Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30499
Diagram: 646
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 51423 during the unknown period are:
12/03/60 | New to | 26A (Newton Heath) | |
Apr-60 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
4w/e 24/09/60 | Transferred to | 18A (Toton) | |
Jan-61 | Transferred to | 8H (Allerton) | |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 8J |
Then the allocations for 56278 are:
29/03/87 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) | |
14/05/90 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) PLOX | |
11/07/91 | Transferred to | HT (Heaton) PHTX | |
12/12/91 | Withdrawn from | HT (Heaton) PHTX |
56278 - original number
54278 - from Aug-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Jul-73 - AWS fitted
Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham
51423 | 56278 | As delivered to 26A - 12th March 1960 | |||||||
51423 | 56278 | Transfer to 8H - Jan-61 | |||||||
51423 | 56278 | Noted 05/01/66 - in Warrington Bank Key station1 | |||||||
51420 | 56278 | Noted 04/09/67 - at Leeds City1 | |||||||
51423 | 56278 | Noted 19/12/67 - at Wigan NW1 | |||||||
51416 | 56278 | Noted 09/11/69 - at Doncaster with 51419 / 56274 + 52039 / 519221 | |||||||
50629 | 56278 | Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester2 | |||||||
50629 | 56278 | Noted 29/08/1974 - at Liverpool Lime Street3 | |||||||
51911 | 56278 | Noted 27/09/1976 - at Preston 3 | |||||||
51424 | 56278 | Noted 12/09/1977 - 12.07 Lime Street - Warrington Central with 51913-564914 | |||||||
51917 | 56278 | Noted 25/07/79 - on 11.08 Liverpool LS – Warrington Central and 12.10 Warrington Central – Liverpool LS5 | |||||||
51937 | 56278 | Noted 24/05/80 | |||||||
51918 | 56278 | Noted circa 05/19824 | |||||||
51909 | 56278 | Noted circa 10/19824 | |||||||
51909 | 56278 | Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 06.30 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria and 07.38 return.4 | |||||||
51420 | 54278 | Noted circa 06/19834 | |||||||
51420 | 54278 | Noted 03/01/1984 - at Manchester Picc4 | |||||||
51420 | 54278 | Noted 27/03/1984 - at Liverpool Lime Street4 | |||||||
51420 | 54278 | Noted circa 03/19864 | |||||||
51424 | 54278 | Noted circa 02/19874 | |||||||
51424 | 54278 | Noted circa 07/19874 | |||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted circa 04/19884 | |||||||
CH268 | 51931 | 54278 | Listed at CH - May 1988 | ||||||
CH271 | 53931 | 54278 | Listed at CH - May 1988 | ||||||
CH268 | 53924 | 54278 | Listed at CH - May-88 | ||||||
CH268 | 53924 | 54278 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted 31/05/89 - on 14:02 Warrington Central - Chester6 | |||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted 30/08/89 - on 14:02 Warrington Central - Chester6 | |||||||
CH268 | 53924 | 54278 | Noted 30/08/89 - at Manchester Piccadilly | ||||||
CH268 | 53924 | 54278 | Listed at CH - 14/10/89 | ||||||
LO268 | 53924 | 54278 | Listed at LO - mid May-90 | ||||||
LO268 | 53924 | 54278 | Noted circa 01/19914 | ||||||
LO268 | 53924 | 54278 | Listed at LO - Jul-91 | ||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted 10/08/91 - on 15:15 Newcastle - Carlisle service6 | |||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted 17/08/91 - on 14:28 Newcastle - Carlisle service6 | |||||||
53924 | 54278 | Noted 17/08/91 - on 16:05 Carlisle - Newcastle service6 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Phil Shatford
6: Graeme Phillips
54278 leads a seven-car formation into Llandudno on June 29th 1989. It is formed of two two-car Class 108s and a three-car with two Class 108 power cars and a centre car of another type. John Carter.
Chester Set CH268 (54278 + 53924) approaches Manchester Piccadilly on the 30th August 1989. Graeme Phillips.
Class 108 set CH268 (presumably 54278 + 53924) has Chester on its destination blind when seen at Manchester Piccadilly on the 16th September 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Set LO268, with leading vehicle 54278 and 53924 trailing, prepares to depart from Boston with a service heading west on 12th February 1991. Julian Barker.
DTS 54278, once in set LO268, at CF Booths, Rotherham, circa late 1991. Robert Frise Collection.
Class 108 Set CH268 (presumably 53924 + 54278) is propelled by 31 466 at the start of a journey from Llandundo Junction - Chester T.M.D., contrasting with A55 Expressway works at Llandudno Junction, (1100) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.
Class 108 Set CH268 (presumably 53924 + 54278) is hauled by 31 466 on a journey from Llandundo Junction - Chester T.M.D. at Llandudno Junction, (1110) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.
Chester allocated 2-car class 108 DMU set CH 268 (53924+54278) is seen waiting to depart wrong road from Helsby with the 15.31 to Chester via Hooton on 16 March 1989. With Rock Ferry to Hooton electrified in 1985 BR later merged the truncated diesel service with the Hooton to Helsby shuttle thus improving the passenger service through Ellesmere Port to a 30min frequency and direct trains to Chester. Here at the Helsby end of the route trains would terminate in the down platform then run back through a crossover to gain the up line largely making platform 3 on which I am stood obsolete. Ironically this end of the lines service is now dire and pretty much unusable for a return journey after Hooton to Ellesmere Port was electrified. The eastern end of the line now only sees 3 trains a day each way between Ellesmere Port and Helsby. Adrian Nicholls.