Vehicle 50908 / 53908
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
| 4w/e 22/03/58 | New to | 88A (Cardiff Cathays) | |
| Jan-61 | Depot code change | 88B | |
| Mar-62 | Depot code change | 88M | |
| Nov-64 | Transferred to | 84A (Laira) | |
| Jan-66 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| Nov-66 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CF | |
| p/e 02/12/89 | Sector Change to | CF (Cardiff Canton) PXXZ | |
| 12/12/89 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) PXXZ |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50908 - original number
53908 - 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 26/11/1976 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | As delivered to 88A - 4w/e 22/03/58 | ||||||
| CAT342 | 50855 | 50908 | Listed at CAT - Jul-62 - and centre car | ||||||
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Transfer to 84A - Nov-64 | ||||||
| 50855 | 59362 | 50908 | Transfer to 82A - Jan-66 | ||||||
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 06/11/70 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
| CTN302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at Canton - circa Jan-71 | |||||
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Cardiff2 | ||||||
| C302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 03/09/74 - at Cardiff3 | |||||
| C302 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 26/08/75 - in Cardiff Central3 | |||||
| C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 07/08/1976 - on 08:00 Coryton to Bute Road4 | |||||
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 04/09/76 - at Cardiff1 | ||||||
| 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Noted 26/03/1977 - Monmouthshire Railway Society Dowlais / Coed Ely Railtour 50122-59030-50080+50855-59363-50908 | ||||||
| C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 03/03/80 | |||||
| C315 | 50855 | 59363 | 50908 | Listed at CF - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted circa 09/19835 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59356 | 53908 | Listed at CF - 01/01/85 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted 05/06/19865 | |||||
| 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Noted 09/06/87 | ||||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59363 | 53908 | Listed at CF - Aug-87 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Formation change - CF - circa 10/87 - 59561 replaced 59363 | |||||
| C315 | 53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Listed at CF - Oct-87 | |||||
| 53855 | 59561 | 53908 | Noted 20/02/88 - on 14:58 Weymouth - Cardiff via Frome6 | ||||||
| C375 | 53855 | 53908 | Listed at CF - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| C375 | 53855 | 51139 | 53908 | Noted 02/10/89 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Martin Baumann
Images:
13th October 1979
Set number: C315
Arriving at Aber with DMU set C315 (50908 + 59363 + 50855) leading is the 15.28 Rhymney-Cardiff train on 13th October 1979. It's in the "reversed" rail blue and white livery, applied at one point to refurbished first-generation DMUs. Tom Burnham.
1982
Set number: C315
Class 116 set C315 (W50905 and presumably 59363 + 50855) departs from Taffs Well station in early 1982, with Cardiff Central on the destination blind. A Class 117 sits in the platform, thought to be set C451 with 51380 visible. Michael Mensing.
1985
Set number: C315
Class 116 set C315 (W53908 at the front, presumably with 59363 + 53855) enters Taff's Well in 1985. Michael Mensing.
9th February 1985
Set number: C315
With W53908 on the rear (closest) Class 116 DMU set C315 departs from Cardiff Central on 9 February 1985 with a service for the Valleys. Robert Thomas.
25th April 1988
Set number: C375
Approaching Hawkeridge Jn, Westbury, whilst working a Bristol T.Ms - Weymouth service is C375, a Class 116/101 hybrid based at CF and formed of W53908 + W59561 + W53855. 25th April 1988. Nigel Mack.
3rd January 1989
Set number: C375
53908 from C375 seen at Cardiff Central on 3/1/89. Norman Cross.
10th March 1989
Set number: C375
Two-car Class 116 DMU set C375 (53908 and presumably 53855) departs Cardiff Central with a Valleys service on 10 March 1989. Robert Thomas.
8th August 1989
Set number: C375
A DMU (Class 116 set C375, presumably 53908 + 53855) under the semaphores at Radyr on August 8th 1989. Image by John Wiltshire. Peter Brabham Collection.
Early 1990
Set number: C375
W53908 of C375 takes a last ride from Canton Depot to Vic Berry’s, Leicester. Probably taken early 1990. Mac Winfield.
29th April 1990
Set number: C375
C375 W53908 + W53855 and E53196 at Vic Berrys, Leicester on 29-4-90. Kevin Dowd.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 16th September 1979
Set number: C315
The final port of call on the 16th September 1979 NREA 'shed bash' was to bag the DMU sets stabled at Rhymney. Viewed from the now demolished island platform, disused for many years, refurbished Derby Works class 116 high density suburban triple set C315 (W50855-W59363-W50908), eventually forming a Cardiff service stands in Rhymney station, in the initial but short-lived white/blue stripe livery with brown underframe. All class 116 units were new to the Western Region and were delivered in 1957-58 and were synonymous with South Wales valley services. Gordon Edgar.
Date: unknown
Set number: C315
Class 116 DMU set C315 (50855 and presumably 59363 + 50908) seen at Cardiff, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
Date: 2nd April 1982
Set number: C315
Class 116 set C315 (presumably 50855 + 59363 + 50908) arriving into Cogan station with the 5.45pm Barry Island - Coryton service on April 2nd, 1982. Michael Mensing.
Date: 1985
Set number: C315
Class 116 set C315 lead by 53855 (presumably with 59363 + 53908) near Pontypridd in early 1985. Michael Mensing.
Date: 8th March 1985
Set number: C315
Class 116 set C315 (presumably 53855 + 59363 + 53908) passing Maesmawr's Up Distant near Treforest Estate Halt on March 8, 1985. Michael Mensing.
Date: unknown
Set number: C315
Class 116 unit C315, 53855 leading travels north through the old Gelli colliery site at Ystrad in the Rhondda Fawr in the mid-1980s. The other two vehicles are presumably 59363 + 50908. Peter Brabham.
Date: circa 1987
Set number: C315
C315 (53855 + 59363 + 53908) enters Radyr, circa 1987. Mac Winfield.
Date: 18th July 1987
Set number: C315
C315 approaches Cardiff Queen Street on the 14:06 Ystrad Mynach to Barry Island, Saturday 18th July 1987, with W53855 closest and presumably 59363 + 53908. PJ Evans.
Date: 25th September 1989
Set number: C375
On 25/09/89 2-Car Class 116 DMU set C375 (53855+53908) heads north west up the Cynon Valley with the 14.03 Penarth to Aberdare service while 08 660 hired to National Smokeless Fuels Ltd at Aberaman Coke Works stands in the yard. The class 08 was a vacuum braked only example and was withdrawn on 30.07.1991 before being broken up by Gwent Demolition Ltd at Margam in January 1994. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 25th October 1989
Set number: C375
C375 (53855 + 53908) at Treherbert with the 16:17 to Barry Island, 25th October 1989. Gazza Prescott.