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Vehicle 56268 / 54268

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 50985 during the unknown period are:

10/10/59	New to	6G (Llandudno Junction)
3w/e 31/10/59	Transferred to	26A (Newton Heath)
2w/e 26/03/60	On loan to	64H (Leith Central)
3w/e 22/10/60	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 01/07/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
w/e 07/01/67	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56268 are:

4w/e 31/10/70	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CH
4w/e 05/08/78	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
26/10/86	Transferred to	AN (Allerton)
18/01/87	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
14/05/89	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX
09/01/92	Withdrawn from	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56268 - original number
54268 - from 1983 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 21/12/1977 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50985	56268	As delivered to 6G - 10th October 1959
	50985	56268	Transfer to 64H - 2w/e 09/04/60
	50985	56268	Noted 01/07/60 - at Edinburgh Princes Street station
	50985	56268	Transfer to 18A - 3w/e 22/10/60
	50985	56268	Noted 25/11/67 - at Carnforth¹
	50976	56268	Noted 20/07/68 - between Burnley and Preston¹
	50985	56268	Noted 16/08/70 - at Preston²
	50985	56268	Noted 08/01/1972 - at Crewe³
	50985	56268	Noted 26/05/1973 - at Crewe³
	50985	56268	Noted 31/07/1974 - at Wolverhampton³
	50985	56268	Noted 08/04/1976 - at Llandudno Junction ³
	50985	56268	Noted 10/09/76 - at Helsby²
	50985	56268	Noted 23/06/1977 - Cab end bogie of 56268 derailed at Helsby. Both vehicles still in blue livery.⁴
	50985	56268	Noted 23/06/1977 - Derailed @ Helsby⁵
	50985	56268	Noted 06/07/1977 - Chester⁴
LO311	50985	56268	Noted circa 03/1982⁴
LO311	50985	56268	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc⁴
	53985	54268	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	53985	54268	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53985	54268	Noted 17/01/87 - on 12:10 Manchester Victoria - Kirby⁶
	53985	54268	Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53934	54268	Noted circa 04/1988⁴
N600	53934	54268	Listed at NH - May 1988
N600	53934	54268	Noted circa May-88
N600	53934	54268	Noted circa Jul-88
	53934	54268	Noted 15/09/88 - at Manchester Victoria working with 53512 + 53431
B963	54268		Listed at BR - 15/05/89
T201	53975	54268	Listed at TS - 01/09/89
B963	53948	54268	Listed at BR - Jul-91
B963	53948	54268	Noted circa 08/1991⁴
B963	53948	54268	Listed at BR - Aug-91
B963	53948	54268	Listed at BR - Dec-91

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

Images:

January 1961

With Leicester on the destination blind a (blue square) Derby Lightweight twin is seen in Birmingham New Street station in January 1961. Closest seems to be M56268 which was allocated to Toton at the time. Michael Mensing.

September 1961

A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU seen at the site of Speke station in mid-September 1961. Michael Mensing.

15th July 1974

Class 108 M56268 at Pwllheli on 15 July 1974. Sunday was the day of rest on the Cambrian Coast and that's exactly what this Derby unit was doing that afternoon. Alistair Ness.

23rd June 1977

Derby twin 56268 & 50985 derailed on the branch crossover at Helsby, whilst swapping from P4 to P3 to work the Rock Ferry service, 23/6/77. Anthony Griffiths.

7th August 1988

Set number: N600

At 8.28pm towards the end of a fine Summer evening with the sun setting in the West, an eight-car DMU forming a Carlisle to Preston 'Dalesrail' service was stood at Bamber Bridge on August 7th 1988. With the rear of the train standing on the level crossing, the driver was looking back along the train. The formation was M54268 & M53934, M53334 & M51206, M53492 & M53439, M53948 & M53944. Martyn Hilbert.

4th August 1989

Set number: B963

Class 108 DMU set B963 (presumably 54268 + 53948) departs from Chippenham on 4th August 1989. Nicholas T Smith.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 9th July 1988

Set number: N600

A 2 car Derby Lightweight Newton Heath allocated Class 108 DMU, set N600 (M53934 + presumably M54268), nears its destination whilst working a Manchester Piccadilly - New Mills Central service. Taken from where a public footpath crosses the line on the 9th July 1988. Andrew J Crowther.

Date: 15th September 1988

Set number: N662

Class 104 53512 + 53431 with Class 108 54268 + 53934 at Manchester Victoria on 15/9/88. Rex Holt.

Date: March 1989

Set number: N600

Class 108 set N600 (53934 + 54268) leaving Lancaster sometime in March 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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