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Vehicle 56287 / 54287

Class 121

Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Lot Number: 30519
Diagram: 513

Allocations

Feb-61	New to	81C (Southall)
Apr-68	Transferred to	81D (Reading)
Apr-72	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
w/e 08/07/72	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
w/e 08/02/75	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
Jun-87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
p/e 30/03/91	Transferred to	RG (Reading) NWRX
26/03/92	Sector Change to	RG (Reading) NTCZ
10/04/92	Withdrawn from	RG (Reading) NTCZ

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56287 - original number
54287 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

p/e 09/06/73 - Dual AWS fitted
Jul-75 - WR AWS removed
Jul-88 - Gangway(s) fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 20/05/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51128	59357	51141	56287	Noted 30/06/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads¹
L287	56287				Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L287	56287				Noted 22/10/1977 - At Reading Station²
L287	56287				Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
	55021	56287			Noted 18/05/1979 - 1502 Slough to Windsor and Eton Central
L287	56287				Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L287	56287				Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L287	54287				Listed at RG - 01/01/85
	55034	54287			Noted circa 12/1985³
	55027	54287			Noted 05/04/1986³
L287	54287				Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
L287	54287				Listed at OO - Aug-87
L206	53155	54287			Formed at OO p/e 16/08/88
L206	53155	54287			Noted circa 02/1989³
L206	53155	54287			Listed at OO - 15/05/89
L211	53155	54287			Listed at OO - 21/01/91
L211	53155	54287			Noted circa 03/1991³
L211	53155	54287			Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - stored - NSE NWRX pool

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Shayne Lewis
3: Eddie Knorn

Images:

12th September 1970

Set number: 287

A Class 117 with a Class 121 DTS on the front (which seems to be W56287) seen at North Acton on 12.9.70 from the London Terminals Railtour as it crossed the Great Western Mainline from Paddington to the West. George Woods.

circa early 1970s

Set number: 287

Pressed Steel DTS W56287 with bubble 55030 at Windsor & Eton circa early 1970s. Graham Clark.

13th November 1976

Set number: L287

Class 121 DTC W56287 at Reading on 13th Nov 1976. David Mant.

30th December 1978

Driving trailer 56287 is at Slough on the Windsor service 30th December 1978. Ian Buck.

11th December 1979

Leaving Bourne End for Marlow driving trailer 56287 leads on 11th December 1979 Ian Buck.

1981

Set number: L287

Pressed Steel Class 121 vehicles W56287 and W55028 seen at Oxford in 1981. Kevin Farrow.

28th February 1981

In days before any thought of electrification, a pressed Steel class 121 driving trailer (which appears to be 56287) is propelled by a Class 121 single power car ("bubble car") towards Hayes and Harlington station on February 28, 1981. The destination blind apears to read "Slough" so I think this is an empty train off the Windsor branch. I believe the works behind the train was the EMI record-producing plant. Jeremy Chapter.

23rd April 1985

Set number: L287

The evening sun catches trailer car W54287 at Marlow as it awaits departure with the 19.15 Marlow - Bourne End on 23 April 1985. Robert28194.

11th May 1986

Pressed Steel DMUs on Southall shed, 11 May 1986. Left to right are 54287, 55030 and L422. Chris McKee.

circa December 1987

Set number: L287

Class 121 DTS 54287 is seen attached to a couple of Class 116 DMBSs - 53083 + 53820 - at Oxford circa December 1987. Malcolm Clements.

25th March 1989

Set number: L206

Formed of a Pressed Steel driving trailer (W54287) and Met Cam DMBS (53155), unit no L206 passes Aynho Junction with an Oxford - Banbury local on 25 March 1989. Robert28194.

28th August 1989

Set number: L211

Class 121 DTS 54287 is part of set L211 with the unique Class 101 DMBC 53155 when seen at Didcot on the 16:03 Didcot - Oxford, 28/8/89. Hamish Stevenson.

10th March 1990

Set number: L211

54287 of set L211 (with the unique 101 DMBC 53155) at Tackley on the 14:50 Banbury - Oxford 10/3/90. PJ Evans.

27th March 1991

Set number: L211

Pressed Steel Class 149 54287 in NSE colours at Oxford paired the with unique Met-Camm DMBC - 53155 - on 27/3/91. Mac Winfield.

18th June 1991

Set number: L211

Class 121/101 hybrid set L211 (54287 + 53155) at Reading on 18 June 1991. David Mant.

15th September 1991

Set number: L211

Hybrid Class 121/101 DMU set L211 (54287 + presumably 53155) departs from Oxford on 15 September 1991. Reading is on the destination blind. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: circa early 1970s

Set number: 130

Pressed Steel bubble car 55030 with DTS 56287 at Windsor and Eton Central, circa early 1970s. Graham Clark.

Date: 4th June 1977

Set number: L120

A Class 121 DMU formed of W55020 + W56287 in Maidenhead station with a service for Marlow on 4 June 1977. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 1981

The number one end of Pressed Steel Class 121 W55028 seen at Oxford in 1981. It's coupled to DTS W56287. Kevin Farrow.

Date: 11th May 1986

Set number: L122

Southall shed on 11 May 1986 has 55022 + 54287, 55030 and L422 on road 6. Chris McKee.

Date: 11th May 1986

Set number: L134

Class 121 W55034 on Southall depot, 11 May 1986. To the right are 55022, 54287, 55030 and L422. Chris McKee.

Date: 25th March 1989

Set number: L206

Unit no L206 on a Banbury - Oxford working with Class 101 DMBS W53155 leading, and presumably Class 121 DTS 54287 trailing, at Aynho on 25 March 1989. Robert28194.

Date: July 1989

Set number: L206

DMU set L206 - the Class 101 DMBC and suburban partner are presumably 53155 + 54287 - at Slough with a Windsor service in July 1989. Andrew Malloy.

Date: 13th July 1989

Set number: L211

There were some unusual set formations during NSE days, especially on the Western Region. Here the 1603 Didcot Parkway - Banbury 'stopper' arrives at its destination formed of Old Oak Common allocated set L211 53155+54287 - a class 101 DMBC paired with a Class 121 DTS. 13th July 1989. Nigel Mack.

Date: 6th November 1991

Set number: L211

L211 - Class 101 DMBC 53155 and Class 121 DTS 54287 - at Reading on 6/11/91 with two cars from a 117 set and a bubble car. Sparegang.

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