Vehicle 56267 / 54267
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 50984 during the unknown period are:
| 03/10/59 | New to | 26A (Newton Heath) | |
| 2w/e 26/03/60 | On loan to | 64H (Leith Central) | |
| Oct-60 | Transferred to | 14E (Bedford) | |
| 4w/e 30/12/61 | Transferred to | 18A (Toton) | |
| 4w/e 02/06/62 | Transferred to | 24F (Fleetwood) | |
| 5w/e 06/10/62 | Transferred to | 26A (Newton Heath) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 9D | |
| Apr-66 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| 4w/e 04/02/67 | Transferred to | 10E (Accrington) |
Then the allocations for 56267 are:
| 3w/e 28/11/70 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) | |
| May-71 | Transferred to | 8J (Allerton) | |
| w/e 07/08/71 | Transferred to | 10E (Accrington) | |
| Oct-72 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| Nov-72 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | LO | |
| Oct-73 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 3w/e 27/09/75 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| w/e 27/08/78 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) | |
| 12/05/85 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 11/05/86 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| 15/06/86 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 10/05/87 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| p/e 08/06/88 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 07/07/91 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) PLOX | |
| 29/05/92 | Withdrawn from | LO (Longsight) RCLO |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
56267 - original number
54267 - from Oct-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Jul-74 - AWS fitted
Disposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50984 | 56267 | As delivered to 26A - October 1959 | |||||||
| 50984 | 56267 | Transfer to 64H - 2w/e 09/04/60 - on loan | |||||||
| 50984 | 56267 | Transfer to 14E - Oct-60 - ex-loan | |||||||
| 50983 | 56267 | Noted 20/03/70 - at Preston station | |||||||
| 50983 | 56267 | Transfer to 9A - Nov-72 | |||||||
| TS417 | 51112 | 56267 | Noted circa Oct-75 | ||||||
| 51112 | 56267 | 50812 | Noted 08/09/76 - on Tyseley depot1 | ||||||
| TS417 | 51124 | 50812 | 56267 | Noted 14/12/76 - at Bury St Edmunds1 | |||||
| TS414 | 50308 | 56267 | 50332 | Noted 10/09/77 - at Welshpool1 | |||||
| 50342 | 56267 | 50812 | Noted 28/04/78 - on 12:10 Leamington Spa - Birmingham Moor Street | ||||||
| 51117 | 56267 | Transfer to LO - Aug-78 | |||||||
| LO299 | 50629 | 56267 | Noted circa 05/19822 | ||||||
| LO299 | 50629 | 56267 | Noted 31/05/19822 | ||||||
| LO299 | 50629 | 56267 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc2 | ||||||
| 53629 | 54267 | Noted circa 01/19842 | |||||||
| 53629 | 54267 | Listed at LO - 01/01/85 | |||||||
| 53629 | 54267 | Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| B973 | 53629 | 54267 | Listed at BR - Jun-87 | ||||||
| B973 | 53629 | 54267 | Listed at BR - Aug-87 | ||||||
| B973 | 53629 | 54267 | Listed at BR - Oct-87 | ||||||
| B973 | 53629 | 54267 | Listed at BR - 29/02/88 | ||||||
| C973 | 53629 | 54267 | Transfer to CF - circa May-88 - from BR was B973 | ||||||
| B973 | 53629 | 54267 | Noted 07/07/88 - dragged by 37050 on 2B86 1854 Chepstow - Cardiff | ||||||
| C973 | 53629 | 54267 | Noted 02/09/88 - on 11:55 Cardiff - Chepstow | ||||||
| C973 | 53629 | 54267 | Listed at CF - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| 53629 | 54267 | Noted 08/03/90 - on 11:00 Coryton - Radyr3 | |||||||
| C973 | 53629 | 54267 | Noted 23/03/90 - at Cardiff Central | ||||||
| C973 | 53629 | 54267 | Noted circa 04/19902 | ||||||
| 51903 | 54267 | Noted 25/04/92 - on 18:08 Bolton - Manchester Victoria3 | |||||||
| LO286 | 51903 | 54267 | Noted 26/04/92 - on 12:04 Wigan Wallgate-Manchester |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Eddie Knorn
3: David Bellamy
Images:
19th August 1967
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU at Grange-over-Sands on 19 August 1967. The vehicles - M56267 and M50984 - were allocated to Accrington at the time. My late father, Stanley Smith, rarely took pictures with trains in them, this was a rare exception. It is from a 1 5/8 x 2 1/4 slide taken on a pre-war Zeiss Bellows camera. That's me with my back to the photographer on the wall. Nicholas T Smith Collection.
May 1988
Set number: B973
Carrying Bristol set number B973, this is presumably 54267 + 53629 which were transferred to Cardiff about this time. They sit in platform 6 at Crewe station, having worked up from Hereford with the first service of the day. I had worked it up from Hereford and would work it back all stations to Shrewsbury, where I would stable it in Abbey Foregate sidings. The photo was taken sometime between 2nd and 7th May 1988 as I worked the turn for the week. Paul James.
20th February 1989
Set number: C973
Departing from Newport on 20 February 1989 is two-car Class 108 DMU set C973 (54267 and presumably 53629) working the 13:55 Cardiff Central - Chepstow service. Robert Thomas.
23rd March 1990
Set number: C973
C973 (54267 + 53629) at Cardiff Central 23 March 1990 being passed by 37 702. Sparegang.
15th December 1990
Set number: C973
The 11:15 to Chepstow departs from Cardiff Central on 15 December 1990. It is formed of two-car Class 108 DMU set C973 containing 54267 and presumably 53629. Robert Thomas.
25th April 1992
A Class 108 at Manchester Victoria on April 25, 1992, 54267 closest. John Carter.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 20th April 1978
Set number: TS411
A publicity image (BRB Central Photographic Unit negative W8378-7) showing hybrid Class 100/108/105 DMU set TS411 (presumably 50342 + 56267 + 50812) arriving into Five Ways station on 20 April 1978. British Rail.
Date: 28th April 1978
The 12:10 to Birmingham Moor Street is seen departing from Leamington Spa on 28/04/1978. It is formed of Class 100 M50342, Class 108 M56267 and Class 105 M50812. Visible behind is Class 122 55006. Graeme Phillips Collection.
Date: 27th May 1978
Set number: TS411
The Birmingham Cross-city line opened in 1978 and Tyseley depot was using some interesting hybrid Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) formations at the outset. Class 100 50342, class 108 56267 and class 105 50812 call at Five Ways with a Longbridge service on 27 May 1978. Chris Morrison.
Date: 2nd September 1988
Set number: C973
Class 108 set C973 (M53629 + M54267) in Cardiff Central with the 11:55 Cardiff - Chepstow service on 2nd September 1988. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: October 1988
Set number: C973
Class 108 DMU set C973 (53629 + 54267) in Newport station with a Cheltenham - Cardiff service in October 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 26th April 1992
Set number: LO286
By the date of this picture, Saturday April 26 1992, LO286 (51903 + 54267) was one of the few remaining first generation DMUs left working in the north west. It departs from Wigan Wallgate with the 12:04 Wigan Wallgate-Manchester. The trailer car was notable for still retaining tungsten lighting. Mel Holley.