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Vehicle 56238 / 54238

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30466
Diagram: 640

Allocations

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 50955 during the unknown period are:

14/03/59	New to	5B (Crewe South)
Jun-59	Transferred to	9E (Trafford Park)
4w/e 01/06/63	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
3w/e 31/10/65	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
3w/e 30/04/67	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)

Then the allocations for 56238 are:

4w/e 05/04/69	Transferred to	12A (Carlisle Kingmoor)
06/05/73	Depot code change	KM
Jan-75	Depot code change	KD
15/05/88	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
29/09/91	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
05/10/92	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) RFXX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56238 - original number
54238 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50955	56238	As delivered to 5B - March 1959
	50960	56238	Noted 14/08/70 - at Carlisle¹
	50956	56238	Noted 25/08/1973 - at Kingmoor²
	56238		Noted 01/09/74 - on Kingmoor depot, loose vehicle¹
	50957	56238	Noted 24/08/75 - on Carlisle Kingmoor depot¹
	50957	56238	Noted 24/04/1976 - at Barrow ³
	50957	56238	Noted 06/09/76 - in Carlisle Citadel¹
	50956	56238	Noted 31/07/78 - at Windermere working with 50965 + 56248 / 50968 + 56251
	50954	56238	Listed at KD - circa Aug-80
	50956	56238	Noted circa 03/1982⁴
	53956	54238	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53956	54238	Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
	53956	54238	Noted 01/11/1986⁴
	53956	54238	Noted 02/12/87 - at Morecambe
	53956	54238	Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
	53956	54238	Noted 16/07/88 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 03/08/88⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 10/09/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Listed at HT - Feb-89
	53956	54238	Noted 18/03/89 - on 15:04 Gateshead Metro Centre - Sunderland service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/03/89 - on 16:45 Newcastle - Sunderland - service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 25/03/89 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 17/04/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 15/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 20/05/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 31/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/06/89 - on 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/06/89 - on 19:00 Middlesbrough - Newcastle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 19/07/89 - on 16:47 Hexham - Sunderland service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 20/07/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 12/08/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 21/08/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53953 + 54262 and 53957 + 54236⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 09/09/89 - on 06:59 Carlisle - Newcastle service with 53954 + 54244⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 13/10/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 26/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 29/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/04/90 - on 06:50 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/06/90 - on 10:23 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 18/06/90 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53950 + 54239⁵
	53956	54238	Noted 24/10/90 - on 09:10 Newcastle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53974 + 54504⁵
	53956	54238	Noted circa 02/1991⁴
HT56	53956	54238	Listed at HT - Jul-91
HT56	53956	54238	Listed at HT - Aug-91
LO296	53956	54238	Listed at LO - Dec-91
LO296	53956	54238	Listed at LO - 02/07/92
LO296	53956	54238	Listed at LO - 24/09/92

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

Images:

2nd December 1987

M54238 and M53956 at Morecambe on 02-12-87. Vincent Haworth.

18th June 1989

A Class 108 formed of 54238 and 53956 seen at Seaham with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/06/89. Graeme Phillips.

21st August 1990

Class 108 DTS 54238 in Carlisle station on August 21, 1990. Rex Holt.

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

On possibly the last occasion that a first generation DMU worked along the Preston to Ormskirk line, a Class 108 with car 54238 trailing and DMBS 53956 leading has just collected the token from the signalman at Midge Hall, whilst working from Preston to Ormskirk on May 16th 1992. The unit was deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer. Martyn Hilbert.

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order is restored probably for the last time on May 16th 1992, as a worn-looking Class 108 was working the Preston to Ormskirk services. Set LO296 formed of cars 54238 & 53956 is seen here approaching the token exchange at Midge Hall with the 09.38 Ormskirk to Preston. In the foreground are the remains of the pointwork where the double line, kept in use from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until 1983, ended. The turnout onto the single line had by this date been replaced with plain rail. The worn-out disused line back towards Farington was kept in-situ for a number of years but was progressively recovered between 1988 & 1992. Martyn Hilbert.

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Substituting for the non-availablity of a class 142, a Class 108 2-Car DMU returned to its old stamping ground on 16th May 1992. With car 54238 leading, 53956 behing, the 08.21 Ormskirk to Preston Service has just returned the single-line token at Midge Hall signalbox. The unit is about to pass through the derelict platforms of the former station, closed in 1961. This was possibly the last occasion when a Class 108 worked along here - possibly also the last visit of a first generation DMU. Martyn Hilbert.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 31st July 1978

M50956 at the head of M56238, M50965, M56248, M50968 and M56251 at Windermere on the 31st July 1978. Robert Frise.

Date: unknown

Class 108 DMU (54238 and presumably 53956) is standing alongside a Pacer unit at Barrow in Furness on 20 October 1990 just before it leaves the station via the crossover in the foreground. Another Class 108 is on the left. The day was marked by a number of unusual locomotive-hauled services run in connection with a Network North-West day and 26 025 + 31 434 had just left the station and 20 057 + 20 140 + 31 461 were next to visit on a return trip from Manchester Victoria. Peter Tandy.

Date: 1988

A two-car Class 108 DMU arrives at Attenborough sometime in 1988. The condition on the DMBS cab front and the unusual sizes/locations of the the warning flashes suggests it is 53956 - presumably with 54238. Andrew Walker.

Date: 18th June 1989

53956 and 54238 are seen approaching Seaham station with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/6/89. Graeme Phillips.

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

A Class 108 at Moss Lane Junction, Farington (Ormskirk Line). It was a return to the old order on Preston to Ormskirk services on May 16th 1992, as a Class 108 returned to its former stamping ground due to the non-availability of a Class 142 Pacer. LO296, (53956 + 54238) is seen topping the climb from the WCML at Farington Curve Junction as it approaches the site of the former Moss Lane Junction. To the right of the unit a double track connection ran towards Lostock Hall enabling trains from East Lancashire to access Ormskirk and Liverpool. It was closed in 1972. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

With the former Jubilee Mill in the background, Class 108 set LO296 (53956 & 54238) departs from Croston whilst working the 15.08 Ormskirk to Preston on May 16th 1992. Once a familiar sight on these services, this was probably the last visit of a Derby built class 108 to the line. In the intervening years Jubilee Mill has been demolished and a housing development now covers the site. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

With Midge Hall in the far distance, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars 53956 & 54238, was passing the Oil Seed Rape at Cocker Bar with the 16.03 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 16th 1992. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Standing-in for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order returned to the Ormskirk line for possibly the last time on May 16th 1992. A scabby looking Class 108 formed of cars 53956 & 54238 (LO296) was passing through the long-closed platforms at Midge Hall whilst working the 12.23 Preston to Ormskirk service. Martyn Hilbert.

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