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Vehicle 50900 / 53900

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: 30364
Diagram: 554

Allocations

w/e 01/03/58	New to	88A (Cardiff Cathays)
Jan-61	Depot code change	88B
Mar-62	Depot code change	88M
Nov-64	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
3w/e 30/04/72	Transferred to	86A (Cardiff Canton)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CF
06/09/87	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
10/03/88	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
12/06/88	Withdrawn from	CH (Chester)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50900 - original number
53900 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

4w/e 02/03/74 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 17/04/76 - WR AWS removed

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 22/10/1976 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50847	59355	50900	As delivered to Cathays - w/e 01/03/58
CAT333	50847	50900		Listed at CAT - Jul-62 - and centre car
	50847	59352	50900	Transfer to 84A - Nov-64
LA308	50847	59352	50900	Noted circa Mar-68 - in plain blue with full yellow ends
LA310	50847	59352	50900	circa Feb-70 84A - Same formation, renumbered from LA308
L310	50847	59352	50900	Listed at Laira - circa May-71
	50847	50900		Transfer to 86A - 3w/e 30/04/72
	50847	59040	50900	Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff¹
C354	50847	59040	50900	Noted 26/08/75 - On Cardiff Canton depot²
C313	50847	59040	50900	Listed at CF - 01/05/1976
C313	50847	59040	50900	Noted 06/08/1976 - at Cardiff Central³
C313	50847	59040	50900	Noted 15/12/1977 - Cardiff Central⁴
C313	50847	59040	50900	Noted 16/12/1977 - Barry⁴
C313	50847	59040	50900	Listed at CF - 31st December 1977
C313	50847	59040	50900	Listed at CF - 03/03/80
C313	50847	59040	50900	Listed at CF - 15/12/1982
C313	53847	59040	53900	Noted circa 09/1983⁵
C313	53847	59040	53900	Listed at CF - 01/01/85
C313	53847	59040	53900	Listed at CF - Summer 1986
C313	53847	59040	53900	Noted 31/01/1987⁵
C313	53847	59040	53900	Noted 05/05/87 - at Cardiff on 13:57 to Rhymney
C313	53847	59040	53900	Listed at CF - Aug-87

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn

Images:

29th June 1969

Derby suburban DMS W50900 in Liskeard station after arriving with the 13:10 (SuO) from Looe on 29 June 1969. Robert Thomas.

29th June 1969

W50900 leads a Class 116 DMU into Liskeard station with the 13:20 (SuO) from Looe on 29 June 1969. Robert Thomas.

29th March 1972

Set number: P354

An ex-Kingswear service passing along the Teignmouth sea wall on 29 March 1972. It's formed a Class 116 set P354, the power cars are presumably 50900 and 50847, they would be transferred to Cardiff very soon after. Stuart Mackay Collection.

circa 1975

Set number: C354

Class 116 DMU set C354 (presumably 50847 + 59040 + 50900) arrives into Cardiff General circa 1975. Tony Watson.

Unknown date

Set number: C313

Class 116 DMU set C313 (50900 and presumably 59040 + 50847) seen at Cardiff, date unknown. Paul Redmond.

8th August 1986

Set number: C313

53128 (C302) and 53900 (C313 presumably with 59040 + 53847) sit side by side in Barry station, 8/8/86. Steve Davies Collection.

20th June 1987

Set number: C313

C313 (53900 + 59040 + 53847) at Treherbert with the 10:14 to Cardiff Central on the 20th June 1987. Gazza Prescott.

4th August 1987

Set number: C313

C313 (W53900 + W59040 + W53847) inside a very clean and tidy Cardiff Canton depot on August 4th, 1987. Hamish Stevenson.

19th August 1987

Set number: C313

C313 (presumably W53900 + W59040 + W53847) heads out of Radyr on August 19, 1987. Colin Brooks.

13th October 1987

Set number: C313

Class 116 DMS 53900 in Newcastle station on 13 October 1987. It carries Valley Train markings and set number C313 from its previous allocation to Cardiff, it moved to the north-east to cover for Pacer problems. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: June 1973

Set number: C354

Class 116 set C354 (presumably 50847 + 59040 + 50900) at Treherbert Rhondda in June 1973. It had been transferred from Laira to Cardiff Canton the previously year, which should explain the C stuck in the set number. Peter Brabham.

Date: 27th April 1974

Set number: C354

This is the sort of shot that's nearly impossible to take with modern rolling stock. DMU set C354 (presumably 50847 + 59040 + 50900) is leaving the single line section south of Abercynon with the 15.50 Merthyr-Barry Island, while C301 (presumably 51149 + 59446 + 51136) waits with the 15.05 from Barry Island to Merthyr. Some interesting reflections. April 27, 1974. Tom Burnham.

Date: 13th February 1977

Set number: C313

Class 116 set C313 (presumably 50847 + 59040 + 50900) grinds up the Rhondda from Pontypridd with a Sunday service from Penarth to Treherbert approaching Trehafod. 13/2/1977. Stephen Burdett.

Date: 6th August 1979

Set number: C313

On 6th August 1979, car no. W50847 was only three weeks out of works, hence its smart appearance. My notes for the day quote it as working the 12.45 Cardiff - Merthyr & 14.00 return, but this latter service appears to be a through train to Barry Island if the destination blind is correct. Cardiff set C313 W50847 + W59040 + W50900. Gerard Fletcher.

Date: 20th May 1980

Set number: C313

A Barry Island service waits to leave a much reduced Merthyr Tydfil station on 20/5/1980. Formed of C313 (presumably 50847 + 59040 + 50900). Stephen Burdett.

Date: 20th September 1985

Set number: C313

Class 116 set C313 (W53847 closest, presumably with 59040 + 53900) sits in the platform at Clifton Down on September 20, 1985, with the 10:03 Bristol - Severn Beach service. Hamish Stevenson.

Date: 19th August 1987

Set number: C313

Class 116 set C313 (presumably 53847 59040 53900) approaches Radyr in the fading light on August 19, 1987. Colin Brooks.

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