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<- 56255 | 56256 | 56257 ->

Vehicle 56256 / 54256


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 50973 during the unknown period are:

04/07/59 New to 26A (Newton Heath)
Oct-59 Transferred to 27F (Brunswick)
11/09/61 Transferred to 8H (Allerton) - Brunswick closed
Sep-63Depot code change8J
w/e 06/01/68 Transferred to 10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56256 are:

Oct-72 Transferred to 9D (Newton Heath)
May-73Depot code changeNH
13/09/81 Transferred to KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
11/05/86 Transferred to NH (Newton Heath)
22/01/89 Transferred to TS (Tyseley)
01/10/89 Transferred to CH (Chester) PCHX
14/05/90 Transferred to LO (Longsight) PLOX
04/06/93 Transferred to HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
23/06/93 Withdrawn from HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56256 - original number
54256 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


50973 56256 As delivered to 26A - 4th July 1959
50973 56256 Transfer to 27F - Oct-59
50973 56256 Noted 01/09/74 - at Preston1
50973 56256 Noted 10/04/1976 - at Carlisle2
50973 56256 Noted 03/11/77 - at Ormskirk3
53980 54256 Noted circa 04/19834
53980 54256 Listed at KD - 01/01/85
53980 54256 Noted circa 05/19864
53980 54256 Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
53980 54256 Listed at NH - 10/05/87
53980 54256 Noted 12/12/19874
N609 53980 54256 Listed at NH - May-88
N609 53980 54256 Noted circa Jul-88
T205 53980 54256 Noted circa 05/19894
T205 53980 54256 Listed at TS - 01/09/89
CH275 53980 54256 Listed at CH - 14/10/89
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - mid May-90
53980 54256 Noted 25/10/905
LO275 53980 54256 Noted circa 05/19914
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - Jul-91
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - Aug-91
53980 54256 Noted 07/08/915
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - Dec-91
53980 54256 Noted 03/04/92 - on 15:50 Manchester Piccadilly - Rose Hill6
53980 54256 Noted 01/06/92 - on 2D76 13:22 Llandudno - Holyhead and 2D83 14:55 Holyhead - Llandudno6
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - 02/07/92
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - 24/09/92
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - November 1992
LO275 53980 54256 Listed at LO - 10/12/92
53203 54256 Noted 02/02/93 - on 15:13 Manchester Oxford Road - Warrington and 15:59 Warrington - Manchester Oxford Road6

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips
6: David Bellamy

Images:

Class 108 DMU at Grange-over-Sands

June 1970

Set number: AC345

A two-car Class 108 DMU in June 1970 at Grange-over-Sands on the Cumbrian Coast line (the station is hidden behind the train). It has a set number in the left cab window which seems to be AC345 (and so an Accrington set) and the vehicle number seems to be M56256. Mel Smith.

Class 108 DMU at Bootle

22nd September 1981

The 11:50 Carlisle - Lancaster service arrives into Bootle led by M56256 on September 22, 1981. Hamish Stevenson.

Class 108 DMU at Lancaster

6th April 1985

A Class 108 formation containing 54256 + 53980 / 53973 + 54263 departs Lancaster for Barrow on 6 April 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 108 DMU at Southport Chapel Street

14th December 1986

A 2 car class 108 DMU, DTC 54256 nearest, stands in Southport Chapel St station. Although not 100% sure, I think the photo was taken on the 14th December 1986. Paul James.

Class 108 DMU at Manchester Deansgate

October 1991

Set number: LO275

Class 108 DMU set LO275 (cars 54256 + 53980) seen at Manchester Deansgate station in October 1991 Bob Belcher.

Class 108 DMU at Manchester Piccadilly

17th June 1992

Set number: LO275

Changing liveries at Manchester Piccadilly on 17th June 1992. On platform 4 Derby 1959 built Class 108 DTCL 54256, platform 3 has Metro-Cammell 1959 built DMBS 51463, whilst platform 2 holds York 1960 built class 305 emu 305 510. Andrew J Crowther.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: 15th June 1974

A Class 128 on Newton Heath Depot on 15 June 1974, thought to be M55989. Class 108 M56256 is on the left. Alistair Ness.

DMU

Date: unknown

A two-car Met-Camm DMU with M54256 closest, date/location unknown, circa mid-1980s. The vehicle was based at Chester until late 1985 when it moved to Cardiff and shortly after placed in store. It moved to Haymarket then further north to become the Kyle observation saloon 6300. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 23rd March 1986

A line up of stabled DMU's at Croft Street Sidings, adjacent to Preston Power Box on March 23rd 1986. Left to right, a BRCW Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53466 was a the head of a four-car rake of 104's. Next to it was a Class 108 with DTSL M54256 against the block with Cravens Class 105 M53812 alongside. Just visible on the extreme right is ex Class 127 car M55970 in use as a parcels/mail/newspapers unit fitted with roller shutter doors. Despite appearances this was a shot over a low wire fence. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 15th June 1991

Set number: LO275

BR Derby Class 108 DMBS 53980 trails classmate DTS 54256 and a Class 101 3-car set out of Manchester Victoria on 15 June 1991. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: 29th June 1991

Set number: LO275

Morning sunlight was reflecting on the windscreen of Longsight allocated set LO275, as it departed from Bamber Bridge with a Preston to Colne service on June 29th 1991. The Class 108 was formed of cars M53980 & M54256 and was passing signal PN486 which was then mounted on the platform. At the time, the station had small stone built shelters on each platform. The one on the eastbound platform was constructed from the stone blocks of the old Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway building that once graced the platform here. The opposite (westbound) platform had a shelter built from imitation stone (concrete) blocks. Both these structures were short-lived, they were replaced by anodised aluminium shelters with small glass panels. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 13th June 1992

Set number: LO275

Longsight allocated Derby 1959 built Class 108 set LO275, comprising of DMBS 53980 and DTCL 54256 stands at New Mills Central, after operating a turn back service to here from Manchester Piccadilly on 13th June 1992. Andrew J Crowther.

DMU

Date: 18th September 1992

Set number: 101676

101676 (51205 + 51803) and LO275 (presumably 53980 + 54256) at Stockport, having arrived with the 12:44 from Heysham, 18/9/92. Gazza Prescott.