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 50540 during the unknown period are:
2w/e 03/05/58 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
4w/e 03/06/61 | Transferred to | 21F (Ryecroft) | |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2G | |
w/e 10/10/64 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) | |
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 56183 are:
circa Feb-82 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
19/01/86 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
Jun-86 | Stored S. | NH (Newton Heath) | - at BY |
Oct-86 | Stored U. | OM | - at OC |
Nov-86 | Stored U. | NH (Newton Heath) | |
31/05/87 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) | |
by 05/11/88 | To departmental stock | BS | - sandite vehicle |
by 04/11/89 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
by 21/06/90 | Transferred to | BS | |
by 10/11/90 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
by 20/11/91 | Transferred to | CL (Carlisle Upperby) |
14/05/84 - For the opening of the new Bedford St Johns station 53541 / 56183 were turned out in immaculate condition, including white roof domes.
29th October 1987 - Seen at Buxton depot awaiting conversion to Sandite car
3rd September 1989 - Seen at Chester depot with white cab roof dome and red buffer beams
56183 - original number
54183 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
977555 - from Dec-87 (departmental stock)
Sandite From 12/87 to 12/92.
Jun-80 - AWS fitted
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
50540 | 56183 | As delivered to 5B - 2w/e 03/05/58 | |||||||
50539 | 56183 | Noted 03/05/69 - in Manchester Central (last day)1 | |||||||
50539 | 56183 | Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
50353 | 56183 | Noted 23/11/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
LT296 | 50353 | 56183 | Listed at Longsight - circa Dec-69 | ||||||
LT310 | 50540 | 56183 | Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70 | ||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight1 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 20/04/73 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 04/09/74 - at New Mills2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 14/09/1975 - at Stockport3 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 10/09/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly2 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted circa 04/19824 | |||||||
50540 | 56183 | Noted 03/09/82 - at Bedford St Johns2 | |||||||
53540 | 54183 | Noted circa 05/19834 | |||||||
53541 | 56183 | Noted 14/05/84 | |||||||
53541 | 54183 | Noted circa 07/19844 | |||||||
Stored | 54183 | Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 - at BY |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Eddie Knorn
A Class 104 BRCW DMU - M56183 and (most likely M50540) - at St Albans Abbey station in the early 1980s. Curly42.
M56183 is at the rear of a 104 set waiting to leave Bedford St John's on 5th March 1983. 54A South Dock.
The conductor guard is seen ambling up the platform closing the doors at Watford Junction on the St.Albans Abbey branch platform despite what the trains destination blind says. Platform 11 at Watford Junction is still somewhat isolated from the main part of the station and is adjacent to Watford Junction Yard. The rather shabby old class 104 DMU set is formed of Bletchley allocated vehicles M53539+M54183. It has just arrived with the 10.22 from St.Albans Abbey and will return as the 11.03 to St.Albans Abbey being a "one train working" branch line with no passing loops. February 11, 1984. Adrian Nicholls.
BRCW Class 104 DTS M54183 with DMBS M53541 in Watford Junction station on 30 June 1984. Dave Warby.
A two-car Class 104 DMU stabling in sidings at Leicester on 15 July 1984. The DTSL closest appears to be 54183. Robert Thomas.
Sandite car 977555, formerly 56183, is seen at Bescot, 26/12/87. Robert Chilton.
Class 104 977555 is seen stabled at Bescot on 26.12.1987. It was converted from 54183 and was used as a sandite car. Andy Cole.
Hiding in amongst the locos (08700, 08672, and 20029) on Bescot depot on 12 March 1988 is Class 104 sandite car 977555 (ex-54183). It seems to still have the gangway fitted on the rear. Keith Miller.
Sandite Car ADB977555 (M54183) on Chester Depot, 3-9-89. Kevin Dowd.
Sandite Car ADB977555 (M54183) on Chester Depot, 3-9-89. Kevin Dowd.
Class 104 Sandite conversion 977555 (ex-54183) at Bletchley on 17 February 1990 alongside Class 115 TCL M59750. Image by Janet Cottrell. Stuart Mackay Collection.
977555 in store at Carlisle Upperby, 13/7/91. Paul Moxon.
Class 104 sandite vehicle 977555 seen at Carlisle Yard on the 30th June 1993. S Gaskell.
Class 104 sandite vehicle 977555 seen at Carlisle Yard on the 30th June 1993. S Gaskell.
A Class 104 DMU formed of M50540 + 56183 sits in Bedford St. Johns station on 15 May 1982 forming the 17:00 to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
M53541 and M54183 after arriving at Bedford St Johns with the 1202 from Bletchley on 16 March 1984. Eight weeks after this photo was taken this station was closed and a replacement with the same name was opened on the 14th May 1984 which allowed trains to continue into Bedford Midland station. Keith Long.