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Vehicle 56396 / 54396

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

w/e 14/06/58	New to	62B (Dundee)
3w/e 30/04/66	Transferred to	64H (Leith Central)
31/08/69	On loan to	50C (Hull Botanic Gardens)
07/09/69	Transferred to	50C (Hull Botanic Gardens)
May-73	Depot code change	BG
w/e 15/08/76	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill)
2w/e 24/07/77	Transferred to	DN (Darlington)
w/e 22/02/81	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
23/01/83	Transferred to	NR (Norwich)
Dec-83	Depot code change	NC
12/05/85	Transferred to	CA (Cambridge)
10/05/87	Transferred to	NC (Norwich)
15/05/88	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
p/e 30/03/91	Transferred to	RG (Reading) NWRX
22/10/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX
27/10/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX

Notes

12th June 1958 - Seen in 8-car set passing through Preston en route from Metro-Cammell to Cowlairs.

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56396 - original number
54396 - from Feb-85 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

25/08/76 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Doncaster Works dated 14/05/1981 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51238	56396	Noted 12th June 1958 - en route from Saltley to Cowlairs
	51238	56396	As delivered to 62B - June 1958
	51229	56396	Noted 21/02/1970 - Leeds, recorded by A S Fowkes. Source data obtained via BR Coaching Stock Group.¹
	50594	56396	Noted 11/05/1970 - Leeds, recorded by A S Fowkes. Source data obtained via BR Coaching Stock Group.¹
	51247	56396	Noted 29/08/74 - at York²
H23	51230	56396	Noted 02/01/75 - at York, set number only on 51230²
	50253	56396	Noted 25/10/75 - at Leeds³
	51225	56396	Noted 17/11/75 - at Brough³
	51222	56396	Noted 08/04/76 - at Hull³
	51222	56396	Noted 10/04/76 - at Brough³
	51236	56396	Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly with 50260/59097/50750³
	51236	56396	Noted 17/07/77 - on a Sheffield - Leeds service
	51236	56396	Transfer to DN - 2w/e 24/07/77
	51236	56396	Noted 07/04/1979 - Heaton⁴
	51236	56396	Noted 24/11/1979 - Darlington⁴
	51282	56396	Noted circa 12/1981¹
	51204	56396	Noted 12/04/1982 - at Carlisle Citadel⁴
	50231	56396	Noted 02/10/82 - on Scotswood Bridge
83	51208	56396	Noted 18/05/83 - at Norwich²
80	51221	56396	Noted circa 01/1984¹
80	51221	54396	Noted circa 04/1985¹
	51221	54396	Listed at Cambridge - circa Nov-85
	51221	54396	Listed at Cambridge - Summer 1986
07	51221	54396	Formed at CA circa Jun-86
07	51221	54396	Noted 13/12/1986¹
52	51221	54396	Noted circa 08/1987¹
52	51221	54396	Listed at NC - Dec-87
NSE02	51221	54396	Noted circa 03/1988¹
L207	51221	54396	Formed at OO circa May-88
207	51221	54396	Noted circa 06/1988¹
L207	51221	54396	Listed at OO - 15/05/89
L207	51221	54396	Noted circa 07/1990¹
L207	51221	54396	Listed at OO - 21/01/91
L207	51221	54396	Noted circa 08/1991¹
L207	51221	54396	Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L207	51221	54396	Listed at RG - 12/08/92
	51221	54396	Noted 25th August 1992
L207	51221	54396	Listed at RG - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
L207	51221	54396	Noted 01/05/1993 - Oxford as 3-car unit with Class 121 L128 55028⁵
L207	51221	54396	Noted 26th August 1993

Formation Sources
1: Eddie Knorn
2: Gerald Brown
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Martin Lumley
5: Alan N Walker

Images:

5th October 1968

A Met-Camm / Gloucester twin DMU comprising SC56396 + SC51112 in Dunfermline Upper station on Saturday 5 October 1968. This was the last day of passenger services on the line to Stirling via Alloa, there was no Sunday service and closure was officially on the Monday. Stuart Mackay Collection.

28th May 1977

The 16:22 Hull - Leeds service about to depart from Hull Paragon on 28 May 1977. E56396 is at the front, which was allocated to Neville Hill depot. Stuart Mackay Collection.

2nd October 1982

E56396 + E50231 on Scotswood Bridge, October, 2nd, 1982, just before closure of this route. Here Tyne Valley trains crossed from the north to south bank of the Tyne (or vice versa) for the last/first few miles to/from Newcastle. The condition of this bridge was the reason given for sending all trains on the route along the south bank through Dunston. Although with Europe's largest shopping complex opening in the mid 1980s presumably trains would have diverted that way anyway. Despite it's 'condition' the bridge still stands, apparently conveying various utility pipelines. John Carter.

30th May 1987

Set number: 52

Two power-trailer Class 101 DMUs sit in Ely station on 30 May 1987. Closest is set 52 with the DTC being 54396 on a southbound passenger service, the other set is 57 with the DTC being 54362. Robert Thomas.

May 1988

Set number: NSE02

E54396 carries the unusual set number NSE02 when seen in May 1988 in Colchester (North) station. It is presumably paired with 51221 and on Sudbury duties. Stuart Mackay Collection.

2nd May 1988

Set number: NSE02

Class 101 DMU driving coaches Nos. E54396 and 51221, of set No. NSE02, stand at Colchester working a service to Sudbury on 2 May 1988. Brian Creasey.

10th June 1989

Set number: L207

54396 + 51221 at Windsor and Eton Central on June 10, 1989. John Carter.

24th November 1989

Set number: L207

L207 (54396 and 51221) passes under Aynho Flyover at 14.45 on the 24th November 1989 working from Banbury to Oxford. Dave Gommersall.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 2nd October 1982

Met-Camm E50231 + E56396 at Blaydon Junction on October 2, 1982. John Carter.

Date: 2nd October 1982

A Met-Camm DMU formed of E50231 + E56396 at Blaydon Junction on October 2, 1982. John Carter.

Date: 23rd November 1988

Set number: L207

Class 101 Met Camm DMU 51221+54396 at Southall with the 15:00 ex-Paddington to Reading, 23-11-88. On Tour with the Class 13 Army.

Date: February 1989

Set number: 207

Met-Camm DMU set (L)207 (51221 and presumably 54396) departs from Banbury in February 1989. Andrew Malloy.

Date: 4th July 1991

Set number: L836

On the 4th July 1991 2 Western Region DMUs L836 (51434 59540 51503) and L207 (51221 54396) stop at Radley Station with an afternoon Oxford to Reading stopper. Both units look as though they have only recently been painted in Network SE livery and appear in almost pristine condition!! They were built as class 101 Metro Cammell units between 1956 and 1959 and served BR very well, though of course steam buffs would say they made steam workings disappear much more quickly!! Dave Gommersall.

Date: 6th September 1991

Set number: L207

51221 leads (presumably with 54396) the 1705 Reading-Banbury at Didcot on 6/9/91, while 43161 is on a London Paddington - Bristol TM service. John Carter.

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