Vehicle 56343 / 54343
Class 101
Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30468
Diagram: 630
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 51185 during the unknown period are:
| 29/11/58 | New to | 3E (Monument Lane) | |
| 20/06/60 | Depot code change | 21E | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2H | |
| 4w/e 06/02/65 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) |
Then the allocations for 56343 are:
| May-86 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| 28/09/86 | Transferred to | NC (Norwich) | |
| 21/10/92 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) RCLO | |
| Jul-00 | Withdrawn |
Notes
22/05/81 - The first service across the reopened Barmouth Bridge with the 10:42 from Shrewsbury formed of nine cars. The Pwllheli section unusually headed the formation, being 56343/51189, 51190/56340, 51182/56348, to save time when the Aberystwyth / Pwllheli sections split. Chester wagon shops prepared a bi-lingual headboard.
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
56343 - original number
54343 - from Mar-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Refurbished
At Derby Works dated 07/06/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51185 | 56343 | As delivered to 3E - 29th November 1958 | |||||||
| 51182 | 56343 | Noted 31/07/1960 - Worked excursion Birmingham to Ramsgate. Full formation 51182-56343-51177-56332-50307-59118-503251 | |||||||
| 51195 | 56343 | Noted 03/05/69 - at Manchester Exchange2 | |||||||
| 51174 | 56343 | Noted 20/09/1975 - at Crewe3 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 08/04/1976 - at Warrington 3 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 09/10/1976 - Unnamed LCGB Railtour from Crewe to Manchester and Buxton 51189-56343+51194-56352 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 11/09/77 - at Aberystwyth4 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 19/11/1977 - 2D53, 14.18 Crewe to Bangor1 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted circa 08/19801 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 22/10/1980 - At Rhyl5 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 03/01/1981 - At Crewe Station5 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted 22/05/81 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted circa 08/19821 | |||||||
| 51189 | 56343 | Noted circa 08/19821 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 08/19831 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 10/01/86 - on 17:06 Crewe - Stoke service6 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Transfer to TS - May-86 - from CH | |||||||
| TS207 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | ||||||
| TS207 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 06/19861 | ||||||
| TS207 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted 29/07/1986 - at Derby7 | ||||||
| TS207 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted 30/07/1986 - at Derby - as 8 car set with TS204, TS200 and TS2037 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Formed at NC circa Oct-86 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted 14/10/86 - at Norwich4 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Apr-87 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted 30/05/1987 - at Norwich7 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Dec-87 | ||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 31/05/88 | |||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 09/19881 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Feb-90 | ||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 07/11/90 - on 13:00 Norwich - Yarmouth8 | |||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Jul-91 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 08/19911 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Aug-91 | ||||||
| 65 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - Dec-91 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 07/19921 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - 02/07/92 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted 15/08/92 - at Norwich4 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at NC - 24/09/92 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at LO - November 1992 | ||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at LO - 10/12/92 | ||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 05/02/93 - on 14:18 Manchester Piccadilly - Rose Hill via Hyde8 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 22/07/93 - on 14:18 Hazel Grove - Manchester Piccadilly8 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 09/09/93 - on 20:13 Manchester Oxford Road - Warrington8 | |||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 28/09/93 - on 20:13 Warrington - Manchester Piccadilly8 | |||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Listed at LO - November 1993 | ||||||
| 51189 | 54343 | Noted 04/07/94 - on 2H39 12:15 Sheffield - Manchester Piccadilly8 | |||||||
| 101660 | 51189 | 54343 | Noted circa 10/19941 |
Formation Sources
1: Eddie Knorn
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Martin Baumann
7: Robert Chilton
8: David Bellamy
Images:
18th March 1961
A Met-Camm twin DMU - M56343 closest - in Birmingham New Street station with a Coventry service on 18 March 1961. Michael Mensing.
16th August 1986
Set number: TS207
Class 101 DTS 54343 (set T207, probably with 51189) at Tyseley on August 16, 1986. Andy Cole.
28th October 1986
Set number: 65
Class 101 set 65 (presumably 54343 + 51189) with the 12:20 Lowestoft - Norwich departs Lowestfoft on Tuesday 28th October 1986. Colin Brooks.
Unknown date
Set number: 65
Class 101 Driving Trailer 54343 of set 65 (presumably with 51189) at Lowestoft. This unit became part of 101660 in 1993. Note the one up one down brake-pipe layout, which denotes an original LMR allocated car. Mac Winfield.
23rd December 1987
Set number: 65
Seen between Ely and Queen Adelaide is 54343 + 51189 with the 10.13 Cambridge to Peterborough on 23rd December 1987. Nicholas Youngman.
March 1988
Set number: 65
Class 101 Metro Cammell DMUs Norwich sets 65 (54343+51189) and set 56 DTCL 54393 in the bays at Cambridge sometime between 21st and 30th March 1988. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.
15th May 1988
Set number: 65
Class 101 2-car DMUs NC sets 65 (54343 visible) and 53 (54387 visible) at Norwich on 15-5-88. On Tour with the Class 13 Army.
Unknown date
Set number: 65
Met-Camm Norwich set 65 (54343 + 51189). Late 1980s, thought to be between Reedham and Haddiscoe on the Norwich to Lowestoft line. Stuart Mackay Collection.
