Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30297
Diagram: 585
The London Midland Region didn't publish trailer car details until late in 1968. Although not 100% reliable, if it is assumed that the trailers remained with the same power cars, the allocations for 50538 during the unknown period are:
3w/e 19/04/58 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
Apr-63 | Transferred to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
4w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 6G (Llandudno Junction) | |
3w/e 02/10/65 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
4w/e 06/11/65 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) |
Then the allocations for 56181 are:
May-80 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
circa Feb-82 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
09/11/86 | Withdrawn from | BY (Bletchley) |
6th May 1989 - Seen (in poor condition) at Longsight depot
6th May 1989 - Seen at Longsight depot
1st July 1989 - Listed as withdrawn at Longsight depot
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
56181 - original number
54181 - from 1983 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Scrapped by Mayer Parry, Snailwell
50538 | 56181 | As delivered to 5B - 3w/e 19/04/58 | |||||||
LT308 | 50538 | 56181 | Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70 | ||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 12/08/70 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight2 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester3 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 04/09/74 - at Reddish North1 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot1 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 01/10/77 - in Manchester Piccadilly4 | |||||||
50538 | 56181 | Noted 06/06/1981 - working 1D38 09.59 Stockport - Llandudno and 1H29 14.40 Llandudno - Stockport5 | |||||||
50532 | 56181 | Noted circa 12/19815 | |||||||
50532 | 56181 | Noted circa 10/19825 | |||||||
53532 | 54181 | Noted circa 04/19835 | |||||||
53539 | 54181 | Noted 11/08/84 - at Norwich1 | |||||||
53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 12/19845 | |||||||
53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 12/19855 | |||||||
53539 | 54181 | Noted circa 09/19865 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Phil Shatford
5: Eddie Knorn
Class 104 DMU at Southport, M56181 closest, I believe the rear car is 50538. Taken in August 1981. Curly42.
A BRCW class 104 DMU comprising DTSL M54181 + DMBS M53532, stand in the platform at Bedford St Johns station, sometime in the week 4th-8th July 1983. John Crooks.
Bedford St Johns station on 1 September 1983, with a 2-car Class 104 DMU (54181/53532) just arrived as the 18.10 ex-Bletchley. This station closed on 14 May 1984, when services were diverted into Bedford Midland station. A small halt, also called Bedford St Johns, was provided on the new chord line that trains now use to access Bedford Midland. Lewis Bevan.
54181 + 53539 in Bletchley station waiting to take the Bedford route in summer 1984. Ian Docwra.
54181 + 53539 departing Bletchley for Bedford in summer 1984 Ian Docwra.
M54181 at Leicester on the 13th October 1984. Dennis Taylor.
A Class 104 DMU (M54181 and presumably 53539) arrives at Bedford working a service from Bletchley on 1 September 1986. Brian Creasey.
M54181 dumped on Longsight TMD 6-5-89. Kevin Dowd.
BRCW Class 104 DTS M54181 sits awaiting its fate in Basford Hall yard on 21st July 1989. Paul James.
Class 104 driver trailer M54181 at Snailwell on 21 February 1992. Nicholas Youngman.
A BRCW class 104 DMU comprising DMBS M53532 + DTSL M54181, standing in the platform at Bedford St Johns station. Unsure of exact date, but sometime in the week 4th-8th July 1983. John Crooks.
Bedford St Johns station on 1 September 1983, with a 2-car Class 104 DMU (53532 + 54181) waiting to leave for Bletchley. This station closed on 14 May 1984, when services were diverted into Bedford Midland station. A small halt, also called Bedford St Johns, was provided on the new chord line that trains now use to access Bedford Midland. Lewis Bevan.
53532 + 54181 glides to a halt at Millbrook station whilst working the 12.10 Bletchley - Bedford train on the 10th December 1983. At this time the delightful little station had a massive station house and well kept wooden shelters, the low hight platform had a full set of attractive lights. A lone passenger contemplates the long wait for his train. Geoff Dowling.
A two-car Class 104 DMU (DMBS 53539 + DTSL 54181) at Bletchley with a Bedford service in 1984. Ian Docwra.
BRCW Class 104 DMU, M53539+M54181, stand at Bedford after arriving from Bletchley. 18-06-84. John Crooks.