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Vehicle 56247 / 54247

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 50964 during the unknown period are:

09/05/59	New to	9E (Trafford Park)
Jun-59	Transferred to	24F (Fleetwood)
4w/e 30/09/62	Transferred to	26A (Newton Heath)
4w/e 30/03/63	Transferred to	9D (Buxton)
Sep-63	Depot code change	9L
w/e 12/09/64	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
4w/e 04/12/65	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 05/03/66	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
w/e 06/05/67	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)

Then the allocations for 56247 are:

4w/e 05/04/69	Transferred to	12A (Carlisle Kingmoor)
Nov-70	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)
Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
w/e 11/05/74	Transferred to	KM (Carlisle Kingmoor)
Jan-75	Depot code change	KD
15/05/88	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
04/05/89	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
p/e 17/06/89	Transferred to	HT (Heaton) PHTX
p/e 30/03/91	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
29/09/91	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
06/07/92	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
28/07/92	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

Notes

25th April 1986 - Seen at Shields Road depot in ex works condition in retro green livery

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56247 - original number
54247 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Mar-76 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50964	56247			As delivered to 9E - 9th May 1959
	50953	56247			Noted 04/11/68 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50964	56247			Transfer to KM - w/e 11/05/74
	50964	56247			Noted 01/09/74 - on Kingmoor depot²
	50962	56247			Noted 06/09/76 - in Carlisle Citadel²
	50644	59381	56247	50645	Noted 12/02/77 - at York¹
	50964	56247			Noted circa 04/1980³
	50964	56247			Noted 29/06/80 - at Carnforth⁴
	50964	56247			Listed at KD - circa Aug-80
	50964	56247			Noted circa 08/1981³
	53964	54247			Noted circa 06/1983³
	53964	54247			Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53964	54247			Noted circa 10/1985³
	53964	54247			Noted 25th April 1986
	53964	54247			Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
	53964	54247			Noted circa 11/1986³
	53964	54247			Noted 18/04/1987 - Barrow connection from BR Mystery Excursion (Great Yarmouth-Carlisle)
	53964	54247			Noted 03/10/1987 - BLS Cumbria Ranger Railtour
	53964	54247			Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
CH274	53964	54247			Listed at CH - May 1988
	53964	54247			Noted 13th June 1988
	53964	54247			Noted 08/10/88 - at Newcastle on a charter to Chorley, Lancashire, with 51795 + 51804⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 29/03/89 - on 12:52 Manchester Victoria - Leeds via Huddersfield⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 03/06/1989 - Lancaster-Barrow connection from BR Margate to Carlisle excursion
	53964	54247			Noted 19/06/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 29/07/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 31/07/89 - on 11:38 Carlisle - Whitehaven⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 31/07/89 - on 10:00 Whitehaven - Carlisle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 31/07/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 54265 + 53954 and 53959 + 54243⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 08/08/89 - on 16:27 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 21/08/89 - on 11:05 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 02/09/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 09/09/89 - on 11:35 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 16/09/89 - on 10:15 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 16/09/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 23/09/89 - on 10:15 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 28/12/89 - on 10:15 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 28/12/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 12/05/90 - on 08:10 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 18/06/90 - on 10:42 Whitehaven - Carlisle⁵
	53964	54247			Noted 22/09/90 - at Millom⁵
NL256	53964	54247			Listed at NL - Jul-91
NL256	53964	54247			Listed at NL - Aug-91
LO298	53964	54247			Listed at LO - Dec-91

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Graeme Phillips

Images:

Unknown date

M54247 is seen in it's retro green livery. Date / location unknown. Malcolm Clements.

19th July 1986

Retro-green Class 108 DMU M54247 + M53964 in Carlisle station. No details were with the print, but the fresh paint and 'Special' on the blind suggests this was an Upperby shuttle for the open day on 19 July 1986. Glyn Weigh.

March 1987

Carlisle's green Class 108 set 54247 and 53964 is seen at Lancaster in March 1987. Michael Kaye 55A.

14th March 1987

Retro-green M54247 + M53964 are seen in Carlisle station on March 14th 1987. They failed working the 10:27 ex - Skipton, and were rescued by 47 630. Hamish Stevenson.

circa July 1987

The retro-green Class 108 DMU M54247 + M53964 in Leeds station with a Carlisle service. The transparency process date is July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.

circa summer 1987

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 54247 and 53964 at Shipley circa summer 1987. Brian Ward.

3rd October 1987

54247 + 53964 at Whitehaven on the BLS 'Cumbrian Ranger' tour, 3/10/87. Chris Lings.