16th February 1991
Set number: L
Metro-Cammell Class 101 DTSL 54363 paired With Class 108 DMBS 51909 having arrived From Euston on Saturday 16 February 1991, possibly standing in for a failed Class 313 EMU. Dave Warby.
circa summer 1992
Set number: 101660
Class 101 DMU set 101660 (54343 + 51189) in Lincoln station circa summer 1992. Glyn Weigh.
2nd July 1993
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 + 51189) rolls into Guide Bridge with the 14:26 Rose Hill - Piccadilly on 2/7/93. Gazza Prescott.
2nd October 1993
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 + 51189) and 101689 (presumably 51185 + 51511) at Holyhead with a relief to Crewe, 2/10/93. Gazza Prescott.
18th May 1994
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 + 51189) at Stockport on May 18th, 1994. John Carter.
13th October 1994
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 & 51189) at Manchester Piccadilly on 13th October 1994. Ian Buck.
Unknown date
Set number: 101660
54343 + 51189 (101660) between duties at Manchester Piccadilly, platform 2. Chris Moxon.
Unknown date
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 + 51189) at Edale on a Hope Valley service, date unknown. Andrew Walker.
18th May 1995
Set number: 101660
Awaiting entry into the Works is 101660 (54343 & 51189) at Doncaster on 18th May 1995. Ian Buck.
12th February 2000
Set number: 101660
101660 (54343 & 51189) arriving at Romiley on 12th February 2000. Ian Buck.
12th February 2000
Set number: 101660
At Manchester Piccadilly is 101660 (54343 & 51189) on 12th February 2000. Ian Buck.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 22nd June 1983
Class 101 Metro Cammell DMU DTCs 54351 and 54343, ex-works on Chester TMD, 22-6-83. On Tour with the Class 13 Army.
Date: 21st June 1986
Set number: TS207
Class 101 51189 is seen at Tyseley in BR blue and grey on 21.06.1986. It was probably with 54343 which was part of set TS207 at the time. Andy Cole.
Date: 31st December 1987
Set number: 65
Norwich Class 101 set 65 (51189 + 54343) is seen at Kiln Lane near Ely with the 10.10 Ely to Norwich on 31/12/87. Nicholas Youngman.
Date: 19th March 1988
Set number: 65
Set 65 (presumably 51189 + 54343) at Leicester, 19/3/88. Sparegang.
Date: 31st May 1988
53367 + 53365 + 54343 + 51189 seen North of Ely with 09.36 Ely to Norwich, 31.05.88. Nicholas Youngman.
Date: unknown
Set number: 65
Met-Camm Norwich set 65 (51189 + 54343). Late 1980s, it seems to be between Reedham and Haddiscoe on the Norwich to Lowestoft line. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1992
Set number: 101660
Class 101 DMU set 101660 (51189 + 54343) at Ipswich in a Cambridge service sometime in 1992. It was a Norwich set until October 1992 when it moved to Longsight. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 24th November 1992
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) at Manchester Oxford Rd on the 23:14 to New Mills Central, 24-11-92. ("The set was swapped for a 142 at Picc, just my luck!"). Kevin Dowd.
Date: 10th April 1993
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) sits spare at Manchester Piccadilly, 10/4/93. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 19th June 1993
Set number: 101680
The 12:43 Heysham Harbour - Stockport service is seen in Bolton station on 19 June 1993 formed of sets 101680 (53163 + 53204) and 101660 (51189 + 54343). Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 10th July 1993
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) and 101688 (51431 + 51501) on the 11:18 Stockport - Heysham, seen at Bolton on 10/7/93. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 21st August 1993
Set number: 101654
A pair of matching Regional Railways liveried Class 101's, 101654 (51800 + 54408) + 101660 (54343 + 51189) were awaiting departure from platform 4 at Preston with the 12.43 Heysham to Stockport service on August 21st 1993. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 30th December 1993
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) at Hazel Grove, having arrived on the 14:21 from Piccadilly, 30/12/93. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 20th May 1994
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) with the 10:58 to Southport at Chester on May 20, 1994. John Carter.
Date: 10th June 1994
Set number: 101660
101660 (51189 + 54343) + 101664 (51442 + 54061) at Manchester Victoria on 11-6-94 with a service for Southport. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 11th June 1994
Set number: 101664
101664 (closest, 54061 + 51442) and 101660 (54343 + 51189) arrive into Manchester Piccadilly on 11-6-94. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: unknown
Set number: 101660
A poorly exposed image of 51189 (101660, presumably with 54343) standing in platform 2 at Manchester Piccadilly. Chris Moxon.
Date: 23rd April 1995
Set number: 101658
DMU vehicles 51175 + 54091 (101658), 54346 + 53198 (101652) and 54343 with EMU 75506 at Stockport depot. Keith Miller.
Date: 12th February 2000
Set number: 101660
Arriving at Ryder Brow on 12th February 2000 101660 (51189 & 54343). Ian Buck.
Date: April 2000
Set number: 101660
A rainy day at Edale in April 2000 sees a two-car Metro-Cammell DMU (101660, 51189 + 54343) pulling away from Edale station on a Manchester service. Andrew Walker.