Vehicle 56491 / 54491
Class 108
Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30602
Diagram: 646
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 51908 during the unknown period are:
| 23/04/60 | New to | 18A (Toton) | |
| 4w/e 24/09/60 | Transferred to | 9E (Trafford Park) | |
| 4w/e 01/06/63 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| 3w/e 30/04/66 | Transferred to | 8J (Allerton) |
Then the allocations for 56491 are:
| 08/07/83 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) | |
| 12/05/85 | Transferred to | KD (Carlisle Kingmoor) | |
| 24/11/85 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 11/05/86 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| 15/03/87 | Transferred to | ME (Marylebone) | |
| Oct-88 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
| 28/01/92 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| Feb-92 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
| 17/12/92 | Withdrawn from | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
56491 - original number
54491 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Jan-73 - AWS fitted
Refurbished
At Derby Works dated 11/01/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51908 | 56491 | As delivered to 18A - 23rd April 1960 | |||||||
| 51918 | 56491 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Liverpool Lime Street1 | |||||||
| 51908 | 56491 | Noted 19/05/72 - at Crewe1 | |||||||
| 50627 | 56491 | Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester2 | |||||||
| 51421 | 56491 | Noted Sep-76 - at Crewe1 | |||||||
| 51422 | 56491 | Noted 10/06/19773 | |||||||
| 51913 | 56491 | Noted 12/09/1977 - 12.07 Lime Street - Warrington Central with 51424-562783 | |||||||
| 51909 | 56491 | Noted circa 05/19823 | |||||||
| 51912 | 56491 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc3 | |||||||
| 51912 | 56491 | Noted circa 09/19823 | |||||||
| 51912 | 56491 | Noted circa 12/19823 | |||||||
| 51942 | 54491 | Noted circa 07/19833 | |||||||
| 51942 | 54491 | Listed at LO - 01/01/85 | |||||||
| 51942 | 54491 | Noted circa 11/19853 | |||||||
| 51942 | 54491 | Transfer to NH - 24/11/85 - from KD | |||||||
| TS204 | 51942 | 54491 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | ||||||
| TS204 | 51942 | 54491 | Noted circa 06/19863 | ||||||
| TS204 | 51942 | 54491 | Noted 30/07/1986 - at Derby - as 8 car set with TS200, TS203 and TS2074 | ||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | 59740 | 51857 | Noted 22/03/87 - on Marylebone (09.07) - Princes Risborough(10.10) and 10.23 Princes Risborough – Marylebone5 | |||||
| 51855 | 54491 | 59740 | 51857 | Noted 25/03/87 - on 15.10 Marylebone – Aylesbury5 | |||||
| 51855 | 54491 | 59740 | 51879 | Noted 02/04/87 - on 12.38 Marylebone – High Wycombe, High Wycombe (14.38) – Marylebone (15.31), Marylebone (15.53) – Banbury (17.28) and Banbury (18.39) – Marylebone (20.18)5 | |||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted circa 07/19873 | |||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted 01/08/19873 | |||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted 06/10/19873 | |||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted 28/11/1987 - Hertfordshire Railtours Wymondham Willows 51679-54257 + 54274-51866 + 54491-51855 + 54222-51654 | |||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted circa 02/19883 | |||||||
| 51855 | 54491 | Noted circa 07/19883 | |||||||
| 51895 | 54491 | Noted circa 01/19893 | |||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Noted 25/02/92 - at Royal Oak6 | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - 12/08/92 - NSE Thames NWRX pool (Reading / Old Oak Common) | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Noted circa 11/19923 | ||||||
| L265 | 53539 | 54491 | Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Robert Chilton
5: Phil Shatford
6: Gerald Brown
Images:
26th June 1984
A Class 108 and Class 101 formation at Rhyl on 26/06/1984, led by 54491 (and probably 51942). Graeme Phillips Collection.
22nd July 1984
class 108 54491/51942 at Chester, 22nd July 1984. Graham Johnston.
circa May 1990
A Class 108 / 115 hybrid set formed of 54491 + 51656 in Aylesbury (Town) station, circa May 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: circa May 1990
A Class 115 / 108 hybrid set formed of 51656 + 54491 in Aylesbury (Town) station, circa May 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 2nd March 1991
977052 (M56145), 54491, 59656, 51674 Bletchley TMD 2-3-91. Kevin Dowd.
Date: 24th March 1992
Set number: L265
L265 53539 + 54491 arrive at Greenford on the 16:37 ex-Ealing Broadway, 24-3-92. Kevin Dowd.