9th November 1987

M54247 and M53964 at Newcastle, 09/11/1987. Based at Carlisle Kingmoor depot at the time, they have evidently travelled across the Tyne Valley, perhaps due to the failure of a Heaton (HT) unit, which would usually work these services. Upon closure of Kingmoor in May 1988, most of the Class 108s were transferred to Heaton for continued use in Cumbria, but M53964 M54247 were amongst the remainder which went to Chester (CH) depot for north Lancashire services. However, M53964 M54247 was later transferred to Heaton in Spring 1989, from which time it made semi-regular appearances at Newcastle. Graeme Phillips Collection.

19th December 1987

Almost at twilight on a dull Winter afternoon, the Carlisle allocated Class 108 two-car DMU in retro BR green livery, formed of cars M54247 & M53964, was stabled in Croft Street Sidings adjacent to the Preston Power Box on a bleak December 19th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.

3rd May 1988

A Carlisle to Barrow service formed of three Class 108 twins - 54247 + 53964 / 54241 + 53960 / 53965 + 54248 - departs from Ravenglass on 3 May 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

circa June 1988

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 54247 + 53964 in platform 7b of Sheffield Midland station. The slide process date is June 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

2nd July 1988

Class 108 consisting of 54247 (front) and 53964 at Longsight on 2nd July 1988. Also visible are an 08, a 303 and a 304. David Slack.

4th July 1988

Retro-green Class 108 set 54247 + 53964 at Crewe on July 4, 1988. Nigel Menzies.

31st August 1988

Set number: CH274

150 130 tails 150 129 on a 12XX Llandudno -- Chester, and Class 108 Set CH274 (54247 + 53964) works a Chester - Llandudno (relief) at Abergele and Pensarm (at 13XX), Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

31st August 1988

Set number: CH274

CH274 (54247 + 53964) on a Chester - Llandudno relief approaches Abergele and Pensarm ( at 13XX) on Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

8th October 1988

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 54247 + 53964 in Liverpool Lime Street on 8 October 1988. It was allocated to Chester at the time. Brian Creasey.

6th May 1989

Set number: CH274

Retro-green liveried Class 108 set CH274 (54247 + 53964) with two blue-grey sets arrives into Horton station on Mat 6, 1989. David Christie.

22nd September 1990

Set number: CH274

M54247 leads M53964 with a service to Barrow-in-Furness at Millom, Cumbria, on 22/09/1990. This pair had been painted into this version of BR green livery in the mid-1980s. Having dominated the West Cumbria line services since the late 1960s, the Class 108s' reign was now entering its final year, with the remaining examples being withdrawn late 1991 and replaced by the then newly-converted Class 153 single cars. Nowadays (2016), the line sees a mix of Northern units, with Classes 153 / 156 being most common, plus some Class 142s. The units are supplemented by some Class 37-hauled services. Graeme Phillips Collection.

1991

The retro-green Class 108 54247 + 53964 arriving at Doncaster in 1991. John Law.

11th April 1991

Set number: CH274

Class 108 formed of 54247 (front) and 53964 at Leeds awaiting departure with a Manchester service, 11th April 1991. Although it shows CH27, this is remnants of its Chester set number, 274. David Slack.

27th April 1991

Set number: CH274

Sheffield on the 27th of April 1991 and this Green liveried DMU (54247 + 53964) is leaving for Leeds. The KDH Archive.

9th July 1991

Set number: CH27

Retro-green Class 108 set 54247 + 53964 is on the rear of a four-car formation in Bingley station on July 9, 1991 with a Leeds - Carlisle service. Rex Holt.

17th October 1991

Set number: LO298

Old and new at a wet Manchester Victoria on October 17th 1991. The two-car Class 108 formed of cars 54247 & 53964, had been given a retro BR Green livery in 1986 whilst based at Carlisle Kingmoor, and was initially used on the Settle - Carlisle line. The unit was eventually transferred to Chester Depot, then became Longsight set LO298. Alongside was 142030 on a service to Wigan Wallgate. Martyn Hilbert.

23rd December 1991

Set number: LO298

On platform 1 in the Manchester Piccadilly of old that looked quite run-down, two days before Christmas on December 23rd 1991, Green liveried Class 108 54247 & 53964 which was being used for services to Marple Rose Hill, was sharing platform space with a Strathclyde Class 101 that was forming a working to Marple, the car just visible was 53160. The ex-Strathclyde orange liveried Class 101's kept their bright livery as it was a close match for the Greater Manchester PTE colours carried by Class 142's 142001-142014 and most of the local bus fleet. Just appearing on the left is 158754 which was then a two-car unit. Martyn Hilbert.

