Vehicle 50649 / 53649
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 25/01/58 | New to | 86C (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88A | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 86A | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| 20/06/82 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
| by Mar-85 | On loan to | DY (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 13/05/85 | Transferred to | DY (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 02/02/86 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| 09/03/86 | Transferred to | AY (Ayr) | |
| p/e 23/11/86 | Withdrawn from | AY (Ayr) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50649 - original number
53649 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
p/e 09/09/72 - Dual AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| CDF502 | 50698 | 59264 | 50649 | Noted Feb-62 | |||||
| 50698 | 50649 | Noted Aug-68 - at Shrewsbury1 | |||||||
| CTN602 | 50698 | 50649 | Listed at 86A - May-70 | ||||||
| CTN602 | 50698 | 50649 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot1 | ||||||
| 50698 | 50649 | Noted 25/08/1974 - at Carmarthen2 | |||||||
| 50698 | 50649 | Noted 30/08/1974 - at Newport2 | |||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 08/10/74 - on 2B36 1415 Cardiff-Weston SM | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 21/12/74 - on 0910 Bristol TM-Cardiff with B574 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 27/03/75 - on 22M67 1510 Cardiff-Crewe with C501 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 12/01/77 - on 2C74 1605 Swansea-Pembroke Dock with C511 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 07/09/77 - at Shrewsbury1 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 02/07/1978 - Swansea Area3 | ||||||
| C502 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 23/08/1978 - Cardiff Central3 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 16/04/1979 - At Llanelli Station3 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 30/08/1980 - Landore Depot open day shuttle from Swansea | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 50649 | Noted 25/10/1980 - At Shrewsbury Station3 | ||||||
| C602 | 50698 | 59535 | 50649 | Noted circa 10/1982 - operating from Newton Heath4 | |||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 27/05/1983 - at Shrewsbury on 14:40 to Chester5 | ||||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted circa 12/19834 | ||||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 28/03/1984 - at Chester4 | ||||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 22/03/19854 | ||||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 23/08/1985 - at Derby6 | ||||||
| TS401 | 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | New set number at TS - Jan-86 - set number never applied | |||||
| 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 17/01/86 - on 09:22 Derby - Crewe service7 | ||||||
| TS401 | 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Noted 13/02/19864 | |||||
| 507 | 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | New set number at AY - Mar-86 | |||||
| 507 | 53698 | 59535 | 53649 | Listed at Ayr - Summer 1986 | |||||
| 53461 | 59791 | 53649 | Noted 6th June 1986 | ||||||
| 522 | 53744 | 59524 | 53649 | Noted 4th August 1986 | |||||
| 522 | 53744 | 59784 | 53649 | Listed at Ayr - August 1986 | |||||
| 104452 | 53461 | 59791 | 53649 | Formation change - p/e 17/09/86 | |||||
| spare | 53649 | Formation change - circa Oct-86 | |||||||
| 53649 | Noted 11/10/1986 - at Ayr Depot4 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Shayne Lewis
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Peter Wallwork
6: Robert Chilton
7: Martin Baumann
Images:
30th December 1957
A Swindon Works image (negative 5CR 82) showing the interior of brand new Cross-Country Driving Motor Second W50649 on 30 December 1957. This is taken from the cab end looking to the rear of the vehicle. This, and half the centre saloon, had "airline" seats, all facing the cab, the rest of the vehicle had seating in groups of four. British Railways.
30th December 1957
A Swindon Works image (negative 5CR 83) showing the interior of brand new Cross-Country Driving Motor Second W50649 on 30 December 1957. This is taken from rear of the vehicle looking towards the cab. British Railways.
1st July 1961
Am SLS Special DMU train under Fforchdwm Viaduact at Garth Tonmawr on 1st July 1961. Image by Derek Chaplin. Now this is a very obscure location to find a DMU in South Wales, the line to Garth Tonmawr colliery. Fforchdwm viaduct built in 1840 to carry the Glyncorrwg Mineral Railway across the Plenna Valley. Apparently, it was blown up by the Army on 14/07/1979 as it was too dangerous a structure. It does not look too safe here in 1961. Peter Brabham Collection.
14th May 1966
The 2.50pm Shrewsbury - Llanelly service heads away from the camera after departing from Penybont Halt on 14 May 1966. DMSL W50649 is closest, presumably with DMBC W50698. Michael Mensing.
mid-1973
Set number: C602
Class 120 DMU set C602 (W50649 and presumably W50698) is seen three miles north of Craven Arms in mid-1973. Michael Mensing.
30th August 1980
Set number: C602
Formed of 50649 + 50698 Class 120 set C602 is seen at Swansea on 30/8/80. It was working shuttles to the Landore open day. Chris Lings.
30th August 1980
Set number: C602
W50698 from Class 120 set C602 in Swansea Landore depot with an open day shuttle to High Street station on 30 August 1980. Robert Thomas.
30th August 1980
Set number: C602
Class 120 DMU set C602 (W50649 + W50698) in Swansea Landore depot with an open day shuttle to High Street station on 30 August 1980. Paul Redmond.
6th September 1980
On the right W50649 leading two two-car Class 120s on the 08.40 Milford Haven-Swansea is about to pass W51579 leading two three-car Class 120s on the 10.10 Swansea-Shrewsbury at Loughor on 6 September 1980. Robert Thomas.
May 1981
Set number: C602
2 x 2-car class 120 DMU's with set C602 (presumably 50649 + 50698) leading set C605 call at Llandrindod Wells on the Central Wales line with the 10.46 Shrewsbury to Swansea in May 1981. Adrian Nicholls.
27th May 1981
Set number: C602
Under leaden skies 2-Car class 120 DMU set no.C602 (50649+50698) leads a 2x2-car class 120 formation into Llandrindod Wells on 27/05/81 with train 2V93 the 10.46 Shrewsbury to Swansea. These units were fitted with headlights specifically for this lengthy single line through Mid-Wales many years before it became standard on BR traction. Adrian Nicholls.
1st August 1981
Set number: C602
W50649 (C602) at Shrewsbury on the 1st August 1981. Chris Lings.
5th March 1985
A Class 120/101 hybrid DMU (closest appears to be 53649) stabled at Lincoln St Marks on 5 March 1985. An image from the Jim Freebury Slide Collection. David Page.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 14th May 1966
The 2.50pm Shrewsbury - Llanelly service heads away from Penybont Halt on 14 May 1966. The rear vehicle is DMSL W50649, the DMBC is presumably W50698. Michael Mensing.
Date: 11th February 1978
Set number: C602
Two-car Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 DMU set C602 (presumably 50698 + 50649) are seen heading to Swansea at Cockett on 11 February 1978. Robert Thomas.
Date: 30th August 1980
Set number: C602
Class 120 DMU set C602 (W50698 + W50649) in Swansea Landore depot with an open day shuttle to High Street station on 30 August 1980. Paul Redmond.
Date: 6th September 1980
Set number: C558
On the right W51579 of set C558 leads the 10.10 Swansea-Shrewsbury past the 08.40 Milford Haven-Swansea which has W50649 at the far end at Loughor on 6 September 1980. Robert Thomas.
Date: circa summer 1986
Set number: 104452
A hybrid DMU in Kilwinning station circa summer 1986. Closest is Class 104 DMBS 53461, the other two vehicles are presumably Class 107 59791 and Class 120 53649. Brian Ward.