Vehicle 50647 / 53647
Class 120
Builder: BR Swindon Works
Layout: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30334
Diagram: 586
Allocations
| 4w/e 30/11/57 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| 2w/e 06/12/80 | Transferred to | DY (Derby Etches Park) | |
| Jan-86 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| Mar-86 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| Feb-87 | Stored U. | FY (Falkland Yard) | |
| 19/03/87 | Withdrawn from | AY (Ayr) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50647 - original number
53647 - from May-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
4w/e 30/12/72 - Dual AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50696 | 59255 | 50647 | As delivered to - | ||||||
| CTN500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | |||||
| CTN500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 22/02/1971 - at Crewe1 | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 21/08/1971 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 23/08/1971 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 25/08/1971 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 26/08/1971 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 29/04/1972 - Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society Sospan Fach Railtour | ||||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 30/06/1973 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 01/08/73 - on 2M67 0755 Cardiff-Crewe with C125 (55025) | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 03/09/73 - at Shrewsbury3 | |||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 30/08/1974 - at Newport2 | ||||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 03/09/74 - at Cardiff3 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 24/05/75 - on 2B35 (train unknown) with C346 + B559 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 26/08/75 - On Cardiff Canton depot3 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 25/02/76 - on 2C40 0710 Cardiff-Swansea | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 26/02/76 - on 2C39 0910 Pembroke Dock-Swansea | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 03/03/76 - on 2C24 1106 Bristol TM-Cardiff | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 29/05/76 - on 13.14 Bristol TM – Cardiff Central with 51075 + 59434 + 511034 | ||||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 19/09/76 - on 1O69 1240 Cardiff-Salisbury with C610 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 05/10/76 - on 2C00 0605 Bristol TM-Cardiff | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 29/01/77 - on 2C84 1715 Swansea-Milford Haven | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 07/10/77 - on 1A71 1355 Cardiff-Bristol TM with B462 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 15/12/1977 - Cardiff Central5 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 06/01/1978 - Cardiff Central5 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 27/08/1978 - West Wales Area5 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| C500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted 27/10/1980 - At Cardiff Central5 | |||||
| 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Transfer to DY - 2w/e 06/12/80 | ||||||
| EP500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Listed at DY - circa Jun-82 | |||||
| EP500 | 50705 | 59265 | 50647 | Noted circa 06/19826 | |||||
| EP500 | 50647 | 59265 | 50705 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc, on CLC line working to Chester6 | |||||
| 53705 | 59102 | 53647 | Noted circa 12/19836 | ||||||
| 53705 | 59102 | 53647 | Noted 20/06/84 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| 53705 | 59102 | 53647 | Noted circa 07/19856 | ||||||
| 53742 | 59268 | 53647 | Formation change - DY - Aug-85 | ||||||
| 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Formation change - DY - circa Sep-85 | ||||||
| 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Noted circa 10/19856 | ||||||
| 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Noted 15/11/85 - on 09:22 Derby - Crewe service7 | ||||||
| TS400 | 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | New set number at TS - Jan-86 - number never carried | |||||
| 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Noted 19/01/86 - on 18:35 Crewe - Grantham running 19 late7 | ||||||
| TS400 | 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Noted 12/02/19866 | |||||
| TS400 | 53738 | 59262 | 53647 | Noted 18/02/19866 | |||||
| 518 | 53741 | 59063 | 53647 | Noted 5th June 1986 | |||||
| 518 | 53741 | 59063 | 53647 | Listed at Ayr - August 1986 | |||||
| 53741 | 59063 | 53647 | Noted 7th August 1986 | ||||||
| 518 | 53741 | 59063 | 53647 | Noted 9th August 1986 | |||||
| 53741 | 59063 | 53647 | Noted 5th September 1986 | ||||||
| 51269 | 59793 | 53647 | Noted 26th September 1986 | ||||||
| 51269 | 59793 | 53647 | Noted 8th October 1986 | ||||||
| 105552 | 51269 | 59793 | 53647 | Formed circa Dec-86 |
Formation Sources
1: Peter Wallwork
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Phil Shatford
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn
7: Martin Baumann
Images:
June 1961
A Swindon Cross Country DMU, closest seems at be W50647, with a Cardiff service at Widney Manor in late June 1961. Michael Mensing.
