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
Looking from 50632 towards E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 + E50155 working the BLS South Humberside Railtour on the Retford Curve on 11 March 1978. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The BLS South Humberside Railtour arriving at Retford on 11 March 1978. In view are E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 + E50155. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The BLS South Humberside Railtour in Retford station on 11 March 1978. It was formed of E50632 + E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 + E50155. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
Brief break at Barton-on-Humber. On 11th March 1978 the Branch Line Society ran the “South Humberside” railtour taking a DMU around some freight lines in the Doncaster area, then on to New Holland Pier then Louth. Here 50632 + 59387 + 59246 + 50643 / 56394 + 50155 are seen at the end of the line at Barton-on-Humber, 11th March 1978, with the sidings not having seen any use for many years. Murray Liston.
Date: 11th March 1978
Peering over the Humber. On 11th March 1978 the Branch Line Society ran the “South Humberside” railtour taking a DMU around some freight lines in the Doncaster area, then on to New Holland Pier then Louth. The usual scramble to get a photo of the railtour at New Holland Pier. The set was formed of a two car Metro Cammell 101 and 4 car Derby class 108 (E50155 + E56394 and E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632), both in the short lived white / blue stripe livery. Murray Liston.
Date: 11th March 1978
The view from 50632 towards E59387 + E59246 + E50643 and E56394 + E50155 working the BLS South Humberside Railtour at New Holland Pier on 11 March 1978. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The BLS South Humberside Railtour from Louth North Signal Box on 11 March 1978. The vehicles were E50155 + E56394 and E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632. Alistair Ness.
Date: 11th March 1978
The Branch Line Society "South Humberside Railtour" is seen at Barton-on-Humber on 11 March 1978. The vehicles were E50155 + E56394 and E50643 + E59387 + E59246 + E50632. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 11th March 1978
On 11 March 1978, the Branch Line Society "South Humberside" railtour took a six-car dmu formation from Sheffield to New Holland, Barton on Humber and Louth among other places, and this latter location is where this shot was taken. Visible are E50155 + E56394 and E50643. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 12th December 1987
A two-car Class 111 set and a 108/101/108 hybrid formed 53643 + 59113 + 53630 are seen at Barnsley on 12/12/87 working the 13:53 Leeds - Sheffield service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 29th September 1988
Set number: 385
Set 385, led by Class 108 51925 (and presumably with 59710 + 53643) arrived into Broughty Ferry on September 29th, 1988. John Carter.
Date: 14th October 1989
Set number: S945
A view from the 'Robeston Rumbler' tour of West Wales on 14th October 1989. Taken whilst heading through Fishguard Harbour towards the extremity of the shunt, thought to be from the van of 51925 looking towards 59380 and 53643. Rob Paterson.
Date: 14th October 1989
Set number: S942
Class 108 DMU sets S945 (53643 + 59380 + 51925) & S942 (51928 + 59382 + 52044) are seen at Haverfordwest during a photostop while working the Monmouthshire Railway Society 'Robeston Rumbler' railtour. The tour started out of Newport at 09.05 and covered various branches in West Wales like Velindre Tinplate Works, Cynheidre Colliery, Waterston Refinery, Robeston Refinery, RNAD Trecwn and Fishguard Harbour. Adrian Nicholls.