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Vehicle 56257 / 54257

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 50974 during the unknown period are:

11/07/59	New to	26A (Newton Heath)
Aug-59	Transferred to	5D (Cockshute)
Oct-59	Transferred to	27F (Brunswick)
11/09/61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)	- Brunswick closed
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J
w/e 06/01/68	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56257 are:

Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
02/03/86	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
04/05/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
25/03/87	Transferred to	ME (Marylebone)
Oct-88	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
p/e 02/03/91	Sector Change to	BY (Bletchley) NNDX
22/04/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) NNDX
27/04/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) NNDX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56257 - original number
54257 - from 1984 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Derby Works dated 23/05/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50974	56257			As delivered to 26A - 11th July 1959
	50974	56257			Transfer to 27F - Oct-59
	50974	56257			Noted 01/09/74 - on Barrow depot¹
	50974	56257			Noted 22/05/76 - at Carnforth²
	50974	56257			Noted 27/09/1976 - at Preston ³
	50974	56257			Noted 09/07/79 - at Blackpool South
	50974	56257			Noted 14/11/80 - at Derby Litchurch Lane
NH346	50974	56257			Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Victoria⁴
	53974	56257			Noted circa 06/1984⁴
	51919	54257			Noted 20/11/85 - on 12:55 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria service⁵
	51919	54257			Formation change - CH - circa Mar-86
	51919	54257			Noted circa 03/1986⁴
TS202	51919	54257			Formation change - TS - 2w/e 14/05/86
TS202	51919	54257			Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986
TS202	51919	54257			Noted circa 06/1986⁴
	51679	54257			Noted circa 09/1987⁴
	51679	54257			Noted 18/11/1987⁴
	51679	54257			Noted 28/11/1987 - Hertfordshire Railtours Wymondham Willows 51679-54257 + 54274-51866 + 54491-51855 + 54222-51654
	51679	54257			Noted 12/02/1988⁴
	51676	54257			Noted 05/07/1988⁴
	51893	54257			Noted 26/02/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51670 + 59758 + 59732 + 51871⁶
	51893	54257			Noted 14/03/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51885 + 59752 + 59729 + 51896⁶
	51893	54257			Noted 11/04/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51871 + 59657 + 59664 + 51677⁶
	51855	54257	59652	51879	Noted 22/05/90 - on services from Marylebone⁶
	51893	54257			Noted circa 07/1990⁴
L230	51676	54257			Listed at BY - 24/02/92 - NSE NNDX pool
L230	51676	54257			Listed at BY - 12/08/92
L230	51676	54257			Listed at BY - November 1992 - Sector NNDX

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

Images:

17th May 1964

Oval buffered 56257 leads a two-car Derby Lightweight and four-car Derby suburban set (later Class 108 and 115) on the 7.10pm Sheffield (M) - Liverpool Lime Street west of Cowburn Tunnel on May 17, 1964. Michael Mensing.

9th July 1979

With the tail lamp on the platform marking the limit of travel on the East side of the remaining island platform, A two-car Class 108 formed of DTCL M56257 & DMBS M50974 had arrived at Blackpool South with the 18.58 from Kirkham, and with the tail lamp in place, was ready for working back along the Coast Line at 19.28 on the evening of July 9th 1979. The land to the left of the DMU was the site of through running lines and the Marton Direct Line from Kirkham, once a busy railway in the days when the terminus at Blackpool Central handled prodigious amounts of excursion traffic, right up until it closed in 1964. Martyn Hilbert.

24th June 1980

Three two-car Class 108 DMUs at Kents Bank, Cumbria, on 24/06/1980. DTC(L) M56257 is nearest the camera. Graeme Phillips Collection.

25th September 1980

Class 108 M56257 alongside 86 216 in Preston station on 25 September 1980. Brian Daniels.

14th November 1980

In amongst the DMU vehicles seen at Derby Litchurch Lane on the 14th November 1980 is a refurbished Class 108 set formed of 56257 and 50974. Chris Lings.

2nd August 1984

Seen at Ormskirk are 507 029 on the 1151 to Liverpool Central and M54257 having just arrived with the 1110 from Preston 2nd August 1984. Keith Long.

14th March 1987

Class 108 DMBS 54257 at Tyseley on March 3, 1987. Andy Cole.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 9th July 1979

In refurbished white with blue stripe livery, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of DMBS M50974 & DTCL M56257 was stood at end of the Coast Line at a sad-looking Blackpool South on a rather dull July 9th 1979. The tail lamp on the platform marked the limit of travel, the unit would form the 19.28 departure back to Kirkham. The former booking hall on Waterloo Road bridge was in use as a model railway shop with a large exhibition layout. The wooden buildings at platform level had survived the massive rationalisation that Blackpool South underwent during the period 1964-1970. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 26th October 1985

On a misty Autumn morning, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M51919 & M54257 was departing from Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service (with the wrong destination displayed) on October 26th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 20th October 1989

The 12.55 To Aylesbury arrives at Great Missenden on 20 October 1989 formed of a Class 115 and Class 108 hybrid rake. 54274 leads 51676, 59749, 51879, 54257 and 51893. Dave Warby.

Date: 20th October 1989

The 12.55 To Aylesbury in Great Missenden station on 20 October 1989 formed of a Class 115 and Class 108 hybrid rake. The vehicles are 51893, 54257, 51879, 59749, 51676 and 54274. Dave Warby.

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