Vehicle 50868 / 53868
Class 116
Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30363
Diagram: 553
Allocations
| 2w/e 14/06/58 | New to | 88A (Cardiff Cathays) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88B | |
| Mar-62 | Depot code change | 88M | |
| Oct-64 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | LA | |
| 3w/e 30/06/73 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| w/e 11/05/74 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| w/e 08/02/75 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 2w/e 10/05/75 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 3w/e 07/05/77 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| w/e 30/12/78 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 16/05/82 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 08/03/87 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50868 - original number
53868 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
4w/e 30/12/72 - Dual AWS fitted
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 02/12/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50868 | 59376 | 50921 | As delivered to 88A - 2w/e 14/06/58 | ||||||
| CAT353 | 50868 | 50921 | Listed at CAT - Jul-62 - and centre car | ||||||
| 50868 | 59376 | 50921 | Transfer to 84A - Oct-64 | ||||||
| 50868 | 50918 | Noted 19/08/67 - on Plymouth - Saltash shuttle, 50868 in green 50918 in blue with full yellow end | |||||||
| LA309 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | New set number at 84A - circa Feb-70 - was LA307 | |||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 12/08/70 - at Newton Abbot1 | ||||||
| LA309 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Listed at Laira - circa May-71 | |||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 13/11/71 - on Laira depot2 | ||||||
| P357 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 30/06/1973 - at Newport3 | |||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Transfer to BR - 3w/e 30/06/73 | ||||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 01/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads3 | ||||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 01/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads3 | ||||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Transfer to LA - w/e 11/05/74 | ||||||
| 50868 | 59538 | 50918 | Transfer to BR - w/e 08/02/75 | ||||||
| 50868 | 59538 | 50918 | Transfer to LA - 2w/e 10/05/75 | ||||||
| P357 | 50868 | 59538 | 50918 | Noted 27/08/75 - at Plymouth1 | |||||
| P357 | 50868 | 59538 | 50918 | Formation change - LA - circa Oct-75 | |||||
| P319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Listed at LA - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 07/09/76 - at Newton Abbott1 | |||||
| 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Transfer to CF - 3w/e 07/05/77 | ||||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 09/09/1977 - Cardiff Central4 | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 16/12/1977 - Barry - all vehicles carrying LA depot labels4 | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59365 | 50918 | Noted 02/01/1978 - Cardiff Central4 | |||||
| P319 | 50868 | 59504 | 50918 | Listed at LA - 03/03/80 | |||||
| P319 | 50868 | 59504 | 50918 | Listed at LA - 01/03/81 | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59371 | 50918 | Formation change - circa Aug-82 - may be running with centre car other than this official listing | |||||
| C319 | 50868 | 59371 | 50918 | Listed at CF - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| C319 | 53868 | 59371 | 53918 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
| C319 | 53868 | 59371 | 53918 | Noted 26/04/19865 | |||||
| C319 | 53868 | 59371 | 53918 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
18th January 1965
Set number: 509
An official image from the Swindon Works Accident series, negative 5AB/58. Derby suburban DMBS W50868 with cab damage, 18/1/65. The set number (LA)509 is chalked on the solebar in-between the brackets used to hold the set number plates. British Railways.
14th July 1975
Set number: P357
DMU set P357, a Class 116 with a Class 101 centre car (W50868 + W59538 + W50918), arrives at Topsham on the former Southern Railway Exmouth branch with a train from Exeter St Davids on 14 July 1975. Stuart Mackay Collection.
18th October 1975
Set number: P357
Saturday 18 October 1975, Barnstaple Junction. This 3-car Derby suburban dmu set P357 isn't all it seems, as the middle trailer is from a Metro-Cammell unit. Car numbers are W50868, W59538 and W50918. Mr Deltic.
18th October 1975
Set number: P357
Saturday 18 October 1975 - the front of 3-car Derby suburban dmu set P357 at Barnstaple Jct. This is Motor Brake Second W50868. Mr Deltic.
July 1979
Set number: P319
Two Class 116 sets at Torquay with a service bound for Exeter in July 1979. Closest is set P319 (and presumably DMBS 50868 + 59504 + 50918). John Jarvis.
13th July 1979
Set number: P319
P319 is seen arriving at Honiton, led by 50868 presumably with 59504 + 50918, with the evening Axminster to Exeter St. Davids. 13th July 1979. Neil Cannon.
