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Vehicle 50971 / 53971

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30465
Diagram: 543

Allocations

04/07/59	New to	24F (Fleetwood)
w/e 03/06/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
w/e 07/01/67	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
3w/e 30/04/67	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)
2w/e 11/05/68	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)
Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
09/06/85	Transferred to	KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
29/09/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
14/05/89	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley) PTSX
01/10/89	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
07/07/91	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
13/01/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
04/02/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50971 - original number
53971 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 04/08/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50971	56254	As delivered to 24F - 4th July 1959
AC342	50971	56251	Noted circa Apr-70
	50971	56260	Noted 12/09/71 - at Preston¹
	50971	56262	Noted 27/09/1976 - at Preston ²
	50971	56262	Noted 12/07/80 - on 16.15 Ormskirk to Preston
	50971	56262	Noted circa 12/1981³
	50971	56262	Noted 13/03/82 - at Colne
NH345	50971	56456	Noted circa 10/1982³
	50971	56456	Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 07.13 Southport to Manchester Victoria via Atherton with 50454-50480³
	50971	56456	Noted circa 12/1982³
	53971	54456	Noted circa 05/1983³
	53971	54496	Noted circa 12/1983³
	53971	54496	Noted circa 03/1984³
	53971	54503	Formed at KD circa Sep-85
	53971	54504	Formation change - NH - circa Oct-85
	53971	54504	Noted circa 01/1986³
	53971	54504	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53971	54504	Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53971	54504	Noted 17/10/87 - at Miles Platting with M53536 + M54179
N603	53971	54504	Listed at NH - March 1988
	53971	54504	Noted circa 04/1988³
N603	53971	54504	Listed at NH - May 1988
N605	53971	54258	Noted circa May-88
N603	53971	54504	Noted circa Jul-88
N603	53971	54504	Noted circa 04/1989³
T203	53971	54504	Listed at TS - 01/09/89
spare	53971		Listed at LO - Jul-91
spare	53971		Listed at LO - Aug-91
LO280	53971	54210	Listed at LO - Aug-91
LO280	53971	54485	Noted circa 09/1991³
LO280	53971	54504	Listed at LO - Dec-91
LO280	53971	54504	Noted circa 02/1992³
	53971	54504	Noted 08/06/92 - on 16:31 Helsby - Chester⁴
	53971	54504	Noted 15/06/92 - on 2D76 13:22 Llandudno - Holyhead and 2D83 Holyhead - Llandudno⁴
LO280	53971	54504	Listed at LO - 02/07/92
LO280	53971	54504	Listed at LO - 24/09/92
LO280	53971	54504	Listed at LO - November 1992
LO280	53971	54504	Listed at LO - 10/12/92

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Eddie Knorn
4: David Bellamy

Images:

12th July 1980

Alighted passengers walk down the platform as Class 108 M50971 & M56262 departs from Rufford with the 16.15 Ormskirk to Preston on July 12th 1980. The unit is carrying the short-lived 'refurbished' DMU white/blue stripe livery. Martyn Hilbert.

1983

A Class 108 DMBS, followed by a Class 105, and lastly a Class 104 2-car set, seen in Wigan Wallgate station in 1983. Graeme Phillips Collection.

29th March 1984

On a dull and overcast March 29th 1984, A Class 108 2-Car DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second M53971 leading, arrives at Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service. The remaining single platform was still equipped with its LMS concrete post electric lights. In the background the chimneys at the old brickworks complex were still standing. On the left of this scene the former goods yard site was being used by a timber company that manufactured wooden pallets, this area is now covered with a housing development. Martyn Hilbert.

17th October 1987

Class 108+104 formed M53971+M54504 + M53536+M54179 at Miles Platting on the 17th October 1987. Kevin Law.

27th October 1989

Set number: T203

Class 108 Derby "Lightweight" 53971 + 54504 at Worksop on 27/10/89. Sparegang.

13th January 1990

Set number: T203

Still carrying its Tyseley set number T203 on 13 January 1990 this class 108 (presumably 53971 leading) was photographed about to pass Barnetby station just after I had arrived on my one and only visit to the area. Early morning frost was still in evidence on the sleepers as the DMU, one of only 2 I saw during the day, was highlighted amongst the misty background with the famous signal gantries of Wrawby Junction in the background. Most passenger services were in the hands of Sprinters by this time so a proper DMU was a welcome addition to them and the constant flow of freight seen here. Peter Tandy.

5th January 1991

Set number: T203

With Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) 53971 at the rear, a Neville Hill allocated three-car Class 108 DMU was stood on the Up Main alongside Broughton Road Sidings at Skipton during a reversal with a service from Bradford Forster Square on January 5th 1991. All three vehicles have brake vans, the TBSL is probably E59246, the far DMBS is E53943 which carried set number N607, Martyn Hilbert.

16th May 1992

Set number: LO280

A heavily loaded class 108 DMU (LO280 presumably 53971 + 54504) arrives Blackburn on 16-5-92. Spannerman37025.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 14th May 1990

Set number: T203

54504 (and presumably 53971) at Harrogate on May 14, 1990. Although now allocated to Neville Hill, it still carries it's former Tyseley set number on the cab front. John Carter.

Date: 5th January 1991

Set number: N607

A three-car Class 108 formed of three brake vehicles including a centre trailer coach (TBSL), was awaiting departure from Skipton with a service to Bradford Forster Square on January 5th 1991. The leading car was M53943 and the rear driving car was M53971. It would appear this was a cobbled together set of serviceable cars in the period when the troublesome Class 142 fleet was giving the first generation DMU fleet an extended period of operation. M53943 was carrying the set number N607 on the cab front, whilst at the rear, M53971 was displaying set number T203. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 7th September 1991

Set number: LO280

Class 108 54485, set number LO280 (with 53971), is seen departing Leeds with a working to Blackpool on 07.09.1991. First Generation DMU's were always associated with Leeds, but on this day in 1991, after spending quite a few hours on the station, this was the only heritage set to be seen. Andy Cole.

Date: 17th October 1991

Set number: LO280

A two-car Class 108 formed of DTSL M54485 & DMBS M53971, were the lead set of a Manchester Victoria via Helsby service, stood in platform 6 at Chester on October 17th 1991. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 19th October 1992

Set number: 101685

In pre-green days, 101685 (53160 + 53164) is working with LO280 (53971 + 54504) on 2H65, the 09:38 Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills Central at Hague Bar, 19-10-92. Kevin Dowd.

Date: 10th June 1993

W52064 + W51933 + 53971 + 54504 + M54490 + M51907 + 53980 + 53XXX stored out of service on Longsight, 10-6-93. Kevin Dowd.

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