7th June 1965
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU (the DMSL seems to be W50647) at the site of Llanvihangel station (Monmouthshire, on the Welsh Marches Line between Hereford and Abergavenny) on 7 June 1965. Michael Mensing.
5th October 1968
The Warwickshire Railway Society South Wales Railtour No.3 is seen at Blawa. The tour ran from Newport High Street on the 5th October 1968. DMS W50647 is closest. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1976
Set number: C500
Swindon Cross-Country set C500 passes Clink Road in 1976, the leading car should be W50647. Steve Davies Collection.
1979
Set number: C500
Set C500 at Pembroke Dock in 1979, the leading car should be W50647. John Law.
Unknown date
A Class 120 DMU departing from Chesterfield station, date unknown. DMSL M50647 is closest. Paul Redmond.
August 1986
A Class 120/101 hybrid set (probably 53647 + 59063 + 53741) prepares to head north from Girvan, August 1986. Andrew McConnell.
August 1986
A Class 120 DMS - probably 53647 - is seen at Girvan in August 1986. Andrew McConnell.
6th December 1986
A Class 120-107-105 combination departs Kilmarnock with the 11.45 to Glasgow Central on 06-12-1986. The best (or worst) example of a 'Frankenstein' dmu set - blue/grey 53647, orange / black 59793, plain blue 51269 - listed as set 105552. Gordon Thomson.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 29th April 1972
Set number: C500
Swindon Cross-Country set C500 (presumably 50705 + 59265 + 50647) at the entrance to Abernant Colliery; working the Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society 'Sospan Fach' railtour on 29th April 1972. Walter Burt.
Date: 28th March 1978
Set number: C500
Motor Brake Composite W50705 was built at Swindon Works and entered service at Cardiff in 1957. It was still allocated to Cardiff when seen at Worcester Shrub Hill bound for Hereford on 28 March 1978. The other two vehicles in set C500 are presumably 59265 and 50647. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 23rd June 1980
Set number: C500
Swindon Cross-Country DMU set C500 (W50705 and presumably 59265 + 50647) on the 16:10 Swansea-Pembroke Dock service pass 08 354 at Old Castle Crossing, Llanelli, on 23 June 1980. Robert Thomas.
Date: 1st June 1983
A three-car Swindon / Met-Camm hybrid DMU at Leicester in 1 June 1983. Closest is M50703, possibly with 59102 and 53647. Walter Burt.
Date: 22nd March 1986
A very wet 22nd March 1986 in the depot yard at Shields, Glasgow. Recently transferred from Newton Heath and Derby respectively were Class 120 Swindon Cross Country DMCLs 53666 and 53647 respectively, both with engines removed. A third 120 vehicle is behind. Alongside Strathclyde PTE-liveried 303071 was 47578 of Eastfield depot. Taken during an organised visit, some party members visible to the right. Gordon Edgar.
Date: 29th July 1986
Set number: 120518
A mixed 3 car DMU set, 120518, crosses the River Clyde and approaches Glasgow Central terminus on the afternoon of 29th July 1986. Leading is Class 120 DMSL 53647 with CL101 TSL 59063 in the middle of the set and Cl 120 DMBS 53741 bringing up the rear. All 3 vehicles would be scrapped at Snailwell by January 1988. Bob Woolnough.
Date: summer 1986
Set number: 518
A Class 120/101 hybrid DMU set formed of 53741 + 59063 + 53647 is seen in Girvan station after arriving with the 10:00 from Glasgow Central in summer 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: August 1986
Set number: 518
Hybrid set 518 at Girvan in 1986. The closest two vehicles are 53741 and 59063, the furthest is probably 53647. Andrew McConnell.
Date: 6th December 1986
A Hybrid 105/107/120 set heads away from Kilmarnock with the 11:45 to Glasgow Central on December 6th, 1986. Formed of 51269 + 59793 + 53647, they were listed as set 105552. Gordon Thomson.
Date: circa early 1987
Set number: 552
A tri-coloured unit, with a Cravens car at the buffers. Note the scrawled (or taped on?) unit number. Glasgow Central, circa late 1986 or early 1987. The vehicles are presumably 51269 (class 105) + 59793 (class 107) + 53647 (class 120). Ian Docwra.