19th March 1981
Set number: P319
Class 116 set P319 (W50868 closest, presumably with 59504 + 50918) on the 4.50pm Plymouth - Penzance service arriving into St. Budeaux on March 19, 1981. Michael Mensing.
19th March 1981
Set number: P319
W50868 in St. Budeaux station with the 4.50pm Plymouth - Penzance service aon March 19, 1981. Michael Mensing.
29th December 1983
Set number: C319
Class 116 DMU set C319 (W53868 + W59371 + W53918) in Cardiff Bute Road station with a service for Coryton on 29 December 1983. Brian Daniels.
29th December 1983
Set number: C319
Class 116 DMU set C319 (W53868 + W59371 + W53918) in Coryton station with a service to/from Cardiff Bute Road on 29 December 1983. Brian Daniels.
1984
Set number: C319
Set C319 at Llanishen - W53868 closest, presumably with W59371 + W53918 - early in 1984. Michael Mensing.
Unknown date
Set number: C319
Class 116 DMU set C319, presumably 53868 closest, Barry Island station, circa 1986. Brian Ward.
20th September 1986
Set number: C319
Class 116 DMU set C319 (presumably 53868 + 59371 + 53918) departs from Lydney with the 13:10 Cardiff - Gloucester service on 20 September 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 18th January 1965
An official image from the Swindon Works Accident series, negative 5AB/54. Left to right are W50868, W59269, W55019. 18/1/65. British Railways.
Date: 23rd July 1975
Set number: P357
On 23 July 1975 DMU set P357 (W50918 and presumably W59538 + W50868) is seen passing through the washing plant at Mount Gould, Plymouth Laira. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 15th June 1976
Set number: C319
Tue 15 Jun 1976 at 19:19. A 2-car Derby suburban dmu arrives at Coombe Jct with the 19:00 Looe-Liskeard. Set C319 consists of cars W50918 and W50868 - the set number is interesting as neither vehicle is recorded as having been allocated to Cardiff since 1964. Mr Deltic.
Date: July 1976
Set number: C319
Two-car Class 116 set C319 (presumably 50918 + 50868) at Bere Alston on a Plymouth to Gunnislake service, July 1976. John Jarvis.
Date: 1977
Set number: C319
Class 116 set C319 (presumably 50918 + 59365 + 50868) at Exmouth in 1977. Walter Burt.
Date: 3rd February 1979
Set number: P319
Class 116 set P319 with W50918 at the front, presumably with 59504 + 50868, is seen in Dawlish station on February 3rd, 1979. It had been a Cardiff set two months before, and was refurbished in November 1978. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1981
Set number: P319
Set P319 is a Class 116 with a 117 centre car (presumably 50918 + 59504 + 50868) seen at Exeter in 1981. Michael Mensing.
Date: 3rd July 1981
Set number: P319
Class 116 set P319, presumably 50918 + 59504 + 50868) is seen at Calstock on the Gunnislake branch, 3/7/81. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 4th August 1981
Set number: P319
P319 comprised 50918 and 50868 when seen at Newquay on 04/08/81. Shayne Lewis.
Date: 10th April 1982
Set number: P319
Class 116 set P319 (presumably 50918 + 59371 + 50868) at Barnstaple Junction on 10 April 1982. The following month the set was transferred to Cardiff where it remained until withdrawal. Rob Paterson.
Date: 24th April 1984
Set number: C319
British Rail 'Derby Suburban' set C319 (53918+59371+53868) is seen at the terminus station of Penarth waiting to depart north with train 2C83 the 11.30 to Merthyr Tydfil on 24/04/84. This station had become a single track branch from Cogan Junction after track rationalisation by British Rail which followed the closure of the section south from here via Sully to Cadoxton on 06/05/1968. The former down line track bed still being evident in the foreground. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 21st July 1984
Set number: C302
The 12:05 Barry Island - Rhymney service arrives into Cadoxton station on 21 July 1984. Leading is C302 (53128 + 59036 + 53086) and C319 (53868 + 59371 + 53918) is on the rear. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 21st July 1984
Set number: C319
A six-car DMU formation arrives into Cadoxton station on 21 July 1984. 53918 + 59371 + 53868 / 53086 + 59036 + 53128 are working the 10:19 Treherbet-Barry Island service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 29th July 1986
Set number: C319
Class 116 DMU set C319 (presumably 53918 + 59371 + 53868) in Barry station with the 17:13 Merthyr - Barry Island service on 29 July 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.