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Vehicle 56251 / 54251

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 50968 during the unknown period are:

30/05/59	New to	24F (Fleetwood)
w/e 03/06/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
w/e 07/01/67	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
2w/e 11/05/68	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56251 are:

Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
Jan-81	Transferred to	KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
15/05/88	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
14/05/89	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley) PTSX
01/10/89	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
08/04/91	Withdrawn from	NL (Neville Hill) PNLX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56251 - original number
54251 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

circa Jul-72 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50968	56251	As delivered to 24F - 30th May 1959
	51902	56251	Noted 11/04/67 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50969	56251	Noted 04/11/68 - at Crewe¹
AC342	50971	56251	Noted circa Apr-70
	50968	56251	Noted 26/10/71 - at Preston²
	50968	56251	Noted 03/04/76 - at York with 50950 + 56233 and 50975 + 56258²
	50968	56251	Noted 24/04/1976 - at Preston³
	50968	56251	Noted 09/09/76 - at Preston²
	50968	56251	Noted 13/09/1977 - 12.07 Lime Street to Warrington Central with 51417-56492⁴
	50968	56251	Noted 04/01/78
	50968	56251	Noted 31/07/78 - at Windermere working with 50956 + 56238 / 50965 + 56248
	50968	56251	Noted 24/05/80
	53968	54251	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53968	54251	Noted circa 10/1985⁴
	53968	54251	Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
	53968	54251	Noted 01/11/1986⁴
	53968	54251	Noted 06/12/86 - on 12:08 Carlisle - Preston⁵
	53968	54251	Noted 20/03/1987⁴
	53968	54251	Noted 30/12/87 - on Leeds - Carlisle service
	53968	54251	Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
CH278	53968	54251	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH278	53968	54251	Noted 13th November 1988
T214	53968	54251	Listed at TS - 01/09/89
T214	53968	54251	Noted circa 09/1989⁴

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Martin Baumann

Images:

Class 108 DMU at Croft Street Sidings, Preston

22nd February 1986

With the 309ft high spire of St Walburges Church as a backdrop, a six-car lash-up of Derby Class 108 DMU's were stabled in Croft Street Sidings, adjacent to the Preston PSB and Fylde Junction on February 22nd 1986. The nearest set was formed of cars 53968 & 54251 which at the time were allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor Depot. Martyn Hilbert.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 30th July 1978

E50140 (+ E59087 + E59094 + E51514) sits beside M56251 (unseen are M50968 + M50955 + M56234) at Lancaster. The 101 is on the Lancaster - Morecambe shuttle, the 108 to Millom (Cumbrian coast), 30/7/78. Robert Frise.

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: 20th July 1987

A six-car rake, formed of three cl.108 twins, enters Carlisle as e.c.s on 20/7/87. The leading vehicle is 54249; the complete rake was 53954/54264 + 53968/54251 + 53966/54249. The stock will form the 14.15 to Barrow. By the time it reaches Sellafield, it will be 15.56 and five out of the six vehicles are marked as reserved for homegoing BNFL/UKAEA workers. Leonard Rogers.

Date: 30th December 1987

53968 and 54251 await departure from Leeds station with a Carlisle service on December 30th, 1987. Rex Holt.

Date: 31st August 1988

Set number: CH278

108 Set CH278 (presumably 53968 + 54251) departs Rhyl (18XX) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

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