23rd December 1991

Set number: LO298

With just two days to go before Christmas, and in very poor light, a work worn 2-Car Class 108 in retro BR green livery formed of cars M54247 & M53964, was stood at the small single track terminus at Rose Hill Marple with a service to Manchester Piccadilly on December 23rd 1991. The set had once been a long-term resident of Carlisle Kingmoor Depot and was one of the regular 108's used on the Cumbrian Coast Line, complete with window bars on the droplights due to restricted clearances on the Coast Line between Carlisle and Maryport. In 1986, the set was returned to a retro BR green style livery and was used regularly on the Settle to Carlisle route. The set subsequently had spells allocated to Heaton, Neville Hill and Chester, finally being transferred to Longsight in the latter part of 1991. The set was withdrawn from service in July 1992 and scrapped by Booth's of Rotherham in 1993. Martyn Hilbert.

24th December 1991

Set number: LO298

Longsight allocated class 108 DMU LO298 (54247 + 53964) stands in Manchester Piccadilly's platform 11, since this photo was taken the trackless platform on the left has been reinstated and is now platform 12. 24th December 1991. Andrew J Crowther.

24th December 1991

Set number: LO298

LO298 M54247 + M53964 on 2D40 18:22 Piccadilly to Chester at Altrincham on 24-12-91 (the last day of BR service for the line to Oxford Road before Metrolink). Kevin Dowd.

1993

Set number: LO298

DTC 54247 from the retro-green Class 108 set LO298 awaiting disposal at Booth's in 1993. Note that the tail lamps and destination box lamps are lit! Michael Kaye 55A.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 7th July 1984

In a location that has been totally changed with remodelling and subsequent electrification, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53964 & Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) M54247, was coming off the Coast Line at Kirkham North Junction with a Blackpool South to Kirkham & Wesham shuttle service on July 7th 1984. Visible in the heat haze above the field is the 518ft Blackpool Tower. Just above the leading car of the DMU, the track that is winding-away is the former Down Marton line, once used by services to access the long closed seafront terminus at Blackpool Central. By 1984, twenty years after closure, a short stub was left in-situ to serve the District Civil Engineers waste tip at Westby. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: unknown

The retro-green Class 108 DMU set 54247 + 53964 departs Skipton for Carlisle at 12:25 on Monday 25 August 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 19th July 1986

Retro-green set 53964 / 54247 has some admirers at Carlisle station on 19/7/86. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 19th July 1986

Retro-green Class 108 set 53964 + 54247 seen at Carlisle Upperby on the 19th July 1986. Jerry Glover.

Date: 20th July 1986

Carlisle's green 108, M53964 and M54247 is seen in Citadel station, 20th July 1986, probably on the Upperby open day shuttle. Malcolm Clements.

Date: 20th July 1986

M53964 and M54247 in Upperby TMD on 20th July 1986. Malcolm Clements.

Date: 1986

The retro-green set 53964 + 54247 is seen at Barrow in 1986. Gary Miller.

Date: 1987

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 53964 and 54247 in Carlisle station circa summer 1987. Brian Ward.

Date: 26th March 1987

Retro-green Class 108 DMU M53964 and M54247 arrives into Carlisle station, 26-03-87. Vincent Haworth.

Date: unknown

53964 + 54247 with another Class 108 set at Bingley on a Carlisle - Leeds service. Date unknown. Rex Holt.

Date: unknown

A blue/grey Class 108 set is on the rear of retro-green Class 108 54247 + 53964 leaving Bingley on a Carlisle - Leeds service. Date unknown. Rex Holt.

Date: 20th August 1987

53964 / 54247 - the retro green Class 108 set - leads two other sets near Sellafield on the 20th August 1987. Eastwestdivide.

Date: 3rd October 1987

53964 and 54247 on the BLS 'Cumbrian Ranger' railtour at Heysham on the 3rd October 1987. Chris Lings.

Date: 3rd October 1987

Retro-green 53964 and 54247 at Sellafield on the BLS 'Cumbrian Ranger' tour, 3/10/87. Chris Lings.

Date: 3rd October 1987

53964 + 54247 at Whitehaven on the BLS 'Cumbrian Ranger' tour, 3/10/87. Chris Lings.

Date: 28th May 1988

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 53964 + 54247 seen from a passing train at Stockport on 28 May 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: July 1988

Class 108 2-car DMU 53964 + 54247 stands at Platform 11, Crewe on the 17.09 to Blythe Bridge in July 1988. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Date: July 1988

Class 108 2-car DMU 53964 + 54247 at Crewe on the 17.09 to Blythe Bridge in July 1988. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

Date: 4th July 1988

Retro-green Class 108 set 53964 + 54247 at Crewe on July 4, 1988. Nigel Menzies.

Date: 31st August 1988

Set number: CH274

Retro-green Class 108 Set CH274 (53964 + 54247) on a Llandudno - Chester canters through Abergele and Pensarm (13XX) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

Date: 5th September 1988

Green liveried Class 108 DMU no. 53964+54247 is seen at Bache, Chester, on Monday 05/09/1988. Graeme Phillips Collection.

Date: circa 1989

Set number: CH274

The retro-green Class 108 set 53964 / 54247 at Carlisle. Circa 1989. Walter Burt.

Date: 6th May 1989

Set number: 390

Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second E53250 was bringing up the rear of a six-car Leeds to Morecambe service at Skipton on May 6th 1989. E53250 was coupled to Class 108 Driving Car E53644. The middle set being a Class 108 with the retro BR green liveried Class 108 53964/54247 at the front of the train. On the extreme left, Class 144 144003 was awaiting departure with a service to Leeds. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 6th May 1989

Retro-green 53964 + 54247 stopped in Horton station on May 6, 1989. David Christie.

Date: 6th May 1989

Set number: CH274

Dandry Mire Viaduct seen from a six-car Class 108 formation on May 6, 1989, with retro-green set (53964 + 54247) at the front. David Christie.

Date: July 1989

Set number: CH274

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 53964 + 54247 at Foxfield on the Cumbrian Coast line with a Barrow service in July 1989. They were allocated to Heaton on this date. George Woods.

Date: 11th July 1989

Carlisle's celebrity green unit (54247 leading 53964) leaves Carlisle with the 15.40 to Whitehaven on 11/7/89. Leonard Rogers.

Date: 13th August 1989

Set number: CH274

Retro-green 53964 + 54247 on Heaton depot, 13 August 1989. Keith Miller.

Date: 7th October 1989

Set number: CH274

Retro-green liveried Class 108 M53964 + M54247 in Carlisle station on October 7, 1989, with the 08:40 Carlisle - Millom service. Still carrying a Chester set number, they were now allocated to Neville Hill. Hamish Stevenson.

Date: 13th October 1989

Set number: CH274

Class 108 DMBS no. 53964 is seen at its home depot of Heaton, Newcastle, on 13/10/1989, bereft of its partner, DTS(L) no. 54247. This pair was one of the Class 108s allocated to Kingmoor depot, Carlisle, for services in Cumbria / rural north Lancashire, when it was painted into a version of BR green in 1986. Upon closure of that depot in May 1988, it was one of the smaller proportion that was transferred to Chester depot - the rest going to Heaton - taking it away from Cumbria. However, it was transferred to Heaton in June 1989. Graeme Phillips Collection.

Date: 6th April 1991

Set number: CH274

The retro-green Class 108 DMU set (53964 + 54247) sits in Sheffield station on 6 April 1991. It was a Neville Hill set on this date but still displayed traces of its former Chester set number. Robert Thomas.

Date: 28th May 1991

Set number: CH274

Class 108 ' Derby Lightweight' set CH274 (DMBS) M53964 and (DTCL) M54247, formerly a Cumbrian Coast regular since the late-1960s and based from Kingmoor diesel TMD. Repainted into British Railways green livery in the mid-1980s, upon closure of Kingmoor depot in May 1988, most of the Class 108s were transferred to Heaton depot for continued use in Cumbria, but this set was one of a batch transferred to Chester depot for a short while, before being transferred to Heaton around the spring of 1989, again returning to Cumbrian Coast diagrams. By this photograph of 28th May 1991 it was spreading its wings further afield, being noted at Huddersfield. Gordon Edgar.

Date: 12th June 1991

M53964 + M54247 in Nottingham Midland on 12th June 1991. David Page.

Date: 4th July 1991

Retro-green M53964 + M54247 at Sheffield on July 4, 1991. John Carter.

Date: 4th July 1991

53964 + 54247 at Sheffield on July 4, 1991. It still carries traces of it's Chester set number, CH274, despite having left over two years earlier. John Carter.

Date: 19th July 1991

Set number: 281

A six-car formation passes Bingley signalbox with a Leeds to Carlisle service on July 19th, 1991. The closest set 281 is presumably formed of 54270 + 53987, the middle aet are retro-green 53964 + 54247. Rex Holt.

Date: 1st September 1991

Set number: 27

The retro-green Class 108 DMU 53964 + 54247 in Newcastle station on 1 September 1991. The 27 on the cab front is part of an old set number (CH274). Brian Creasey.

Date: 24th December 1991

Set number: LO298

Two 1959 Derby built class 108 DMU's now Longsight allocated, 53958 (still with its Heaton allocation sticker) part of LO297 and green liveried LO298 (53964 + 54247) stands in Manchester Piccadilly's platform 11, since this photo was taken the trackless platform on the right has been reinstated and is now platform 12. 24th December 1991. Andrew J Crowther.

Date: 9th January 1992

Set number: LO298

Manchester Piccadilly 9 January 1992, Carlisle Kingmoor's celebrity ex S&C stalwart (53964 + 54247), by this time allocated to Longsight. Andy Davies.

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